Home
Search
thewest.com.au
CountrymanChevron Right Icon

Countryman Politics

Former One Nation senator Rod Culleton leaving court.

Courts & JusticePremiumEx-senator Rod Culleton sentenced for lying about bankruptcy

Former One Nation senator Rod Culleton has been sentenced after failing to disclose his bankruptcy status on his nomination for the 2022 Federal election. 

Claire Sadler

The official numbers of WA’s sheep flock decline have been exposed, with the State’s science department revealing a nearly 32 per cent decline since 2022.

Low FlockPremiumOfficial numbers on WA’s sheep flock decline released

Jackie Jarvis has rubbished claims the Federal Government’s ban on live sheep exports is squarely to blame for WA’s plummeting sheep numbers, after it was revealed the flock now sits at just 8.6 million head.

Georgia Campion

Shark fisher John Higham at Batavia Coast Marina boat ramp.

Local BusinessPremiumLocal fishers react to ban on their livelihoods

Local fishers have slammed the State Government’s permanent ban on commercial demersal fishing, saying livelihoods will be destroyed and consumers will suffer from less choice and higher prices.

Sally Davies

Land clearing has long been identified as a major threat to nature and biodiversity. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

PoliticsPremiumAg bosses told of land clearing reforms at last minute

Farmers are unsure how to continue work under fast-tracked changes to land clearing laws, which have been hailed as a milestone for conservation.

Stephanie Gardiner

Liberal Leader Basil Zempilas and National Party leader Shane Love have agreed to work towards a new Coalition agreement.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
State PoliticsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Libs and Nats plot bold WA election ‘marriage’ battle plan

The WA Liberal and National parties have officially started working towards forming a Coalition, with the new arrangement likely to be in place a year out from the 2029 State Election.

Joe Spagnolo

Former Federal Trade Minister Andrew Robb at the LIVEXchange conference at Crown Perth. Georgia Campion

‘Destructive Act’PremiumEx Trade Minister warns of sheep trade ban implications

Australia’s former Trade Minister has warned of the ‘profound harm’ the ban of the live sheep export trade will have on the agriculture industry and the national economy.

Georgia Campion

National MP Barnaby Joyce has made his future intentions clear. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

PoliticsPremiumJoyce ditches Nationals, coy on One Nation defection

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has quit the rural party he previously led but hasn't confirmed a speculated jump to join Pauline Hanson at One Nation.

Dominic Giannini

Labor has three days of parliamentary sitting to strike a deal and pass environmental laws in 2025. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

PoliticsLabor path to pass nature laws in last week narrows

Labor is facing hurdles as it attempts to negotiate a deal in the Senate to pass environmental reforms before parliament finishes for the year.

Grace Crivellaro

Tony Maddox, a local Toodyay real estate agent who went on trial earlier this year for allegedly breaching the Aboriginal Heritage Act by bolstering a crossing at a creek on his property.

Countryman NewsPremiumBattle over Aboriginal Heritage Act conviction delayed

Toodyay landholder Tony Maddox’s legal case captured the attention of farmers across the nation, who argued he had been unfairly charged under the State’s 1972 Aboriginal Heritage Act.

Georgia Campion

Kojonup sheep farmer and WAFarmers president Steve McGuire.

Sheep FundingPremiumWAFarmers pens letter to SPA on Future Flock development

A signed letter from WAFarmers and several other interstate organisations has been delivered to Sheep Producers Australia detailing frustrations about the live sheep export phase-out funding.

Georgia Campion

Nationals member for New England Barnaby Joyce in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, October 27, 2025. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING

PoliticsBarnaby Joyce denies allegations he yelled at worker

Barnaby Joyce has denied allegations he yelled at a female staff member in Nationals whip Michelle Landry’s office on Wednesday morning. 

Caitlyn Rintoul

Central Wheatbelt MLA Lachlan Hunter.

OPINIONPremiumLachlan Hunter: I wasn’t elected to sit quiet in the corner

The people of my electorate — and regional WA — didn’t send me to Perth to sit quietly in the corner.

Lachlan Hunter

Senator Murray Watt will announce the creation of Australia’s first National Environmental Protection Agency. 

FEDERAL POLITICSNew agency to be created under reworked environmental laws

A new agency will be created under Labor’s proposed overhaul of environmental laws but the Environment Minister will retain the final say over projects.

Caitlyn Rintoul

Nationals WA leader Shane Love, centre.

Inquiry ReportPremiumFirearm stakeholders disappointed by ‘sanitised’ report

A “sanitised” report into Labor’s firearms reforms has disappointed firearm stakeholders who say the inquiry failed to fully scrutinise the laws.

Georgia Campion, Jessica Page and Oliver Lane

First day of the 42nd Parliament of Western Australia. Central Wheatbelt's Lachlan Hunter.

state politicsCommentsPremium‘Completely unparliamentary’: MP booted from Parliament

‘Sorry to have to do that, it’s the first time I’ve done that. But today is the day to make sure that we are holding these (standing orders).’

Jessica Page

Farming industry leaders Tony Seabrook, Steve McGuire, Bron Christensen and Cob De Pledge.

Inquiry ReportPremiumFarming leader disappointed by report into firearms inquiry

A farming leader has labelled the an inquiry report into WA’s rushed and contentious firearms reforms “political grandstanding”.

Georgia Campion

Disaffected Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has played down suggestions he could be off to One Nation. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

BARNABY BLUEPremiumBarnaby barney plays out as once-Nats leader toys with move

He was once the party’s leader, but Barnaby Joyce now says his relationship with the Nationals’ leadership has “irreparably broken down” as he reportedly toys with a move to One Nation. 

Cally Dupe & Caitlyn Rintoul

Barnaby Joyce said he decided not to contest his seat because of a rift with party leadership.

FEDERAL POLITICSComments‘Not saying no’: Barnaby Joyce fuels One Nation rumours

Despite multiple chances to clear up his position in a media blitz on Monday, Mr Joyce was coy about his political future. 

Caitlyn Rintoul

Queensland Senator Matt Canavan has slammed the dollar-for-dollar aspect of a live sheep export transition package grant program.

Package CriticismPremiumScrutiny falls on dollar-for-dollar export ban assistance

The dollar-for-dollar aspect of the $139 million live sheep export transition package has drawn the scrutiny and ire of opposition members and farmers who have labelled it “bulls..t”. 

Georgia Campion

Former agriculture department secretary Adam Fennessy is proud of the work he did in the role. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)

PoliticsAgriculture boss paid out $900k upon 'amicable' exit

The former agriculture secretary oversaw a shake-up of the department before he suddenly left the role two years into a five-year term.

Stephanie Gardiner

A parliamentary report with recommendations about firearms reforms is due to be handed down next week.

‘Poorly Managed’PremiumFirearm holders concerned of slippery slope after seizures

WA’s peak firearms bodies are cautiously hopeful that a long-awaited parliamentary report will recommend fixes to what they describe as Labor’s “poorly-managed” firearms reform.

Georgia Campion

Rail safety advocate and Murchison pastoralist Lara Jensen has called on WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti for an apology after Ms Jensen was blocked on Facebook.

SOCIAL MEDIAPremiumSaffioti’s office withdraws Lara Jensen social media block

WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti’s office has hastily backtracked after an “administrative error” saw a regional rail safety advocate blocked on social media.

Georgia Campion

President Donald Trump claims China is not buying American soybeans as a negotiating tactic. (AP PHOTO)

PoliticsPremiumTrump says China's Xi using soy as negotiation tactic

US farmers are hurt by China not buying soybeans for "negotiating" reasons, President Donald Trump says ahead of an anticipated meeting with his counterpart.

Tom Polansek and Trevor Hunnicutt

Australian Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen says climate goals can only be achieved through partnership and collaboration.

EMISSIONS REDUCTION PremiumAgriculture called on for emissions reduction heavy lifting

Agriculture is being called upon to do the heavy lifting after the Albanese Government announced its “ambitious but achievable” 2035 climate target of 62-72 per cent. 

Cally Dupe