Peter Kennedy

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”.

Spotfires are springing up all over the place for the state government; not quite the calm control needed as an election nears.

Mark McGowan is setting his strategy in place to tackle the government in the lead-up to the next state election.

The parties are playing it safe in order to seek a better deal in the GST carve up. Let the games begin.

Next month’s state budget has taken on a fresh significance after a new poll reveals a resurgent Labor party.

Julia Gillard jets in for an exclusive fund-raising dinner next week, which will be a test of her fence-mending skills.

Colin Barnett certainly does not want blame for the Commonwealth’s share (of energy price rises) lumped on to him as well in a pre-election year.

Politics wins over practicality every time when industry puts its hand out for government support.

The political landscape has changed significantly since the last COAG meeting.

Wayne Swan probably isn’t surprised by the response to his comments on a handful of Australia’s wealthiest individuals.

The state government’s on track to loosen the strings on Treasury reserves when it needs to – before the next election.