Cashless card debate heats up as cabinet lands in steamy WA

Anthony Albanese and his cabinet are in WA this week. Picture: NCA NewsWire /Philip Gostelow

The most isolated city in the world is at the centre of power this week.

It seems every Tom, Dick and Harry are in Perth right now. The latter – in pop star Harry Styles – kicked off the Australian leg of his Love On Tour shows with a shoey of water in front of 30,000 screaming fans in Western Australia on Monday night.

Harry Styles and the iconic #shoey from last night. UNREAL performer! #HarryStyles#harrystylesaustraliapic.twitter.com/8F4umFOmMH

— Samantha Chiari (@samanthachiari) February 20, 2023

Meanwhile Anthony Albanese and his cabinet were welcomed by more subdued conditions: thunderstorms in Port Hedland on Tuesday.

The federal leadership were in the steamy Pilbara in the midst of its wet season for a historic gathering – the first cabinet meeting hosted in regional WA and the first inside the town’s shipping tower which overlooks the world’s largest export port.

Last year WA’s resources sector pumped $230bn into the national economy. Much of it shipped from Hedland to places like China.

Premier Mark McGowan was in attendance. Unfazed by the 33 degree heat and drizzle.

Just thankful he was nowhere near state parliament in West Perth which was vandalised on Tuesday morning by protesters who spray painted the Woodside logo on the building’s doors.

It was another public stand against more industry on the Burrup – located in the Pilbara – which activists and community leaders say is damaging sacred rock art at Murujuga.

Burrup is located about three hours from Port Hedland. A town which is renowned for its rich resources.

High commodity prices and inflation combine and combust in WA’s north west. There is a growing rental crisis plus skyrocketing cost of living, issues which are exacerbated by its isolation and the iron-tinged sector it services. A two-bedroom apartment in town will cost you $760 a week, a three bed corrugated iron shack with one bathroom and reinforced safety screens will set you back $825.

Regional WA is also grappling with surging crime since the abolition of the cashless welfare card. Port Hedland – home to some of BHP and Rio Tinto’s biggest projects and employment hubs – isn’t immune.

Just a short drive from where the barges carrying billions of dollars of iron ore and lithium sail from is South Hedland, an area where WA Police say burglaries and vandalism is at record levels. Assaults – mainly family violence – are reported every day.

The Prime Minister visited Kalgoorlie on Monday but refused to visit other towns like Laverton and Carnarvon which have expressed an interest in him witnessing the crime and squalor locals are enduring.

“I can’t go to every single place in Australia on every day,” Mr Albanese said.

Town leaders in Laverton are calling for the reintroduction of the cashless welfare card after it was a scrapped without consultation.

“Fine tuning the cashless card is what they should’ve done,” Laverton shire president Patrick Hill said.

Mr Albanese said it will not be reinstated but he’ll continue to “engage with communities”.

On Monday Peter Dutton visited the town, which is about a 10-hour drive northeast from Perth, when he learned the prime minister would not.

He then embarked on an “after dark” tour in Leonora, another small WA town grappling with crime, truancy and violence.

Nationals leader David Littleproud was in Carnarvon – about a 15-hour drive west – where he said he witnessed the out of control crime first hand including a break in at a local vet. The 15th time in a year.

Within hours of landing in Carnavon a number of businesses were broken into. The Coral Coast Veterinary Hospital told me, this is the 15th time in 12 months they’ve had a break-in. Elders, workers and volunteers are frustrated.
It’s why they asked the PM to visit for help. pic.twitter.com/3KPx901kJ1

— David Littleproud MP (@D_LittleproudMP) February 20, 2023

Mr Albanese wrapped up his tour of Kalgoorlie with selfies at the town’s Super Pit before heading back to Perth to attend a fundraiser hosted at the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club in the plush suburb of Peppermint Grove.

Guests paid $2000 to attend, including property developer Nigel Satterley – a member of the WA Liberal Party.

Congratulations Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Thank you for taking the time to do so many Perth visits and genuinely listening and consulting with the community. Good luck to the Labor team.

— Nigel Satterley (@NigelSatterley) May 23, 2022