Former Liberal candidate Darren Spackman may campaign as a “reluctant independent,” after resignation

The former Liberal candidate for the Kimberley who was spectacularly dumped by his party after controversial comments about youth crime said he has been urged by supporters to campaign as an independent. Kununurra publican Darren Spackman said he was a “reluctant independent,” after he was compelled to resign by Liberal leader Libby Mettam following his quotes in The Broome Advertiser that his past attitude about young offenders had been “hang the c...s”. In the article he went on to say his views had changed. “Now I’ve seen the other side of it where I’ve been to juvenile justice . . . you only been to school for three months of your whole life and you come to town and you’re couch surfing, how long until you steal food.” Mr Spackman also recently caused controversy when it was reported that in a 2022 social media post he described a break-in at his business as a “Welcome to Country”. The owner of Gulliver’s Tavern said since being forced to resign from the Liberal Party his “phone has not stopped.” “The feedback that I’m getting is that irrespective of the way the words were delivered, they want somebody to tell the truth, and at the moment, nobody is telling the truth ... we can throw money at it, that doesn’t fix anything,” he said. “You know I had very, very, very hard views on criminal acts, but now that I’ve actually been exposed to the other side of why they’re committing crimes, I do have empathy for that and the fact that what we’re doing is not working, and the Government is putting people at risk. The system’s failed our people.” In the past decade crime has doubled in Kununurra, from 1631 offences recorded in 2015 to 3391 in 2024. As a bottleshop owner Mr Spackman has experienced crime first-hand with thefts, ram raids and an attempted stabbing by a shoplifter in 2022. “I’m probably without a doubt, it’s terrible, but I’m the pin-up person for victim of crime,” he said. After a very public bruising, Mr Spackman said he may pick up actively campaigning in the final week before the election. “I am definitely a reluctant independent. Although I don’t agree with what has happened, I still understand, and I still hold liberal views.” In his support for the Liberal Party he pointed to the fact his How to Vote card put the Liberal Party in the top spot in the Upper House.