MORANGUP | 12 June 2025
By Morangup
Labor has officially claimed victory in the new federal seat of Bullwinkel, and for the first time in decades, regional WA has a real advocate — not a party insider, not a Nationals holdover, but a working nurse and community builder named Trish Cook.
Cook’s win comes six days after the federal election that delivered a landslide victory to Anthony Albanese’s Labor Government. But in Bullwinkel — a vast electorate stretching from the Perth Hills to the Wheatbelt — it went down to the wire. For days, Cook and her Liberal rival Matt Moran were locked in a dead heat, with just 48 votes separating them at one point.
When former Nationals leader Mia Davies dropped out on election night, all eyes turned to preference flows. Ultimately, it was Cook who edged ahead, and by Friday, Labor formally claimed the seat with a 635-vote lead — even before the AEC officially declared it.
“This isn’t just a win for Labor,” said one local observer involved in the Toodyay count. “This is a turning point for our region. The old boys' club is done.”
Who is Trish Cook?
Cook is no career politician. She’s a nurse, a midwife, and a longtime advocate for rural communities. She lives in the Perth Hills, has raised her family here, and served for eight years on the Shire of Mundaring — including as Deputy Shire President in 2023.
She’s worked in remote Aboriginal communities, FIFO medical teams on oil rigs, and regional clinics where healthcare is often delayed, underfunded or completely absent.
A seat named for a nurse — won by a nurse
Bullwinkel is named after Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel, the sole survivor of the 1942 Banka Island massacre. Bullwinkel went on to revolutionise nursing in Australia. Cook says Bullwinkel’s story inspires her every day.
“I’m humbled to represent a seat that bears her name. I hope I can honour her legacy in how I serve this region.”
What Cook promises to deliver
- Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Mundaring — the only one in Bullwinkel
- New Mental Health Centre in Kalamunda (part of Labor’s $1B package)
- Upgrades to telecommunications and fire brigades
- $139M transition support for WA sheep farmers leaving live export
She supports value-added agriculture, saying: “I want sheep processed in WA — not sent offshore live on boats. Let’s create jobs here: wool insulation batts, processed mutton-grind for fast-food industry export, hide-to-skin and quality fleece products, blood-and-bone/fertiliser, whole of animal usage —zero wastage, less emissions by weight.”
Toodyay’s Wish List
- $1.8M – Staff accommodation
- $1.1M – Oval lighting
- $250K – Stage 2 Recreation Centre plan
- $1.5M – Single-lane bridge
- $180K – Public toilets
- $80K – CCTV installations
Keep the Sheep vs. Keeping Our Future
Despite pushback from lobby groups under the “Keep the Sheep” campaign, voters across Bullwinkel have shown they’re ready for change. This isn’t about abandoning farmers — it’s about building smarter, cleaner, WA-based value chains that support local communities.
A Seat at the Table
On Friday morning, Trish Cook stood smiling among 29 other new MPs on Anthony Albanese’s official page. It’s official: Bullwinkel now has the Prime Minister’s attention.
“I’ve advocated for my patients and my community my whole life. Now I’ll advocate for Bullwinkel, as your local MP.”
Final Word from Morangup
This region has waited long enough. No more performative visits, no more backroom deals, no more empty promises from politicians who don’t understand our lives. Trish Cook represents everything the old system feared — a woman, a worker, and someone who listens.