Brand MHR Gary Gray and Liberal candidate Donna Gordin.
Camera IconBrand MHR Gary Gray and Liberal candidate Donna Gordin. Credit: Supplied/Elle Borgward

Marina may be deciding factor

John Dobson, Weekend CourierWeekend Kwinana Courier

On Tuesday, the pair joined Greens candidate Dawn Jecks, Palmer United candidate Craig Lawrence and Australian Christians candidate Bob Burdett at a debate organised by Rockingham Kwinana Chamber of Commerce.

Yesterday Mr Gray and Ms Gordin faced off in a fiery debate on ABC radio at Rockingham shopping centre with the focus on WA’s most marginally held Labor seat.

Mr Gray said while the Government had invested $120 million in schools in the electorate since 2007, the Opposition had opposed every dollar.

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Ms Gordin hit back, claiming the Labor government rejected ready-to-go plans by the Howard government to build a technical college on Dixon Road.

‘Youth unemployment is some of the highest in Australia here,’ she said.

Earlier this month, Mr Gray announced funding for Peron Trade Training Centre based at Gilmore College and Rockingham Senior High School.

But Ms Gordin said Labor had made the same promise in 2007 and 2010.

The Mangles Bay marina could prove an important issue next Saturday, with it dividing the Rockingham community.

Mr Gray said he did not support the project but would rely on the proper environmental assessment and planning processes to take course, while Ms Gordin said she supported the marina as it would be a boost for local business.

Ms Gordin said a Liberal government would remove the carbon tax to reduce the burden on households in Rockingham and Kwinana. Mr Gray said the biggest drain on family budgets in Brand was the state Liberal government’s across the board price hikes.