As Western Australia prepares to commemorate two years of deliberate isolation from the federation and the world, it is not surprising that the simmering dissent and divide is starting to reach boiling point.

While many supported the ‘Iron Ore Curtain’ during the earlier days of the pandemic, and took comfort in the feeling of safety it provided, Premier Mark McGowan’s decision to delay the border opening indefinitely has angered businesses, expats, and the entertainment and sports industry alike.

And rightly so.

Along with the hard border, Western Australia currently has some of the harshest restrictions on the unvaccinated and those who do not wish to reveal their private medical information.

The list of venues that have been directed to refuse entry or service to the dissenters ranges from gyms to pubs; restaurants to cafes; golf courses to outdoor events; and mine sites to Optus Stadium.

Of particular distaste is the ban on service at bottle shops. Deemed as ‘essential’ during the peak of the pandemic – when no one was vaccinated – it is now impossible for adults to purchase this legal product without showing proof of vaccination.

The vaccination mandate covers a whopping 75 per cent of the workforce, with a booster shot now required.

While much of the dissent is aimed at McGowan and his absolute majority government, the reality is that the federal government has been missing in action. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has repeatedly refused to intervene on the hard border, brushing it off as a state issue.

His comments that the federal government does not support a mandatory vaccination policy provides little comfort for those who had to choose between complying, or losing their jobs and being excluded from almost all aspects of society.

In his article The Liberal Party’s mission to end liberalism, Stephen Spartacus succinctly expressed the sentiments of many former Liberal Party voters. While the state Liberal party hangs on by a thread – the National Party are technically the Opposition – their federal government counterparts have been busy defending its high profile members instead of providing any leadership.

I admit, I did consider a job offer from Liberal WA Leader David Honey. While I certainly identify with Robert Menzies’ vision, the reality is the modern-day Liberal Party has abandoned its base.

That’s why I am running as the Lead Senate Candidate for the Liberal Democrats in Western Australia. The LibDems have advocated for individual freedom, personal responsibility, private property rights, and voluntary association since its founding in 2001.

We are Australia’s true classical liberal party and offer a real and sensible alternative for those wandering the political wasteland the Liberal Party has left behind.

You can follow Kate Fantinel on Twitter.