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Peter Law

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Consensus-builder McGowan transforms to hard-nosed leader

When I started this job three years ago, Mark McGowan was about to achieve what at the time looked like one of his defining political achievements — legalising voluntary assisted dying.

Peter Law

Peter LawCommentsMagic of football can’t erase World Cup’s human rights stain

Just days into the tournament, Qatar 2022 is already the most politically-charged major sporting event in my lifetime.

Peter Law

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Plenty to lose if Government fails to solve detention crisis

Bill Johnston currently has what must be the worst job in the State Government. I say ‘currently’ because it wouldn’t be a surprise if corrective services is taken off Johnston in the summer’s reshuffle.

Peter Law

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Balancing egos and workloads McGowan’s reshuffle challenge

For any politician, the beauty of quitting on their own terms is they essentially get to write their own obituary. Just ask former treasurer Ben Wyatt — he did it twice in less than a year.

Peter Law

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NSW cries about energy woes a free-kick for McGowan

Mark McGowan rarely shirks from a war of words with Liberal adversaries across the other side the country.

Peter Law

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Peter LawComments
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Chalmers wants economic conversation but is short on answers

If Chalmers truly wants Australians engaged in a “national conversation” he’s going to have to start providing detailed answers to the challenges his Budget this week outlined.

Peter Law

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In a game of money versus ethics, there are very few winners

Many of WA’s companies will be asking themselves whether providing financial support to sports clubs or arts organisations is worth the reputational risk.

Peter Law

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Peter LawComments
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WA Labor’s divide and conquer strategy for nurses

The two-tiered pay offer was designed to fracture union solidarity by winning over the United Workers Union, which represents some of the lowest paid workers and holds most influence inside the WA Labor caucus.

Peter Law

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Peter LawComments
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How much trust can we be expected to place in new top cop?

West Australians are being asked to put an extraordinary amount of trust into our new Police Commissioner.

Peter Law

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Liberal-National partnership is on shaky ground

WA’s conservative parties are locked in a marriage of convenience for now, but support for a coalition is low in the Liberal party room.

Peter Law

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Peter LawCommentsPremium
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We don’t need a day off to mourn the Queen

It was case of ‘damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t’ for Anthony Albanese and the question of whether to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II with a public holiday.

Peter Law

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Peter LawCommentsPremium
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McGowan’s Aishwarya blame shift has come back to haunt him

Six weeks after Aishwarya Aswath’s death, Mark McGowan stood outside Parliament and said his Government wanted a coronial inquest to “find out exactly what happened”.

Peter Law

Peter LawCommentsPremiumAustralia paying the price for insular immigration attitudes

A mixture of national arrogance and incompetence means a labour crisis is holding back Australia’s economic recovery and damaging the quality of care provided to our most vulnerable.

Peter Law

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Peter Law Comments
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Rule change could force Libs to pre-sign resignation letter

Just when you think the WA Liberals have picked their party off the floor and started to make themselves look presentable, they somehow find a way to drag themselves back down again.

Peter Law

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Peter Law: Is war over Taiwan still ‘avoidable’?

Since moving into The Lodge, Anthony Albanese has played a straight bat to questions about one of the most significant challenges his Government will face: China.

Peter Law

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Final chapterComments
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John Quigley to pay price after McGowan-Palmer judgement

Clive Palmer’s legal team used the case to unearth text messages between Mark McGowan and Quigley that showed how even those in high office are guilty of crude banter in private.

Peter Law

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WA Liberal Party meeting misses the key point

If the same individuals continue to pull the strings in the background, how can anyone be convinced they are serious about changing?

Peter Law

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Why Anthony Albanese’s first Cabinet is a snub to WA

Anthony Albanese keeps thanking WA for getting him into The Lodge but he should be judged on his actions for the State over the next three years — not platitudes and kind words.

Peter Law

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WA bucked the national trend to be story of the election

With half of the votes counted nationwide, the Labor primary vote had gone backwards in NSW, Queensland, SA and Tasmania and only marginally improved in Victoria. It was a completely different story in WA.

Peter Law

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Hoping for a ‘miracle’CommentsPremium
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ScoMo’s ideological thinking in bid to sway quiet Aussies

Scott Morrison is fighting for re-election in Australia’s outer suburbs, appealing to the ‘aspirational’ voters he hopes can save the Government.

Peter Law

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Libs’ home buyer plan finally brings contest of ideas

Scott Morrison’s last-minute pitch to young voters at the Coalition’s official campaign launch has set up a genuine contest of ideas over housing affordability.

Peter Law

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Australia finally gets the debate it deserves

Clear points of difference on the issue of wage growth, pointed questions on how each would deal with cost of living and civility from the two leaders — the final debate was one this country deserved.

Peter Law

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Peter Law CommentsPremium
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Plenty on McGowan’s ‘to-do’ list as post-COVID life looms

The decision to not reopen the border before Christmas has proved to be the masterstroke for the Premier.

Peter Law

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Third time unlucky?CommentsPremium
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Is John Quigley’s position as Attorney-General untenable?

It might be third time unlucky for John Quigley if the Federal Court judge presiding over the defamation case between Clive Palmer and Mark McGowan finds the State’s first law officer is an unreliable witness.

Peter Law