Federal election 2025: Liberals hope to snatch back Pearce but ‘fighter’ Labor MP is putting up a challenge

On paper, this looks like a safe seat for Labor. Pearce, spanning Perth’s outer north, is held with a 9 per cent margin — one of the four formerly Liberal seats in WA that turned red in 2022.

But the Liberals are pinning hopes of Federal victory next week in part on a swing against Labor at the State election in the city’s outer suburbs. Within Pearce’s State seats like Mindarie, Wanneroo and Landsdale, there were double digit two-party preferred swings from Labor.

A highly-mortgaged population — acutely feeling the 13 interest rate rises since 2022 and higher living expenses — and a 70 per cent no vote in the ill-fated 2023 Voice referendum has Liberals insiders seeing Pearce as a real opportunity.

“It is very competitive,” a Liberal source said this week. “Pearce is definitely in play.

“And the high no vote in the referendum means people in Pearce are more in sync with Peter Dutton’s outlook and priorities. than Anthony Albanese’s.”

In a sign of how important keeping Pearce is to his fortunes, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in a recent visit to Perth made special mention of his candidate and sitting MP.

“I met Tracey Roberts when she was an amazing local mayor, and a champion of her local community,” he said. “I rang her up and said “Trace, I’ve got a job for you’.

“And Tracey Roberts agreed. And you know what, she is nailing it as the member each and every day.”

For his part, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton reckons Liberal candidate Jan Norberger is also nailing it.

“Jan Norberger is a champion of his local community, and he’s listened to the residents locally about their needs and he’s acted on it,” Mr Dutton recently said.

“That’s exactly what a local community should want in their local MP.

“Not somebody who goes to Canberra and gets lost in the bubble, (but) somebody who’s going to stand up and fight for their local constituents on issues which are important to local families and small businesses and the like.”

Ms Roberts says she might “walk a bit differently and sound a bit different” as she battles a serious health condition, but insists she still has the drive and ability to serve a second term, if re-elected.

Life’s been a bit of a journey. But I’m a fighter

Diagnosed with multiple systems atrophy, a progressive disorder similar to Parkinson’s disease and still recovering from a broken ankle, she admits this campaign has come with a new set of challenges compared to 2022.

At Labor events this election campaign, she has often been seen moving with the aid of a walking stick.

But Ms Roberts says she is up for the fight in a seat that both Labor and the Liberals desperately want to win.

“I might walk a bit differently and sound a bit different, but it’s still me on the inside — fighting for our community,” she says. “That’s what I will continue to do.”

Ms Roberts, who in 2008 beat breast cancer, said she still had work to do to “deliver a better future”.

“It’s an early diagnosis (of MSA) so I don’t think I’m going anywhere soon,” she told The Sunday Times in an interview this week.. “That fire in the belly is driving me.

“I don’t feel like I need to stop.

“Life’s been a bit of a journey. But I’m a fighter.”

Mr Norberger, who lost his State seat of Joondalup in 2017, said he felt he had more to offer in politics, prompting his Federal run.

“It’s one of those things — you can whinge about the way things are or you can step up and do something,” he said.

“When I was a State member of parliament, I loved the connection I had with the community and the ability to help people, whether it be big issues or little issues.

“I used to refer to it as being a community ombudsman.

“You really have got to love connecting with people and generally wanting to help them wherever they are at.

“I share the view that many people have in this community that we are not heading in the right direction.”

Mr Norberger said the cost of living was “absolutely” the number one issue in Pearce.

“Housing (too) – people are genuinely worried about how young people are going to be able to afford a home,” he said.

“I’ve just finished doorknocking where I chatted to a lady who is paying $1000 a fortnight on a pension for rent.

“She says if the landlord puts up the rent another $100, she and her husband will be living in a car.”

Ms Roberts, a former Wanneroo mayor, concedes people are hurting because of huge increases in living expenses, and the housing crisis. But she says the feedback she gets is that people appreciate the Albanese Government’s attempts to address those issues through initiatives like fee-free TAFE.

“People are appreciative of what we are doing at the moment,” she said. “The main thing is to keep them in the loop and communicate with the community about issues.

“I like to think I have a good understanding of what’s hurting and what’s not.

“You can talk as much as you like, but listening is very important.”

Labor sources say they don’t believe state Swings in Pearce will be replicated at the federal Election.

Still, Ms Roberts says she is bracing for a close contest.

“I always think about it being a close contest,” she said. “I never take anything for granted.”

Pearce, covering 75.5 square kilometres, was named in honour of Sir George Foster Pearce.

Sir George was a Senator for WA from 1901-1938 and served as acting Prime Minister for seven months in 1916.

Pearce covers the City of Wanneroo and parts of the City of Swan and City of Joondalup – major centres including Wanneroo, Clarkson, Butler, Two Rocks and Yanchep

When Ms Roberts won Pearce in 2022 with a 14 per cent swing to her, it was the first time a Liberal had not held the electorate since it was established in 1990.

Yanchep, north of Mindarie — where Ms Roberts lives — is getting plenty of attention this election.

When the Yanchep rail extension was opened last year, Ms Roberts’ name, and commentary, was all over the government press release.

Health has also emerged as an election issue in Yanchep.

Labor is promising an urgent care clinic in Yanchep, but the Liberals have also announced up to $1 million in funding for a business case towards a hospital in Yanchep, if elected.

“The need for a hospital up in Yanchep is very important for people,” Mr Norberger said.

“In 2019, Roger Cook promised that by 2024 the community (of Yanchep) was going to have a hospital.

“The land has been purchased. But that’s it.”

Ms Roberts said the fact that her government had committed to an urgent care clinic showed Labor was aware of the health needs of Yanchep.

She said a new hospital at Yanchep was a state issue, but she would continue to speak to WA Premier Roger Cook about this project.

“The State Government is quite clear it does not believe a hospital is necessary for Yanchep right now,” she said.