TIGHT CONTEST: National Party leader Warren Truss says the ALP decision to preference the Liberals had made it harder for the Nationals in what was seen as the party's two most winnable WA seats. Source: TheAustralian
THE NATIONAL and Liberal parties are squaring off for a showdown in two of Western Australia's biggest regional electorates, that of O'Connor and Durack.
As the battle for the bush continued in the red dirt of Kalgoorlie today, federal National Party leader Warren Truss said Labor's shock decision to help its arch rivals the Liberals in the seats had been a blow to his party.
"I'm not gobsmacked by anything Labor does now,'' he said.
Labor is preferencing the Liberals over the Nationals on how-to-vote cards being distributed in the electorates ahead of Saturday's poll.
The two electorates are among five both of the parties are contesting in WA.
Mr Truss said the ALP decision had made it harder for the Nationals in what had been seen as the party's two most winnable WA seats.
But he hoped Labor voters would make up their own minds about preferences on the day.
Mr Truss was in Kalgoorlie campaiging with the party's O'Connor candidate, mining executive and geologist Chub Witham, who is locked in a hard-fought battle with Liberal candidate, farmer Rick Wilson.
The massive electorate of O'Connor includes the rough-and-ready mining town as well as the south-west centres of Albany and Esperance.
Asked if the contest would be closer to call than the Melbourne Cup, Mr Truss replied:"`Some Melbourne Cups aren't that close, but we believe we're competitive.''.
Retired Nationals MP Tony Crook wrested the seat of O'Connor from the Liberals at the last Federal election, ironically on Labor preferences.
He became the party's first WA member of the House of Representatives in 34 years.
Mr Truss, who stands to become deputy Prime Minister should the coalition win government, conceded that competition for seats between the Nationals and Liberals in the lead up to the election was fierce.
``We're competitive during election time,'' he said.
But he downplayed a recent spat between the Nationals and Liberal shadow treasurer Joe Hockey.
He said comments made by Mr Hockey -- which referred to Nationals candidates as a ``protest movement'' -- were the result of a misunderstanding.
"We've been good friends for a long time,'' he said of Mr Hockey. ``I'm sure he'll make a very good treasurer.''
Meanwhile, in the electorate of Durack, which stretches from Kununurra in WA's north to Geraldton, the Nationals candidate Shane Van Styn, a business owner, is locked in battle with the Liberals candidate, lawyer, Melissa Price.
Other WA electorates being contested by both parties include Canning, Forrest and Pearce.
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