Shire takes new direction

History was made at the weekend in the Broome Shire Council elections as indigenous candidates Anne Poelina, Mark Manado and Philip Matsumoto were voted in, creating the town’s first indigenous-majority Shire Council.

For the first time in Broome’s history, the town’s future will be decided by an indigenous-majority Shire Council.

The newly-elected councillors join Eunice Yu and Peter Matsumoto on the nine-member council.

Graeme Campbell was returned as Shire president, beating Cr Poelina after his name was drawn at random following two rounds of tied voting.

Forty per cent of those eligible to vote went to the polls, which was a “significant” voter turnout, according to WA Electoral Commission returning officer David Payne, while more than 25 per cent voted in the Dampier Ward.

An elated Cr Manado said he was overcome with a sense of pride after the announcement and said the historic involvement of Aboriginal people in local government was “unique in itself in WA and on a national level”.

In a surprising twist, Cr Poelina and Cr Manado, who ran under the flag Nowhere Else But Here, will join Graeme Campbell and Chris Mitchell who were returned to council after claiming the most votes.

The announcement came after a nail-biting evening and closely contested count at the council chambers as candidates and electors sat attentively for hours waiting for updated results.

The final result mirrored divided opinion in the town over Broome’s future and the dispute over the proposed Browse Basin gas development at James Price Point. Cr Mitchell led polling with almost 1500 votes, followed closely by Cr Campbell.

Cr Manado and Cr Poelina each received almost 1300 votes after campaigning on a platform of “sustainable development”.

Unsuccessful candidates in the Broome Ward were incumbent Cr Rob Lander, former Cr Chris Maher, Stuart Gallus and Kandy Curran.

In the Dampier Ward, Rohanna Angus and Jillian Hunter missed out.

In the Shire of Derby/ West Kimberley, Iris Prouse, Chris Travers, Andrew Twaddle, Ross Sullivan and Midge Brown were elected.

There were stark contrasts in emotions following the announcement as cheers and applause for the new councillors broke a tense atmosphere.

Celebrations were conducted separately as Cr Poelina, Cr Manado and Cr Matsumoto left for a celebratory toast at Broome Convention Centre, while Cr Campbell and Cr Mitchell enjoyed a quiet drink with a handful of remaining supporters and guests.

Speaking briefly after the results, Cr Campbell said his focus would be to heal wounds in the community and cope with the challenges ahead.

“The focus needs to be (on) how do we put the town back into harmony,” he said.

“A divided town is not a happy town. There are issues facing us – such that there is a lot of work to be done.

“We need to bring Broome back to where it was, but it’s not an easy job.”

Cr Campbell said the Shire needed to consider how to protect the character and ambience of Broome if gas was developed in the region.

Cr Mitchell said he was “over the moon” with the result and shared Cr Campbell’s sentiment. “The focus is getting back nto good leadership and being responsible,” he said.

Cr Poelina vowed to fight WA Premier Colin Barnett over the proposed gas hub at Price’s Point and said she was not going to “take it lying down”.

At the convention centre, the three new councillors were greeted with adulation from about 100 supporters.

Cr Poelina quoted Indian philosopher and pacifist Mahatma Ghandi.

“First they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win,” she said to a round of applause.

Cr Poelina recounted her family story to a captivated audience – describing the values, courage and compassion learnt from her parents, as well as the challenges they faced, and said it was time for locals to stand up and be counted.