Chaney to seek re-election

Independent member for Curtin Kate Chaney has announced she will run again in the next federal election, while firing a shot at the Liberal Party.

The 'teal' independent said she would seek re-election at the next federal election in the formerly blue seat of Curtin, following her win in 2022. 

After announcing her intention for re-election this morning, Ms Chaney told Business News there was more work to be done and nothing much has changed since 2020.

However, Ms Chaney was cautious in cementing promises, saying the election was still more than a year away.

"My policy platform will be shaped by what my community cares about,” she said.

"What I do know is that action on climate is still important to people in Curtin.

"We also need to raise long term economic reform, which neither party is really offering.

“If there's tax reform or housing policy, it needs to be kept on the agenda so that we know we're having serious conversations about the way forward in the lead up to the next election."

Ms Chaney said in her first term as a federal politician, she learned that change happened in different ways and involved a lot of nudging.

“Every other career I've worked in, you don't make change by backing people into a corner and shouting at them. And I think in politics, it's the same," she told Business News.

“Taking a collaborative, pragmatic approach, working across the House to drive improvements to legislation rather than just opposing everything, feels like what people actually want their representatives to do, and feels like part of a much more positive approach to our Parliament.”

Ms Chaney said the Liberal Party lost Curtin and other seats at the last election because "our values weren't being represented." 

She doubled down, labelling the Liberal Party as divisive and polarised and “devoid of genuine policy ideas or constructive engagement.”

“And from what I’ve witnessed in my first two years, the party hasn’t changed under Peter Dutton’s leadership," Ms Chaney said.

“In fact, it’s become more divisive and polarised, driven by fear and anger and devoid of genuine policy ideas or constructive engagement.

“Peter Dutton’s Liberal Party does not represent the values of Curtin.

“I am seeking re-election for Curtin because there is more work to be done on re-establishing integrity in government, decarbonising our economy so we leave our children a world worth inheriting and the deep thinking to reform the tax system so we can afford the supports we need."

Ms Chaney was elected to Federal Parliament in 2022, when she claimed victory in the former blue-ribbon seat in Perth's western suburbs over former Liberal MP Celia Hammond.

She said despite announcing her intention to seek re-election at the federal election, her re-election campaign would not start right away.  

“I’m being asked frequently by Curtin residents and local leaders, as well as local and national media, if I will stand for re-election. And I can say, ‘Yes, I will run again’,” she said.

“With so much media attention on the pre-selection processes of the major parties, constituents want to know if they will again have the choice to be represented by a community independent – and I can guarantee they will.

“But as we’re just over halfway through the term, I intend to remain focused on representing Curtin, rather than campaigning. I’m pretty sure people living in Curtin would prefer I keep working hard for them.”