‘See what’s going on up there’: WA premier invites teals to Pilbara (26 Feb 2025)
Article summary: WA Premier Roger Cook is inviting all re-elected teal independents and Greens to tour the Pilbara, aiming to highlight the economic importance of the region and push back against potential environmental reforms that could impact the state’s resources sector. Cook, who previously opposed the Albanese government’s Nature Positive reforms, argues that overly strict environmental laws could stifle economic growth. “It’s extraordinary that you see Canberra poison really just holding the nation back simply because people can’t work on decent reform in terms of environmental rules,” he said.
He specifically mentioned Curtin MP Kate Chaney, acknowledging her strong campaign and community support, but warned that if teal independents gain significant influence in a minority government, they should understand WA’s economic realities. “Come to WA, go to the Pilbara, see where their standard of living is actually based, and see where the economy is being driven,” Cook urged.
Chaney, who won Curtin from the Liberals in 2022, said she is open to the Pilbara tour but stressed the need for a balanced approach to environmental reforms. “We need better nature protection laws, they also need to serve business. There’s a lot of alarmism that a federal EPA will be bad for business,” she told The Australian Financial Review.
She also pushed back against the idea that economic and environmental interests must be at odds, stating, “I hope that the premier would be looking at it from the long-term interest of the country, and not assume that something that is good for nature is bad for business.” Chaney further emphasised that her stance in a potential minority government would not be dictated by rigid demands, saying, “If I’m in that situation … I wouldn’t be approaching it with a list of demands or non-negotiables.”
As WA prepares for its state election on March 8, Cook distanced himself from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s declining popularity, insisting his own campaign is independent of federal politics. While Albanese has not visited Perth in over a month, Cook denied personally advising him to stay away but acknowledged broader discussions within Labor. Federal Labor’s strong 2022 performance in WA remains critical to its re-election, though analysts suggest Albanese’s focus is now on defending vulnerable Victorian seats.
With WA Labor holding 53 of 59 lower house seats after its landslide 2021 win, the opposition Liberals and Nationals face an uphill battle, focusing their campaign on housing shortages, health system failures, and crime concerns.
Meanwhile, Cook also braces for a future GST fight, as the Productivity Commission reviews WA’s funding arrangements. He warns against redistributing WA’s share to states with weaker financial management, saying, “If you’re going to give money to the other states, it has to be on the condition that they’re not just going to spend it and continue to run up more debt. We haven’t just spent like drunken sailors, we maintain discipline and other states should demonstrate the same discipline.”
Related article: Chaney says Nature Positive is teal deal (25 Jan 25)
