Chartered accountant Michelle Maynard has been confirmed as the Labor candidate for Swan Hills, where she will attempt to replace departing MP Jess Shaw.
The preselection was locked in on Friday, with Premier Roger Cook describing Ms Maynard as a “small business owner, a local mum and a community advocate”.
“She’s known across the State as a finance expert, and always puts her local community first,” Mr Cook said.
The Ellenbrook local is a partner at Carbon Group and has made regular media appearances commenting on tax issues.
She is a mum-of-two and volunteers as treasurer of the Ellenbrook Community Collective and Ellenbrook Dockers Junior Football Club.
She was also named as one of Perth’s 40 under 40 in 2021 and this year.
Her preselection was triggered by the surprise resignation of two-term incumbent Jess Shaw, who earlier this month revealed she would quit politics in 2025 to pursue a career in the energy sector.
When announcing her decision, Ms Shaw said she wanted to be more active “addressing climate change and effecting energy transition” — a goal she believed was best pursued “in a role outside of the Parliament”.
Labor holds Swan Hills on a margin of 27.3 per cent, making it one of the party’s safest seats in the State.
Both Ms Shaw and Ms Maynard are aligned with the United Workers Union, the most influential of the factions that dominate Labor politics.