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Leader of the Opposition Basil Zempilas.

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opinion
Basil ZempilasCommentsPremium
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Payroll tax is an oldie but that doesn’t mean it’s a goodie

West Australia’s success was not created by government. It was created by West Australians willing to take risks, invest money, start businesses, employ people, innovate and build something from nothing.

Niall Mc Ilroy

Donald Trump, Anthony Albanese, and Andy Burnham.

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opinion
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Time for renewed commitment from three AUKUS nations

AUKUS continues to be hit with niggling concerns about its progress or even its continuation. The countries’ three leaders need to get together, stand together and recommit to erase any doubts.

Anthony Albanese faces a conundrum familiar to many of us: How to respond when your workplace nemesis comes up with what looks like a good idea.

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Is Hanson’s anti-terror Bill the solution to ISIS crisis?

Anthony Albanese faces a conundrum familiar to many of us: How to respond when your workplace nemesis comes up with what looks like a good idea.

Mark Riley

Mark Riley

The decision to decommission Albany’s gas network is rooted in decades-old policy, writes Samantha Rowe.

opinionPremiumGas network privatisation the root of decommissioning woes

The announcement that ATCO will decommission Albany’s gas network is deeply disappointing for our community, writes Samantha Rowe MLC.

Samantha Rowe

Holiday traffic on Kwinana Freeway at Cockburn Central.

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Fixing dreaded Kwinana crawl gets significant green light

While we have invested more than $1 billion in the Kwinana Freeway in recent years, we know there is more work to be done to reduce traffic congestion.

Rita Saffioti

michele Bullock/Jim Chalmers art for Stephen please. Australia in danger of weakest period of economic activity since 1990

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opinion
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Rates prediction contests mask real woes

The Reserve Bank’s one lever has been unable to bring inflation back to target range. That explains the blunt message RBA governor Michele Bullock fired at Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Tuesday.

The West Australian

Jack Caldbeck is a 26 year-old bricklayer from the UK working on a site in Fremantle.

opinion
opinion
Kim MacdonaldCommentsPremium
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State project quota can rewire tradie short circuit

Can’t find a sparkie? Don’t blame the TikTok generation for failing to answer your call. The problem is bigger than that.

Kim Macdonald

Kim Macdonald

Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock.

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opinion
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Economic storm clouds loom over horizon

There are some dark clouds over the economic horizon. For starters, while the unresolved war in the Middle East has mostly gone from the front pages, its financial impact has not disappeared.

Last week, the Trump Administration launched a fresh tariff blitz on 60 countries, including allies such as Japan, the European Union and Australia. 

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
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The West Australian exclusive
The US risks losing trust of allies over tariff hit

‘The tool of tariffs has to be put back in the shed and constrained to be used only in moments that actually serve our national security industries,’ the Senator urged.

Latika M Bourke

Latika M Bourke

Millions of Australians receive emergency alert as AusAlert system tested nationwide.

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Ben O’SheaVideoCommentsPremium
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After the AusAlert test, what will it actually be used for?

Now the Federal Government has tested its AusAlert system on Monday, it’s reasonable to wonder what it’ll get used for. 

Ben O'Shea

Ben O'Shea

Mrs Rinehart can fight her own battles, but who is going to stand up to the ABC and finally say enough is enough?

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Attacks on Gina Rinehart expose hypocritical ABC

Mrs Rinehart can fight her own battles, but who is going to stand up to the ABC and finally say enough is enough?

ALP national secretary Paul Erickson’s sensible and practical assessment came as Liberal party figures continue to scrap publicly over how best to grapple with the surge in Pauline Hanson’s rival conservative movement.

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Labor readies for war against One Nation-Liberal coalition

In a rare public appearance, the mastermind of Labor’s election wins in 2022 and 2025 has declared his party’s next contest will be as much about fighting One Nation as its traditional Coalition opponents.

Andrew Greene

ECU Round Table - Diversification

Opinion VideoWhat would you say to Roger Cook if he was the CEO of a company?

ECU Round Table - Diversification

ECU

Australia has a problem with how we treat our growing army of retirees — the moment they leave paid employment, we often behave as though everything they have to offer has suddenly reached its best-before date.

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Legions of older Australians have retired, not expired

Australia has a problem with how we treat our growing army of retirees — the moment they leave paid employment, we often behave as though everything they have to offer has suddenly reached its best-before date.

Gary Martin

It’s curious how many needle-phobic people have tattoos. My mental library of interesting body art goes back decades.

Andrew MillerThe curious stories written in ink

It’s curious how many needle-phobic people have tattoos. My mental library of interesting body art goes back decades.

Niall Mc Ilroy

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is facing criticism over comments she made about domestic violence. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

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One Nation has got the Labor Party spooked

Bearing in mind the margin for error and possibilities of poll fluctuations both ways, it remains clear One Nation has not gone away.

Will National Party MP Lachlan Hunter put on a blue cap and campaign for the Liberals in Secret Harbour?

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Nats can’t be Coalition chumps in Secret Harbour fight

Aren’t the WA Nationals a different mob these days? If recent developments in the Secret Harbour by-election are anything to go by, gone are the days when they went to electoral war with their Liberal cousins.

Joe Spagnolo

Even Dennis Denuto could successfully argue that “the vibe” of the Constitution is to protect the people it governs. Why are we not it to protect Australians from Islamic State poster children like Dr Jihad?

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Constitution’s ‘bad vibe’ failing to stop Dr Jihad’s return

Even Dennis Denuto could successfully argue that “the vibe” of the Constitution is to protect the people it governs. Why are we not it to protect Australians from Islamic State poster children like Dr Jihad?

Ben Harvey

Ben Harvey

Nat Locke

THAT’S LIFEA list of my ‘grey’ flags

Every now and then I am struck by the realisation that, like everyone else on the planet, I am getting older. I call the little epiphanies grey flags, and they sure are stacking up.

Nat Locke

Adrian Barich for STM. Michael Wilson

BEING BARRAWhy faith in humanity doesn’t need a miracle

Barra-land was a pretty good place to be this week. It was one of those weeks that quietly restores your faith in humanity. Nothing earth-shattering. Just little reminders that people are pretty good.

Adrian Barich

A report in The West Australian today reveals that the State Government is moving to build a new gas-fired power station in Perth’s south. Pictured: Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson and Premier Roger Cook.

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Gas still vital for our state amid energy transition

A report in The West Australian today reveals that the State Government is moving to build a new gas-fired power station in Perth’s south — evidence that gas will play a key role in WA’s energy transition.

Murray Watt and Anthony Albanese at the ALP national conference.

Federal PoliticsCommentsLabor conference becomes exercise in just agreeing to agree

MICHELLE GRATTAN: The ALP’s conference’s economic debate proceeded with the emphasis on speed and unity. No one spoke against any of the many amendments.

Niall Mc Ilroy

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.

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Paul MurrayCommentsPremium
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If Hanson wants power, we need to be shown the plan

If Pauline Hanson’s supporters think One Nation is a genuine party of government, then she has to be measured by the same metrics as any other political leader.

Paul Murray

Paul Murray

'And the people behind the people, who rarely get the accolades, but are critical to the moments we get to enjoy,' says Justin Langer

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JUSTIN LANGERCommentsPremium
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Don’t forget the pit-crew power behind every Comm Games gold

There is a moment at every Commonwealth Games that outlives the medal. It usually lasts a few minutes and it almost never happens on the track. It happens just after the finish line.

Justin Langer