“Mirrabooka is a rich community of diverse individuals. I have been privileged to be their representative in this Parliament, raising their concerns and fighting hard for government to respond to their issues, particularly around employment.
“It has been a privilege to work with the many cultures that make up Australia, the most important of course being our First Nations people, and I thank the elders and other Aboriginal leaders for their support.”
Ms Freeman was touted as a future lower house speaker, but a deal has been done to appoint Local Government Minister David Templeman to the position after the election.
She said she believed Mirrabooka would be better served with the energy of a new Labor member.
UnionsWA secretary Meredith Hammat is been canvassing for the seat, according to Labor sources.
Ms Hammat has been at the helm of WA’s peak union body since 2012.
Ms Freeman chaired the education and health standing committee and has been an acting speaker in the lower house since 2013.
She said she was proud of her involvement in a mentoring program for migrants and refugees, advocating for a $32 million upgrade to Balga TAFE and her contributions to a new government multicultural policy framework.
The district of Mirrabooka is one of Labor’s safest, on a margin of 23.3 per cent.
It is home to more than 45,000 people and is one of the most diverse metropolitan electorates, with just 47 per cent of its population born in Australia.
