Newly elected Labor MP for Swan Zaneta Mascarenhas is the first woman to hold the seat in its 101-year history.
Ms. Mascarenhas, who defeated her Liberal opponent Kristy McSweeney on Saturday, said she was ready to tackle local issues in her area, including better lighting in Higgins Park.
Ms. Mascarenhas, born in Kalgoorlie and raised in Kambalda, was officially named the new MP after 59.9 percent of a bipartisan vote.
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“I am so honored that the people at Swan have chosen me. I want to be a strong advocate for our community and create a better future for everyone,” she told Perth Now.
Her victory over the fringe seat in Perth previously held by Liberal Steve Irons reflected the anti-liberal movement in Perth as the Liberals’ hold on the state weakened.
Ms. Mascarenhas got 14,200 votes more than Ms. McSweeney, who was 13.3 percent away from the Liberals.
One problem that continues to permeate Swan voters is the push for better lighting in Higgins Park to allow the Raiders Junior Football Club to play matches on their home ground on Friday nights.
Ms. McSweeney told Perth Now in April that it was a project she was “fighting for” as part of her drive to improve the safety of local sports facilities for women and girls in the Swan electorate.
When Ms. Mascarenhas was asked this week if she would address the issue, she said she looked forward to working with the club and the City of Victoria Park after being sworn in to see how she could support the project.
Labor had pledged $58.2 million under an Albanian government for five major community projects in Swan.
That includes $30 million for the High Wycombe Community Center construction and $5.4 million for the development of Hartfield Park in Forrestfield.
Ms. Mascarenhas said climate change and advocating for Swan would be her top priorities in government.
“During the campaign, my team and I knocked on more than 45,000 doors in Swan, and people told me they were concerned about the cost of living, making childcare more affordable, fixing the aged care system, having access to safer and high-paying jobs in Swan and taking action on climate change – these are the things that matter to the people of Swan and will be my priority,” she said.
“We have an opportunity for Australia to become a renewable energy superpower. WA can be a part of that; mining can be a part of that. We can become a lithium valley. There are so many opportunities.
“I will work with my federal colleagues and local governments to ensure these projects are delivered in priority order.”
Ms. Mascarenhas studied science and engineering at Curtin University and worked as an engineer for 15 years in dozens of regional WA and Victoria locations.
She has lived in East Victoria Park for eight years with her husband and children, Lincoln and Felicity.
Ms. Mascarenhas said she would go to Canberra next week for the first series of caucus meetings and to “orientate herself”.
Re-elected Labor MP Patrick Gorman thanked the community for choosing him as their voice in Canberra after winning Perth’s seat in a landslide victory.
Gorman voted for Highgate Primary School on Saturday with his wife, Jessica Bukowski, and children Ruby and Leo.
The Perth seat has been held by him since July 2018 and by Labor since 1983.
Mr. Gorman was first elected in a by-election after former Perth MP Tim Hammond stepped down in 2018 to spend more time at home.
This year’s federal election results have shown how secure Mr. Gorman’s place in parliament is, with about 65 percent of the bipartisan preference, with a 12 percent swing toward him.
“Thank you to the people of Perth for choosing me as their voice in Canberra,” he told Perth Now.
“The people of WA have enthusiastically elected an Albanian Labor government.”
Gorman would not know whether he would play a role in Mr. Albanese’s cabinet.
“Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s vision for a better future is the immediate priority, and I look forward to helping him implement that vision,” he said.
The Mitchell Freeway, Swan River, and Morley Drive roughly border Perth’s electorate.
It includes Perth CBD, Northbridge, Mt Lawley, Mt Hawthorn, Maylands, Morley, Yokine, Tuart Hill, Inglewood, Bayswater, Bassendean, and parts of Dianella and Morley.
