Labor rebels have accused party officials of unfair meddling just weeks out from Rockingham by-election

A band of Labor rebels has defected and accused party officials of unfair meddling just weeks out from the Rockingham by-election. While Labor said only one member put their hand up to be a candidate on the July 29 vote, she’s now facing unexpected competition from a former supporter turned rival. With two premiers backing her, Magenta Marshall is the clear front-runner for Rockingham — currently held by Labor at a 37.7 per cent margin — but a Labor rebellion is threatening to derail an easy by-election win. Former Labor members are questioning the validity of the party’s pre-selection process, but Premier Roger Cook insists all was above board. “WA Labor went through the normal pre-selection process and I’m delighted they’ve pre-selected a Rockingham local,” Mr Cook said. Party stalwart Steph Fielding, a former branch vice-president, is one former member who queried Labor’s choice in an online post. “I won’t be told how to vote,” Ms Fielding said. “I’m just sticking up for the people of Rockingham and my community.” A day later she was sent the party’s code of conduct, including the “standard of behaviour we expect”, prompting her to cancel her membership. The email was sent to all members, which Ms Fielding interpreted to be a warning she toe the party line. “(I) cancelled my membership effective immediately... I’m actually a bit embarrassed that’s how they conduct themselves,” she said. The former branch vice-president said it was a difficult decision to make after following and volunteering with the party for several years, but ultimately decided she couldn’t back the current candidate in good faith. “I can’t back the candidate, I wouldn’t know who she is. I’ve never met her, never seen her at a branch meeting until last week and I want someone in our community that we know and that we trust,” she said. Ms Fielding isn’t the only one walking away. Local homelessness advocate Owen Farmer, who has been a member of the party since age 18, is leaving Labor behind too. He made the decision to support Rockingham’s deputy mayor Hayley Edwards, now running as an Independent after her Labor membership had lapsed. Labor Party rules dictate a candidate must have been a member for a minimum of 12 months in order to nominate in a pre-selection bid. But there is wiggle room — the executive can overrule this at their discretion. Ms Edwards membership had lapsed for just 21 days. She said she was told the Labor Party had already made its decision prior to pre-selection. “They said there had been a candidate already that had the favour of the unions,” Ms Edwards said. The Labor Party secretary said “all Labor members were invited to submit an expression of interest” in what was “an open pre-selection process”. Now running as an Independent, Ms Edwards changed her mind about stepping away from politics after deciding earlier in the year not to re-contest her position as a councillor at October’s local government elections. With Mark McGowan’s shock resignation leaving the State seat of Rockingham vacant, the Rockingham deputy mayor and Baldivis resident took the leap. Nine candidates have since been locked in to the ballot, including Labor favourite Magenta Marshall, young Liberal Peter Hudson, The Greens WA’s Madeleine De Jong, fellow Rockingham councillor Rae Cottam for the Legalise Cannabis WA Party and Australian Christians’ Mike Crichton. Clive Galletly and Peter Dunne are also running as Independents alongside Ms Edwards. Janetia Knapp, formerly affiliated with the now defunct Western Australia Party, has also nominated as an individual without any political affiliation. The Rockingham State by-election will be held on Saturday July 29.