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Health Minister Meredith Hammat.

opinion
opinion
EDITORIALCommentsPremium
opinion
Soaring ambo times prove a headache for new Minister

In the world of politics, words and actions have a habit of coming back to bite. 

Editorial

In response to calls by employers to weaken unfair dismissal protection arising from work drug-tests, UnionsWA Secretary Meredith Hammat replies. 2016

state politicsPremiumHammat under the hammer as ambulances run late

The former union boss now in charge of WA’s overwhelmed health system is facing her first major test with ambulance response times failing targets.

Jessica Page

Labor cabinet meeting at Dumas House. New Health Minister Meredith Hammat/

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
state politicsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Hammat in charge as Cook reveals how ‘team’ will fix health

Meredith Hammat will chair the sub-committee created to oversee the delivery of a new ‘team approach’ on public health, with five ministers involved, The West Australian can reveal.

Jessica Page

Rita Saffioti and Roger Cook at a Labor cabinet meeting at Dumas House.

state politics CommentsPremiumCook’s Cabinet told population pressure is priority

Roger Cook has vowed to provide ‘stable leadership’ while welcoming new faces around the table, as he presided over his first Cabinet meeting since Labor’s landslide election victory.

Jessica Page

Basil Zempilas.

state politicsVideoPremiumWhy Basil Zempilas might still not be Opposition Leader

Incoming Liberal leader Basil Zempilas is depending on a lead of just 64 votes in Kalamunda to stave off a humiliating election tie with the Nationals that would leave the job of Opposition Leader in limbo.

Jessica Page

Nationals WA Party leader Shane Love pictured at his office in West Perth. Ian Munro

state politicsShane Love warns Zempilas he will have to negotiate

Shane Love has warned there will be strings attached to any deal to share resources with likely new Liberal Leader Basil Zempilas.

Jessica Page

Not Supplied

NEWSDire warning rail strikes back in ‘weeks’

Millions of commuters could be forced to endure more transport headaches amid a fresh warning train strikes which threw Sydney’s rail network into disarray could be back on “within weeks”.

Nathan Schmidt

Opposition leader Peter Dutton said Mr Albanese had a ‘limp-wrist response’ to China. Supplied.

NEWSDutton uses anti-gay term to describe Albo

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has been criticised for using an ‘extremely offensive’ term while attacking the Prime Minister’s response to China.

Clareese Packer

Not Supplied

NewsPremiumMPs’ all-nighter for ‘toughest laws in world’

A major state has approved a landmark overhaul as part of a crackdown on crime, with MPs debating well past midnight.

Alexandra Feiam

Nationals leader Shane Love has criticised the way the WA election was run.

opinion
opinion
WA election 2025CommentsPremium
opinion
Election flaws mustn’t weaken our strong democratic process

Losing an election has never been this easy.

Dylan Caporn

New polling has revealed “overwhelming support” for the establishment of a Great Koala National Park in north NSW.

NewsPremiumShock support for controversial koala park

A controversial project that could transform swathes of one Australian state forever has “overwhelming support”, new polling has revealed.

Nathan Schmidt

‘Libby Mettam was crucified the moment she urged Basil Zempilas to join the Liberal ranks, but she did anyway,’ writes Jessica Page.

analysis
analysis
JESSICA PAGECommentsPremium
analysis
Mettam crucified the moment she urged Zempilas to join ranks

She was asked to clean up the mess, but some of them always doubted her and became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Jessica Page

Basil Zempilas’ ascension to the leadership of the WA Liberals is days away after Libby Mettam was forced out of the top role on Thursday in the wake of the party’s crushing State election defeat.

updated
updated
state politics CommentsPremium
updated
Mettam resigns as Basil looks to step up as Liberal leader

Libby Mettam has stepped down as Liberal leader in the wake of the party’s disastrous State election defeat, clearing the way for Basil Zempilas.

Jessica Page and Dylan Caporn

Amber-Jade Sanderson and Roger Cook.

state politicsPremiumPremier bows to pressure to deliver home battery subsidy

Roger Cook has bowed to pressure to review the start date for the $5000 home battery subsidy that was a hallmark of his State election campaign, but won’t back date payments. 

Jessica Page

Basil Zempilas has confirmed he will seek to be the next Liberal leader.

WA election 2025CommentsPremiumBasil puts his hat in the ring for Liberal leadership

Basil Zempilas has confirmed he will seek leadership of the Liberal party just an hour after Libby Mettam stepped down.

Jessica Page

Libby Mettam will not seek the leadership of the WA Liberal Party again.

opinion
opinion
WA election 2025CommentsPremium
opinion
I’m honoured & privileged to have led the WA Liberal Party

We gained ground in key electorates and while we didn’t win them this time, we brought many within striking distance for the next election.

Libby Mettam

State Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson, Federal Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen and Premier Roger Cook.

Federal politicsCommentsPremiumCook blows cold on Bowen’s hot air over Bunbury wind farm

A controversial plan for an offshore wind farm off the coast of Bunbury is being revved up by Federal Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen, despite Premier Roger Cook suggesting other options would be quicker.

Jessica Page

WA Electoral Commissioner Robert Kennedy outside Dumas House.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
WA election 2025VideoCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Electoral Commissioner called to ‘please explain’ meeting

WATCH: Robert Kennedy revealed why he has shirked questions over the State election, amid concerns over ballot shortages, long queues and voters being turned away.

Dylan Caporn

Not Supplied

NewsPremiumOutrage over growing pile in ritzy suburb

Locals in an affluent suburb are battling it out with the council over an enormous pile of hard rubbish, which they say has been growing for almost six years.

Alexandra Feiam

Rita Saffioti arrives for Labor’s post-election caucus meeting.

opinion
opinion
Rita SaffiotiComments
opinion
New-look Cabinet marks start of getting on with government

The swearing-in ceremony for the new Cabinet is always an exciting day.

The reality is Anthony Albanese is on the nose all over Australia as cost-of-living misery continues to batter families.

opinion
opinion
State PoliticsComments
opinion
Voters need to back policies that work best for the West

The reality is Anthony Albanese is on the nose all over Australia as cost-of-living misery continues to batter families.

EDITORIAL

‘If we secure a team, we need to know how much it’s cost us,’ writes Basil Zempilas.

opinion
opinion
BASIL ZEMPILASComments
opinion
Perth deserves an NRL team but only if the price is right

And that would mean none of that commercial-in-confidence hogwash which gets bandied around.

Basil Zempilas

Debate continues over the changes to WA’s Upper House voting system.

opinion
opinion
WA election 2025Comments
opinion
New electoral system is the fairest in our State’s history

Every person’s vote is now worth the same, regardless of where you live.

John Phillimore and Martin Drum

Liberal candidate for Churchlands Basil Zempilas, with wife Amy, voting at Floreat.

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumZempilas narrowly claims prized Churchlands seat

High profile Liberal candidate Basil Zempilas’ lead was trimmed to just 376 votes but he has secured his place in Parliament, as preferences were distributed in Churchlands on Wednesday.

Jessica Page