Search
thewest.com.au
PoliticsChevron Right Icon

State Politics

‘very old fashioned’CommentsPremiumLawyers slam Libs’ mandatory jail plan for dealers

Leading criminal lawyers have spoken out against the WA Liberals’ support for automatic jail terms of up to 15 years for meth dealers, with top lawyer Tom Percy QC labelling the policy ‘ridiculous’.

Josh Zimmerman

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
54 days to goCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Liberals rule out One Nation deal for State Election

WA Liberals state director Sam Calabrese has said the party will not enter an agreement with Pauline Hanson, a move welcomed by Zak Kirkup, saying they will instead ‘work closely with the Nationals’.

Josh Zimmerman

Election promiseCommentsTrains to Perth for less than $5 under McGowan

Perth fares will be capped at a maximum of $4.90 in a complete overhaul of the city’s public transport system promised by WA Labor.

Josh Zimmerman

analysis
analysis
55 days to goCommentsPremium
analysis
Will Zak hold his seat? What to watch this election

While Mark McGowan looks certain to lead Labor to a thumping State election victory on March 13, there are a number of tantalising contests. Peter Law and Josh Zimmerman analyse the seats to watch.

Peter Law and Josh Zimmerman

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Tough on crimeCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Meth dealers to face 15 years in jail under Libs’ plan

The State Opposition has promised mandatory jail terms of up to 15 years for anyone caught selling meth if they win the March State Election — the toughest penalties for the offence in the country.

Josh Zimmerman

Historic highsCommentsPremiumKirkup: WA Health ‘being robbed’ by ambulance ramping

WA’s health system is ‘being robbed’ through an agreement that allows St John WA to fine the Government for time its ambulances spend waiting to offload patients at hospitals, according to Zak Kirkup.

Josh Zimmerman and Tom Zaunmayr

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Ramping crisisCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Taxpayers forking out ambulance ramping fines

Taxpayers are being slugged for every hour an ambulance sits stationary outside WA’s overflowing emergency departments through a secret fine system introduced last year.

Josh Zimmerman

Re-election playbookCommentsPremiumMcGowan needs a foe to take Palmer’s place

As long as there are outbreaks over there and border closures here — and the resulting political fireworks — this interstate tit-for-tat now feels like Labor’s re-election playbook, writes Peter Law.

Peter Law

Peter LawState Political Editor

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
SEE THE DAMAGECommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
‘Tent city’ in ashes after fire guts homeless haven

A Perth homeless camp dubbed ‘tent city’ has become even more dangerous after a series of fires which destroyed all the belongings of some of its residents and left the site covered in ash.

Annabel Hennessy

opinion
opinion
John FlintCommentsPremium
opinion
Vaccine the way out but we must keep up guard

There’s no doubt, vaccination is the road out of the pandemic. But as we wait our turn, we must not relax our guard or the barriers protecting us against these new mutant strains, writes John Flint.

John Flint

John FlintAssistant Editor

EAST COAST CHAOSCommentsPremiumQLD quarantine hotel cases of ‘national concern’

Authorities are tonight scrambling to find out how the new highly infectious UK strain of COVID-19 spread through a Brisbane quarantine hotel resulting in six cases.

Annabel Hennessy

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Public assetsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
‘We won’t privatise Western Power’: Liberal’s pledge

Electricity utilities Western Power, Synergy and Horizon would all remain in public hands under a WA Liberal Government, Opposition Leader Zak Kirkup has announced.

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
EditorialCommentsPremium
opinion
East coast media just don’t get it, do they?

Clearly the message is not getting through to the Eastern States. Perhaps the distance the message has to travel is making it hard to understand — WA is the engine room of the national economy.

Test levels plungePremiumNSW admits testing ‘way too low’

Sydney is battling new mystery coronavirus cases after a dramatic fall in the number of people being tested.

Annabel Hennessy

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
GOLD MINE STATECommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Mining boss slams east coast critics of WA’s border

The boss of one of the State’s biggest gold miners has slammed criticism that WA’s hard border is putting a handbrake on the national economy, arguing it is pumping Australia’s coffers full of money.

Danielle Le Messurier, Josh Zimmerman

suppression vs eliminationCommentsPremiumMcGowan in war of words over virus strategy

Mark McGowan has dismissed the suppression versus elimination debate as ‘semantics’ while suggesting NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro ‘calm down’ after his latest spray at the WA Premier.

Josh Zimmerman and Annabel Hennessy

Mandatory vaccine?CommentsPremiumCook won’t rule out fines for refusing COVID jab

Health Minister Roger Cook has not ruled out fines for Western Australians who refuse to be vaccinated against the deadly coronavirus.

Josh Zimmerman

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Royalties for RegionsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Nats and Libs at odds amid regions ‘slush fund’ jibe

The WA Liberals have vowed to stop the Nationals from using Royalties for Regions ‘like a slush fund to throw money around for purely political purposes’ if the parties form government.

Peter Law

opinion
opinion
EditorialCommentsPremium
opinion
Memo to the East: Let WA do what’s best

Another day, another round of the border wars. Or perhaps it could be another day, another example of how the Eastern States still do not get it.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Budget boostCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Iron ore royalties surge to deliver $1.5b surplus bonus

WA is on track to bank nearly $1.5 billion more in iron ore royalties than predicted in December — a windfall that would nearly double the State’s forecast surplus to an incredible $3.7b.

Josh Zimmerman

Extraordinary sprayCommentsPremiumPalmer’s bizarre attack on Zak Kirkup

Clive Palmer has delivered an extraordinary spray to WA Liberal leader Zak Kirkup — saying the 33-year-old “must be the most hopeless leader in the party’s history”.

Peter Law

Mutant strainNew QLD virus case as partner of cleaner tests positive

Queensland Health have rushed to inform the public of a new COVID-19 case, with the partner of the Brisbane hotel quarantine cleaner infected with the UK strain returning a positive test.

Peter Law and Josh Zimmerman

Election 2021VideoCommentsPremiumLabor promises $16 million program to keep seniors safe

A seniors’ rebate for home security costs will be reinstated after the State election, with the Labor party promising to revive a $16 million program scrapped by the Barnett government in 2015.

Peter Law

‘McGowan can breathe easy’CommentsPremiumClive Palmer has no plans to contest WA election

The Queensland billionaire said the WA Liberal Party had the chance to ‘stand on its own feet’ and also revealed he planned to withdraw contempt action against Premier Mark McGowan.

Peter Law

Regional Network

Albany Advertiser (incl. The Extra)
Augusta-Margaret River Times
Broome Advertiser
Bunbury Herald
Busselton-Dunsborough Times
Countryman
Geraldton Guardian
Great Southern Herald
Harvey Waroona Reporter
Kalgoorlie Miner
The Kimberley Echo
Manjimup Bridgetown Times
Midwest Times
Narrogin Observer
North West Telegraph
Pilbara News
South Western Times
Sound Telegraph

Contact Us

Midwest Times

72 Chapman RoadGeraldton WA 6530Tel (08) 9956 1000Messenger IconSend us a message
Share to FacebookEmail Us