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Joe Spagnolo

opinion
opinion
Joe SpagnoloComments
opinion
New financial year signals more cost of living pressures

As we start a new financial year, all indications are that life is about to get substantially tougher for West Australians — particularly those who are already struggling to make ends meet.

Joe Spagnolo

opinion
opinion
Joe SpagnoloCommentsPremium
opinion
Why WA politicians should get a bigger pay rise

Excuse my annual rant, but it’s again time to talk peanuts and monkeys.

Joe Spagnolo

opinion
opinion
Over Confident CommentsPremium
opinion
Premiers in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones

Mark McGowan’s gags and one liners have given all of us a laugh. But he now needs to show some humility.

Joe Spagnolo

AnalysisCommentsPremiumBudget strong but it’s time for Govt to deliver on promises

There are some very impressive figures in this Budget. But as good as the zeroes look, the McGowan Government will need to deliver on its growing list of promises since coming to power in 2017.

Joe Spagnolo

opinion
opinion
Joe SpagnoloComments
opinion
Mother’s Day a good time to reminisce

Hopefully Sunday marks the end of what have been some pretty average Mother’s Day celebrations these past two years.

Joe Spagnolo

opinion
opinion
Joe SpagnoloCommentsPremium
opinion
Why this ‘low-key’ Budget needs to set WA up for the future

Given that WA will again post a multi-billion-dollar surplus in May’s State Budget, there is an opportunity to set the people of Western Australia up for years to come.

Joe Spagnolo

Game on CommentsPremiumJoe Spangolo: It’s now or never for Labor to win seats in WA

Anthony Albanese doesn’t have the luxury of a Federal Budget to splash the cash. He can promise this and that, but it’s not the same as money locked into a Budget. Here’s what he does have at his disposal.

Joe Spagnolo

opinion
opinion
Image is everythingCommentsPremium
opinion
Why Albo has spruced up his look ahead of Federal poll fight

Just in case you haven’t noticed, Anthony Albanese cuts a fine new figure these days. He has shed some weight and bought some new threads.

Joe Spagnolo

Under Pressure PremiumHead honchos escape public scrutiny over PCH problems

You can sugar coat it, you can try and put a positive spin on it, but the undeniable truth is there are some very serious and worrying problems at the Perth Children’s Hospital that need to be fixed.

Joe Spagnolo

opinion
opinion
Poisoned chaliceCommentsPremium
opinion
Tough road ahead for new WA Health minister

To say that Amber-Jade Sanderson has a tough gig as WA’s new Health Minister is probably the understatement of the century.

Joe Spagnolo

opinion
opinion
Time upCommentsPremium
opinion
Why Roger Cook won’t be Health Minister next year

Word within Government circles is that Cook himself believes it’s time for fresh eyes to be in charge of the health portfolio after a 13-year-stint as either Opposition health spokesman or Health Minister.

Joe Spagnolo

opinion
opinion
Joe SpagnoloCommentsPremium
opinion
Why 2022 is set to be Mark McGowan’s toughest year yet

The border announcements over the past few days add up to one glaring truth — that 2022 could well be Mark McGowan’s most challenging year as Premier.

Joe Spagnolo

Unhealthy systemCommentsPremiumGovernment must fix PCH problems to regain our trust

McGowan and Cook need to convince the public that concerns and recommendations raised in the Aishwarya inquiry are taken seriously — but more importantly — acted upon, writes Joe Spagnolo.

Joe Spagnolo

opinion
opinion
Telethon MemoryComments
opinion
The day my piano accordion solo made it to Telethon

Most kids get an electric guitar or drums from their parents when they show any aptitude for music. I got a piano accordion.

Joe Spagnolo

opinion
opinion
Milking itCommentsPremium
opinion
Is McGowan milking the GST row for all it’s worth?

Opposition leader Mia Davies believes Mark McGowan is milking the GST battle with the east for all it’s worth — and she’s probably right.

Joe Spagnolo

opinion
opinion
Election countdownCommentsPremium
opinion
Liberals’ woes a boost for Anthony Albanese and Labor

Anthony Albanese will try and press all the right buttons in today’s address to the WA faithful at a WA Labor state conference in Perth.

Joe Spagnolo

opinion
opinion
WA heroesCommentsPremium
opinion
Those who really delivered our historic grand final

As we enjoy the afterglow of a once-in-a-lifetime occasion for the west, here are the people we need to thank for making it happen.

Joe Spagnolo

Sub Hopes SunkCommentsPremiumWA may not forgive and forget subs deal on election day

Seemingly, Scott Morrison reckons he has done enough to keep West Australians voting blue at the next federal election, despite giving the chocolate biscuits to South Australia. I’m not so sure.

Joe Spagnolo

opinion
opinion
COVID cloudCommentsPremium
opinion
Albanese hanging onto McGowan’s popularity on a thread

McGowan is about as popular as The Beatles when they arrived in Australia in 1964. But a major COVID-19 infiltration into WA could change that – and that spells bad news for Anthony Albanese.

Joe Spagnolo

analysis
analysis
No surplus without bordersCommentsPremium
analysis
Beautiful numbers, as long as COVID doesn’t head west

There is significant pressure on McGowan to fall into line with the PM’s call to drop the hard border. But if COVID-19 comes west his ‘beautiful’ budget numbers will swiftly lose their sparkle.

Joe Spagnolo

opinion
opinion
State BudgetCommentsPremium
opinion
McGowan has 5 billion reasons to keep border closed

This Thursday Mark McGowan will have a new weapon to argue why WA's border should remain shut past Christmas.

Joe Spagnolo

opinion
opinion
Joe SpagnoloCommentsPremium
opinion
McGowan right to listen to WA on lockdowns and borders

I am confident that when the majority of West Australians want a different WA, that when they want lockdowns and hard borders ditched, they will air their views loudly. But that hasn’t come yet.

Joe Spagnolo

opinion
opinion
Election planCommentsPremium
opinion
Border blue key to Albo’s WA blitz

Federal Labor appears to have learnt a thing, or two, about the last election flogging.

Joe Spagnolo

opinion
opinion
Moment of truthPremium
opinion
Liberal review of State election must be brutal, honest

For die-hard Liberals, August 28 will be an important day when we find out whether WA Libs are dinkum about resurrecting a once proud party which is now the laughing stock of Australian politics.

Joe Spagnolo