Labor’s Canning candidate Barry Winmar missing in action

Journalists have been unsuccessful in contacting Mr Winmar for several weeks, with phone calls, telephone messages and emails unanswered by the candidate.

While other candidates have filled their social media accounts with details of their campaign stops, Mr Winmar’s Facebook page is notably empty.

Aside from a photograph taken in Byford with state opposition leader Mark McGowan to promote Labor’s public transport policy Metronet, the only other campaign event Mr Winmar promoted was a fundraiser at a bar in Perth’s CBD with shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus.

There is concern within Labor ranks that Mr Winmar and candidates in other Liberal-held seats have been “missing in action” during the campaign.

There is pressure on Labor to poll well in seats that are considered unwinnable because a double dissolution election means all senate seats are up for grabs, instead of just half as would be the case in a normal election.

The Mail has put questions to Mr Winmar about housing and homeless shelters, Youth Job Pathways, unemployment in the Peel region, the free trade agreement between China and Australia, the Greens’ announcement of a $12 million rehab centre for Aboriginal people, superannuation and the Liberal party’s announcement of an additional $20 million for the state’s Primary Health Alliance to spend on combating drug addiction.

Mr Winmar did not respond to any of these requests for comment.

In response to a request for an interview with Mr Winmar almost two weeks ago, the Mail received an email signed by the Canning Campaign Team, which said: “We have been asked to get all media questions in writing please”.

Mr Winmar was asked if he had been campaigning in Mandurah or in the Peel region, whether he had been instructed not to talk to media, and who told him he could only answer media requests in writing.

Mr Winmar has not responded to requests for comment in relation to this story.