Peter Kennedy

Expect both sides of politics to slug it out until election day over the cost of their promises.

There’s little new or creative about either side’s approach to the state election campaign so far, with economic management, public transport and law and order front and centre.

State Labor is aiming to trade on its reputation as the party that cares about public transport.

Neither side of politics has yet managed to engage the electorate with a clear and comprehensive transport strategy.

All the polls may point to the Barnett government’s return on March 9, but election campaigns are unpredictable and neither side can take anything for granted.

Initially lauded for the certainty it provided, the government’s decision to create fixed parliamentary terms is not without its shortcomings – some of them significant.

As an election year approaches, Colin Barnett finds himself nursing a headache despite not having done the drinking.

Coalition governments are happier to contract out responsibility for the running of government-financed hospitals like Peel because they believe it represents better value for taxpayers.

It may have been ugly, but the bitterness that dominated federal parliament this year has set the tone for 2013.

Labor’s John Kobelke has called on both sides of politics to help ensure the billions invested in capital works projects are spent wisely.

Eric Ripper has plenty of credibility on economic matters, so the issues raised in his final address to parliament are worth paying attention to.

There’s plenty of political manoeuvring ahead in the regions as the parties mark out their territory.

The Liberal Party has been caught flat-footed by federal Labor’s move to deregulate the wheat industry.

Volatile royalty revenues and tightening budgetary conditions across the board pose a headache for the government.

Despite voter dissatisfaction in the western suburbs and cost-of-living pressures statewide, Colin Barnett and his government remain on track for re-election.

Strange things are happening in the Perth western suburbs as the state election edges closer.

An electoral system similar to that used in the US would put an end to the current practice in Australia, where political parties are planning for elections on a rolling basis.

The state opposition will relish the opportunity to highlight the government’s spending priorities after Troy Buswell announced $328 million in budget cuts.

Alan Carpenter paid the price for going to the electorate too early; now Colin Barnett may be ruing the move to fixed four-year terms.

Mark McGowan is no doubt aiming to tap into this uncertainty and gain support from the football community across the board.

A minimum notice period of 33 days must be given for the campaign. If 48 weeks was right last week, then there are now 47 to go.

While Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott are shaping up to fight out the next election, their more immediate fates lie with their party colleagues.

Former premier Richard Court has thrown down the gauntlet to a future coalition federal government on the issue of industrial relations.

Commonwealth-state funding arrangements could become an even bigger issue if the coalition wins government next year.

The Liberals’ decision to play the man has upped the ante in what’s likely to be a spirited state election campaign.

Some in politics may support the introduction of toll roads, but no party is likely to embrace it publicly.

If Colin Barnett was hoping for a few sweeteners during Joe Hockey’s visit last week, he may have been left with a bitter taste in his mouth.

The parallels with the emerging industrial climate and that which prevailed in the 1970s and 1980s are clear.

The premier has spruced up his cabinet as the government prepares to go on an election footing.

Downgrading long-established metropolitan hospitals carries significant political risk.

The premier may wish to stand aside from preselection battles following the outcome in Churchlands.

But not all Liberals are enamoured with the move. One told me “it was not a good look”.