Race for Curtin gets heated

One of the leading Liberal Party of Australia pre-selection candidates for Curtin, Celia Hammond, has already come under fire from former Subcontractors WA chair Louise Stewart, who is likely to run as an independent candidate for the seat.

In a statement today, Ms Stewart said the electorate of Curtin was looking for candidates with real-world business experience, not academics.

Professor Hammond served as the vice-chancellor of the University of Notre Dame for 11 years, before she left the position yesterday ahead of a planned retirement at the end of the year. 

In a statement, Notre Dame said Professor Hammond wished to pursue a unique opportunity.

She is widely expected to declare her intention to run for Liberal pre-selection in the coming days.

Ms Stewart was the former chair of Subcontractors WA and a board member of the Australian Subcontractors Association, which announced today they would merge in a move advocated by Ms Stewart.

She resigned from both boards with the intention to run for Curtin.

Ms Stewart also applauded the announcement last night by federal opposition leader Bill Shorten regarding subcontractor protection.

“Bill Shorten is promising everything I have pushed for over the past 18 months. If he can deliver on his promises, then the results of my work over this time could well help deliver him the seat of Curtin,” Ms Stewart said.

She said her solid foundation work to have cascading trusts implemented could help propel Labor to victory in the “unwinnable” seat of Curtin.

“The federal Liberal government has had the recommendations to protect subbies via a method such as cascading trusts for over 18 month,” Ms Stewart said.

“But they have done nothing to help protect subcontractors, who are predominately small family run businesses, being paid.

“It’s become a significant election issue.”

Notre Dame appointed deputy vice-chancellor Peter Tranter as acting vice-chancellor.

In a statement, the university said it would announce the appointment of a permanent vice-chancellor in the very near future.