Region’s four Shire leaders blast Kimberley MLA Josie Farrer for her silence since the COVID-19 outbreak, but politician hits back

All four shire presidents representing the Kimberley — the WA region most vulnerable to COVID-19 — have called out MLA Josie Farrer over her silence and alleged “lack of leadership” since the disease’s outbreak. But Ms Farrer has hit back, claiming she was responsible for raising key issues with the State Government that had led to quick changes in response to the virus. But each last week told the Broome Advertiser they had not once been contacted by Ms Farrer, pictured, at a time they said required stronger leadership and direction. Shire of Broome president Harold Tracey said it would have been fair to expect Ms Farrer to be at the “front and centre” of things, like Mr McGowan had been. “All I can say is the Kimberley is fortunate it has four great shire presidents who have stepped up to the plate, because there has certainly been no leadership from the member for this region,” he said. Shire of Halls Creek President Malcolm Edwards said he had not heard from the MLA. “We just automatically don’t even think of her — if anything crops up, her name doesn’t even come into my head,” he said. Shire of Derby-West Kimberley President Geoff Haerewa said he wanted to hear from Ms Farrer more frequently, especially at stressful times. “I do not want to make it political, but I would think Josie should be passing on critical information to us,” he said. Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley President David Menzel said he appreciated the support of Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, but had not heard from Ms Farrer. A number of business leaders in the Kimberley also said they had tried to make contact with Ms Farrer, but had no response. East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice-president Wayne Paul said Ms Farrer’s office had told him she was in Perth when he tried to contact her last month. Ms Farrer said she was self-isolating after returning from Perth and had been responding to calls along with her office. “We moved swiftly to implement stronger travel restrictions across within the region, to protect vulnerable residents in remote Aboriginal communities,” she said. “These restrictions followed an approach from the local government leaders, which I immediately raised with the Premier’s office to ensure they were implemented quickly.” Ms Farrer said she had worked closely with Health Minister Roger Cook’s office to secure a COVID-19 clinic at Broome Hospital, which was due to open yesterday. Ms Farrer, who has held the Kimberley seat since 2013, has not put out a media statement since last year and did not post to her Member for Kimberley Facebook page from February 24 to last Tuesday. During this 36-day period, COVID-19 was officially declared a pandemic, the State and region recorded their first confirmed cases, a number of Kimberley health workers tested positive, and the region closed its borders.