Buswell confident of electorate's support

From a spectacular fall from grace in 2008 to a comeback which sees him managing the finances of Australia’s most prosperous State, it has been a busy four years for Troy Buswell.

Speaking to the Times ahead of next week’s State Election, the incumbent Vasse MLA seems relaxed and clear about his plans for the next term of government. And despite all that’s happened, he believes local voters will cast their ballots based on his record in the electorate.

“Ultimately people will make their own minds up about those things, I don’t tend to speak on behalf of the rest of the community on their views of me,” Mr Buswell said. “We’ve had a lot of positive feedback and I’m confident that’s what people will vote on.”

In response to questions about campaigning by other candidates based on Mr Buswell’s character, his answer was simple.

“If all you’ve got to offer is personality-based politics, I think you will fall short. Serious campaigns should be about the issues that matter to local people and the plans you have to address those issues,” he said.

Mr Buswell does not appear fazed by the heavy workload from his three portfolios – Treasury, Emergency Services and Transport – on top of his duties as the local member, believing it is a benefit for the electorate.

“I’ve been quite lucky that the portfolios have a natural synergy with the local community,” he said.

“They are portfolios which align with a significant number of local priorities. I think it’s great, it makes my job as a local member easier when the person I have to lobby is myself.”

Looking back on the 2008 election, Mr Buswell said the campaign for 2013 started as soon as that ended and that issues have evolved since.

He said past issues such as the Busselton Jetty, Port Geographe had been addressed but as a growing region issues would always be emerging.

Education is firmly in his sights with new primary schools needed to address high enrolment numbers at Dunsborough and Geographe primary schools and a need for investment in infrastructure for training.