Opinion: A federal Labor government would change the political dynamic between Canberra and WA for the better, but all relationships need careful management.
BN 25th Anniversary series- WA has been slow to introduce private ownership to some state industries, although a series of moves during the Court era generated benefits, according to one prominent WA economist.
Two groups aspiring to build gas processing projects on the Burrup Peninsula are aiming to fare better than many others have in the environmentally sensitive area.
A review of Barnett government programs and projects has identified a raft of shortcomings in governance, project management and financial management, and listed Royalties for Regions as the single biggest problem.
Premier Mark McGowan is confident an attendance cap at Optus Stadium for a potential Big Bash League semi-final will not be required, following yesterday's successful community open day at the 60,000-seat facility.
To a large degree, Labor's big budget repair plans have stalled, while newcomers on both sides of the aisle find their way around their house on the hill.
Former Premier Colin Barnett has called time on a nearly three decade parliamentary career, which included leading the Liberal Party to a surprise victory in 2008, and heading a government which increased social support spending and invested substantially in infrastructure.
The opposition parties in Perth and Canberra are kicking the can down the road on debt, despite the parlous state of their respective budgetary positions.
Private sector sponsorship of public infrastructure has frequently caused controversy, and the sale of naming rights to Perth's new stadium is no exception.
State opposition leader Mike Nahan expects former premier Colin Barnett to retire from politics this year but believes he first wants to ensure his legacy is not trashed.
OPINION: The formation of the Put Western Australia First Party has raised the stakes over tax reform, with the Liberals and Labor on notice that Senate seats may come under threat unless something tangible is done to resolve the GST impasse.
OPINION: While good relations between government and the private sector are important, Mark McGowan will be keen to avoid being seen as too close to business.
The head of Western Australia's public sector union has defended what is being viewed as a muted response to the biggest slashing of the public service in decades and job losses that might be in the thousands.
Mike Nahan has been voted in unopposed as leader of the WA Liberals after two-term premier Colin Barnett stepped down, while former sports and recreation minister Mia Davies has been voted in as leader of the WA Nationals.
Former WA treasurer Mike Nahan says he will rebuild the Liberal Party after their crushing election defeat and plans to speak with former premier Colin Barnett about leaving parliament.
ANALYSIS: If the actions of his predecessors are any guide, the Liberal Party will be looking for a candidate to replace former premier Colin Barnett in his seat of Cottesloe within months.
ANALYSIS: Outgoing Liberal minister Joe Francis, who appears to have lost his seat of Jandakot, says Colin Barnett should have been replaced as premier last year to improve the government's re-election prospects.
ANALYSIS: The dust has hardly settled but the blame game is already under way over the Liberal Party's disastrous performance in Western Australia's state election.
ANALYSIS: One state Liberal Party MP believes that hostility towards the outgoing premier, Colin Barnett, was responsible for up to 10 per cent of the unprecedented swing that swept the Liberal-National governing alliance from power in Saturday's election.
OPINION: Reducing state debt will be a top priority for the new government and perhaps, as a former PM has suggested, a more cooperative approach is needed.
Relations between the Western Australian government's alliance partners have hit rock bottom, after the Nationals WA attacked the Liberals over plans to cut $800 million out of its prized Royalties for Regions program, calling it a "final betrayal".
Treasury costings of the Liberal Party's campaign promises have shown the estimates to be reasonable, with the Liberal's plan showing the state getting back to a small surplus in 2019-20.
ANALYSIS: Pauline Hanson has done her cause no good with the claim that there is ‘sheer hatred' in Western Australia towards Premier Colin Barnett. Labor leader Mark McGowan might be more popular with the voters, but the ‘sheer hatred' tag is extraordinary.
Demanding WA Labor submit election promises to Treasury for scrutiny has proved a potent line of attack for the Liberals this week, as the government tried to change the topic from its preference deal with Pauline Hanson's One Nation.
ANALYSIS: Colin Barnett says cuts in penalty rates should be extended to include the tourism industry to reflect the fact it is a 24-hours, seven-days-a-week operation.
ANALYSIS: The row between Premier Colin Barnett and opposition leader Mark McGowan over the cost of their election promises is a clear sign the campaign is getting to the pointy end. But don't rule out surprises.
