Premier Roger Cook and Georgia Tree, Labor’s candidate for the Secret Harbour by-election, have spent a second day dealing with the fallout from a bungled press conference on the weekend.
Ms Tree was in Mandurah on Tuesday, for the government’s $950 million commitment to build a new Peel Health Campus, after she was stopped by the premier from taking reporters’ questions at a separate campaign announcement on Sunday.
The decision, and speculation about why it was made, has distracted from Ms Tree’s bid to hold Secret Harbour and it occurred on the day of Labor’s most significant campaign announcement; building a train station in Karnup.
“It was not ideal because I do want to talk about Karnup and I’m happy to take any questions you have today,” Ms Tree said.
Premier Cook said he prevented questions of the candidate because they were in the middle of a packed schedule, but he wouldn’t concede the decision was a mistake.
“Our campaign team has been focused on getting out there and having conversations with people in the community,” Mr Cook said.
“There will be issues along the way that you will take offence with.
“This is Georgia Tree’s 12 press conference of the campaign. She’s done more press conferences than the other candidates combined.”
Business News understands Labor is increasingly frustrated by the lack of scrutiny being applied to the One Nation candidate Luke Herdegen amid concerns he could win the seat with Liberal Party preferences at the August 29 by-election.
19 Oct 2026
19 Oct 2026
