Peter Kennedy

The problems keep mounting for federal Labor in WA, with former colleagues speaking out against each other in a very public stoush.

Whether state and territory leaders like it or not, federal cuts to education and health put GST reform front and centre.

Liberal governments in WA and Canberra are finding few friends in light of recent budget measures.

Savvy union leaders know they’re in a strong position to negotiate for their members when an election’s around the corner.

Geoff Gallop says Labor got sucked into the political view only the Liberals could be trusted with the economy.

The WA and federal budgets will test the political resolve of the governments to make the hard decisions.

If it wasn’t clear already, last week’s Senate poll delivered a stark warning to the Labor Party.

The government can expect the teachers’ union to keep up the pressure all the way till the next state poll.

There’s an easy fix for the busted Senate preference system currently in operation, but little political will to take the first step.

Dean Nalder’s elevation to state cabinet may have surprised some, but Mike Nahan has the runs on the board to perform as treasurer.

Troy Buswell has left the political stage to face his personal issues, but he’s left the government with a few problems of its own.

The public has a poor opinion of politicians but seems loath to pay more if it meant attracting better candidates.

There’s plenty on the line for all contenders at the upcoming half-Senate election in WA, following the loss of 1,370 ballot papers at last year’s poll.

What chance a federal government under budgetary pressure may decide to cede future tax wealth to the states?

The future of RPH as a tertiary hospital is as unclear as when the Liberals ‘prioritised’ the issue before the 2008 election.

Colin Barnett has every reason to cheer the goals set out for the national commission of audit, but it’s follow-through that counts.

Well behind the Liberal Party when it comes to fund raising, state Labor needs to rethink its strategies.

The sale of state assets will always be unpopular with some sections of the community.

Taxpayers are entitled to know exactly what went wrong when two prisoners escaped from Geraldton Airport under Serco's watch.

Federal and state issues will intersect sharply in Western Australian politics over the next few months because of uncertainty over whether a new half Senate election will be ordered following the debacle over last September's poll.

Colin Barnett needs his new-look cabinet to hit the ground running in the New Year.

The honeymoon period for the coalition government, if indeed there was one, is over.

The state government is running the rule over assets for sale early next year.

Having had its influence eroded at this year’s state poll and now their dynamic leader, Brendon Grylls, the Nationals face a tough road to stay competitive.

Despite WA’s outstanding economic and social growth of the past half-century, there has been no shortage of controversy to bring our premiers undone.

A slowing of capital works spending and a brake on public sector recruitment are among the premier’s measures for reining-in debt.

Across-the-board commitment is vital if state Labor is to achieve much-needed reform.

WA Labor is hoping to rediscover its mojo on the back of the recent federal leadership contest, and the Barnett government’s inertia.

Faced with a financial test partly of its own making, the Barnett government may deliver tough medicine now in the hope of a quick fix.

The Barnett government is struggling to take the public with it in terms of proposed cuts to spending.

The house of review needs a review of its own, but getting bipartisan agreement on the best way forward will be difficult.

Premier Colin Barnett and Treasurer Troy Buswell have embarked on a hazardous journey; they have