October 2024
Gina Rinehart buys Peter Dutton’s table for Perth party
The list of things the opposition leader has to be thankful for Rinehart keeps getting longer.
- Mark Di Stefano
May 2024
- Opinion
- Critical minerals
Why Dutton risks losing WA sentiment
Peter Dutton’s rejection of production tax credits for critical minerals processing is risking support in several must-win seats in Western Australia.
- Updated
- Jennifer Hewett
- Opinion
- Federal budget
GST and gas show a government that’s still out of tune
A huge GST handout to WA and a report that gives a free pass to the state’s gas industry show how far parochial toadying in the west will go.
- Laura Tingle
The instigator of WA’s GST deal says it is failing
Colin Barnett says there was no need for the prime minister to lift WA’s minimum GST “floor” from 70¢ to 75¢ in the dollar, as is set to occur from July.
- John Kehoe
March 2024
- Opinion
- GST
Why the GST fiasco won’t be fixed
Fights about the distribution of GST revenue aren’t just about the money – they also reflect the political death of major tax reform. It’s a policy fiasco.
- Jennifer Hewett
- Opinion
- GDP
Why WA thinks it’s so special
The December GDP figures underline why West Australians feel their contribution to the nation is underappreciated rather than overpaid.
- Jennifer Hewett
December 2023
- Opinion
- Disability
Labor’s bid to fix the NDIS rests on hope
A review of the NDIS has outlined the problems making it unsustainable. Bill Shorten says its recommendations is not about cutting support for those who need it but will improve results.
- Jennifer Hewett
Both sides are responsible for NDIS failure: Reynolds
Former NDIS Minister Linda Reynold says both major parties are responsible for the failure of the policy, and urges the Albanese government to get on with fixing it.
- Phillip Coorey and Ronald Mizen
July 2023
- Opinion
- Voice to parliament
Albanese has no plan B to get the Voice across the line
The Yes campaign is losing the race to persuade more Australians to support the Voice, even thought it started in front.
- Jennifer Hewett
June 2023
Business leaders take out King’s Birthday honours
Entertainer Barry Humphries, long-time Labor MP Jenny Macklin and medical researchers Caroline Bower and Glenda Halliday topped the awards.
- Tom McIlroy
May 2023
Barnett blast: critical minerals sector needs gas, not handouts
Former WA premier Colin Barnett says the Albanese government should not give a dollar to critical minerals companies and instead rethink nonsensical energy policy.
- Brad Thompson
Why WA wants to do this boom differently
Government and business leaders hope future downstream processing of critical minerals could help the state break free from its decades-long cycle of riches to rags.
- Tom Rabe and Brad Thompson
October 2022
- Opinion
- Energy
The renewables boom has arrived but coal and gas are creaming it too
Producers of oil and gas are raking in the profits even as the renewables revolution accelerates. How do all these moving parts fit together?
- Jennifer Hewett
June 2022
- Opinion
- Energy
Why it’s hard to join the dots in Australia’s energy puzzle
Anthony Albanese and the Energy Security Board are determined to get the states to agree on a capacity mechanism for back-up power, but it’s a tough act.
- Jennifer Hewett
May 2022
Labor must embrace ‘bottom-up’ politics or risk teal rout: Lawrence
Former WA premier Carmen Lawrence has warned Labor to heed the lessons of the swing against the Coalition, saying people are sick of “top-down” politics.
- Michael Bennet
The ‘teal’ challenge splintering Perth’s blue-ribbon establishment
Political aspirant Kate Chaney’s bid to turn Perth’s blue ribbon seat of Curtin teal is splintering the Perth establishment.
- Ronald Mizen
January 2022
Harold Clough farewelled by Perth’s business, political heavies
West Australian leaders such as Michael Chaney, Colin Barnett and John Poynton gathered for the funeral of business giant Harold Clough, who has died at 95.
- Michael Bennet
- Analysis
- Federal election
Why Scott Morrison has to win in WA
The Coalition has become accustomed to winning a solid majority of Western Australian seats at federal elections. But that could be about to change.
- Peter Kennedy
November 2021
- Opinion
- Federal election
ScoMo passes the taxi driver test
Scott Morrison is gearing up for a lengthy hard scrabble election campaign that he hopes will replicate his seat by seat election victory of 2019.
- Jennifer Hewett
December 2020
- Opinion
- China
States might have to untangle China mess
Former WA premier Colin Barnett says the relationship with China is now so stunningly bad that any improvement will be up to state governments, not Canberra.
- Jennifer Hewett