Labor’s Forrest candidate Bronwen English hopes to create a “partnership with Canberra”

With experts tipping the Government will call the Federal election for May this year, Labor’s candidate for the traditionally blue-held seat of Forrest hopes to paint the electorate red. A relative newcomer to the political scene, Bronwen English has lived most of her life in regional WA and hopes to stand up for regional-community values at the next election. Mrs English has begun door-knocking and meeting community groups and State Labor members since announcing in November she would run as the Labor candidate. Forrest, held by Nola Marino since 2007, has been loyal to the Liberal Party in all but one election since 1949. Mrs English hopes to upset this blue balance and create what she called a “partnership with Canberra” with an Anthony Albanese-led Labor Government. “WA needs a partner in Canberra and an Albanese Labor government will be that partner,” Mrs English said. “The State members down here are passionate, energetic, amazing community members. “The Federal candidates would work so well alongside our State WA members.” She believes the electorate boundary change will see a swing towards Labor. Through the years Mrs English has worked as a dental nurse, education assistant, aged-care worker, early childhood educator and youth worker, often serving as a union delegate in her workplaces. Most recently she worked with the Labor Party’s Bunbury MLA Don Punch for seven years, volunteering on his 2017 and 2021 State elections. Born in Gooseberry Hill to “10-pound Pom” parents, her father, a bookkeeper, and her mother, a teacher, Mrs English moved around the State with her family from the age of 10. She met her now husband Michael after a move to Cunderdin. Mr English has a background in dairy farming but his work took the pair around WA, to Karratha where Mrs English worked for the Pilbara Development Commission, then later to the Goldfields and Esperance regions. Mrs English had visited the South West on family holidays in her childhood, but was able to finally live out her dream by moving to her “forever home” in Bunbury eight years ago with her husband and two adult children, Brent and Jorjia. “I have done 30 moves around WA, I’m not doing more,” she said. Firmly settled in the South West, she hopes to bring her varied experience and union background to the table. “I put everything on hold to be a mum,” she said. “But it was time to step up to be a candidate for Forrest. It was time to stand up and say let’s make a change here. “I am passionate about delivering secure jobs, quality health care and great education for the South West and Labor has plan that will deliver this for the people of Forrest.”