Shire of Mundaring deputy president Trish Cook has been preselected by Labor to run for the newly minted seat of Bullwinkel at the upcoming federal election.
Cr Cook has been a Shire of Mundaring south ward councillor for seven years, and the deputy president since 2023.
A nurse by trade, Cr Cook has also worked in the oil and gas industry and is currently studying for a PhD.
Speaking at a press conference in the Perth Hills to announce Cr Cook’s candidacy, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised her experience.
“There’s nothing that says WA more than a nurse who worked on an oil rig,” he said.
"I know Trish will be a strong voice for WA in my government, focused on delivering cost of living relief to West Australians who are doing it tough and making sure WA remains the power house of the national economy in the energy transition."
She will face former leader of The Nationals WA Mia Davies and Walkley award-winning journalist Matt Moran, who were selected as Nationals and Liberals candidate respectively.
Cr Cook said she had spent her life fighting for better outcomes for her community.
"Working as a nurse and midwife has given me the experience I need to be a compassionate local member who listens to the community," she said.
"I want to be part of a Labor government that is focused on delivering cost of living relief for my community, including through cheaper child care, cheaper medicines, fee-free TAFE and tax cuts for every taxpayer.
"I am a proud West Australian, and I won't be afraid to make sure WA remains at the forefront of Australia's economy and to secure WA's fair share of the GST in an Albanese Labor government."
Cr Cook’s selection came as a shock to some, with Mining and Pastoral MLC Kyle McGinn previously tipped as a favourite for the seat.
Mr McGinn announced he was seeking preselection in July, and was the only other Labor candidate seeking preselection.
The seat of Bullwinkel is expected to be heavily targeted by a farmer-backed campaign in response to the live sheep export ban, with Pastoralist and Graziers Association WA president Tony Seabrook earlier this month putting Labor politicians on notice.
“It is appalling that the five Labor senators in WA have refused to listen to their regional constituents and vote against the government’s Bill to end the live sheep trade,” he said at the time.
“Since the Bill was introduced, thousands of WA farmers, transporters, stock agents, small businesses, and members of the public from regional and metro WA have shown their support behind keeping live sheep exports, including the Labor premier of WA, Roger Cook.
“Yet not one single WA Labor senator stood up to the prime minister and defended the livelihoods of thousands of Western Australians.”
The seat of Bullwinkel is the newest electorate in the WA political landscape, proposed by the AEC electorate redistribution in May.
It extends south from the Toodyay local government area to Beverley, encompassing Kalamunda, Mundaring, Northam, and York, as well as parts of Swan, Armadale and Gosnells.
About 14.57 per cent of WA voters will move into the new division, with Hasluck, Swan, Durack, Canning, Burt and O’Connor set to shrink.
Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel was a survivor of the sinking of SS Vyner Brooke following the evacuation of Singapore and was the sole survivor of the 1942 Bangka Island massacre.
She was also a prisoner of war for three and a half years.
She retired from the army in 1947 and become director of nursing at Melbourne’s Fairfield Hospital and was instrumental in seeing Australian nursing education moved from hospitals to universities.
