Western Australian Premier Roger Cook has defended a decision to keep his party aligned with the state branch of the CFMEU, insisting that the construction union has not engaged in anything similar to what has been exposed on the east coast.

Mr Cook on Tuesday said while he was aware of “robust individuals” on both sides of the construction industry in WA, he was confident the WA branch of the CFMEU did not have the same systemic problems exposed in NSW and Victoria.