Fremantle Race Turns Tense as Independent Promises to Fight Gas Expansion

Peter Dutton, who famously pledged to be the “best friend the gas industry has ever had,” has now played a pivotal role in shaping the tight contest for Fremantle’s parliamentary seat. The Liberal Party’s decision to preference ahead of Labor has handed a boost to Kate Hulett, an independent backed by Climate 200, who vows to oppose WA’s proposed North West Shelf expansion and to ban new gas projects.

Hulett, who told The West Australian on Monday that she would be “raging” against the Woodside expansion slated for federal approval at the end of May, currently leads in a closely watched preference count. Her campaign poses a real threat to Labor’s Josh Wilson, the assistant climate minister, who was hopeful of securing a second term.

The preference swap, believed to be motivated by the Liberals’ desire to deny Labor a majority, underscores the turmoil plaguing Dutton’s campaign. His promise to implement an interventionist gas reservation policy—initially hailed as a bold move—has instead sparked industry warnings of potential future supply shortages, casting a shadow over the Coalition’s broader electoral prospects.

In Fremantle, Hulett’s lead is narrow but significant. As of Tuesday morning, the Australian Electoral Commission’s count shows her holding a 541-vote advantage over Wilson. The primary vote saw Wilson securing 39.4 percent, reflecting a nearly 5 percent anti-Labor swing in the seat, which remains one of the few potential Labor setbacks in an otherwise strong state for the government.

While WA remains a Coalition stronghold, the election in Fremantle highlights the volatile nature of the contest, with the outcome potentially shifting the balance of power. The result could serve as a barometer of voter sentiment on climate issues and the future of Australia’s gas industry amid ongoing debates about energy policy and environmental protection.