Barnett laments Labor leadership spill

The new Liberal party cabinet was sworn in by His Excellency Malcolm McCusker AC CVO QC, Governor of Western Australia at Government House. Pictured is Premier Colin Barnett. Picture: Richard Polden Source: PerthNow

The new Liberal party cabinet was sworn in by His Excellency Malcolm McCusker AC CVO QC, Governor of Western Australia at Government House. Pictured is Troy Buswell. Picture: Richard Polden Source: PerthNow

WA Premier Colin Barnett says the ALP's infighting is 'embarrassing' for Australia. Picture: Kerris Berrington Source: PerthNow

FEDERAL Labor's political infighting is a continuing embarrassment to the nation, according to Western Australia's Premier Colin Barnett.

As Mr Barnett's new cabinet was being sworn in at Government House in Perth, Simon Crean was calling for a spill against Prime Minister Julia Gillard - a challenge Kevin Rudd then refused to take up.

In front of his five new ministers, Mr Barnett said the only thing that would bring stability to federal politics would be an election.

Until then, he said Australia would continue to be a political embarrassment on the world stage.

"The Labor government in Canberra needs to resolve their leadership,'' Mr Barnett said.

"It is not in the interest of any country, including Australia, to have such instability at the head of a national government.

"It has been embarrassing for Australia for a long time and this point has been made to me by political leaders around Asia.''

Even as Labor's caucus was bringing a day of confusion to a baffling end with the return of Ms Gillard unopposed, the BBC in London were describing Canberra as "the coup 'capital' of the world''.

Mr Barnett said the country was sick of Labor's internal bickering.

"The federal Labor government has been unstable almost from day one,'' Mr Barnett said.

"People in Australia want to see stable government and this self-indulgent bickering that has gone on in the federal government has been appalling.

"All Australians are sick to death of the instability and people focusing on themselves instead of their job, which is providing good government at a national level.

"A change of leadership won't necessarily change that - an election will.''

Big ticket items for new ministers
 
TEENS in adult prisons, angry councils, surging power prices and Western Australia's farming crisis were all immediately on the agenda for the State's newest ministers.

The Premier and his new cabinet were officially sworn in at Government House by Governor Malcolm McCusker today, with the five new lads in the premier's class of 2013 taking centre stage.

Ken Baston in Agriculture, Mike Nahan in Energy, Tony Simpson in Local Government, 33-year-old Albert Jacob in Environment and Heritage, and ex-submariner Joe Francis in Emergency Services, Corrective Services and Veterans Affairs were all immediately questioned about big ticket items in their new portfolios.

Mr Francis was handed the job in the week that reports emerged of mistreatment, anger and hunger among the young offenders being kept at Hakea prison following the Banksia Hill riot in January, which wrecked the state's only juvenile facility.

He said he needed to see the conditions for himself before finding a solution.

"The first thing I have asked for is to be briefed on that issue,'' Mr Francis said.

"I need to find out what is going on, and intend to visit the facility as soon as possible.''

Michigan-born Mr Nahan's immediate priority is to help keep Mr Barnett's election promise to limit the rise of WA's electricity prices to around the rate of inflation - a pledge Treasury said would cost the government about $500 million.

"That is the big challenge in energy both for the cabinet and me as the minister,'' Mr Nahan said.

"It is not an easy one, but it is the task we have to do.''

Even before he was sworn in, Mr Jacob faced accusations he had been installed as Mr Barnett's environmental lap dog, particularly on the contentious issue of Woodside's planned gas hub at James Price Point near Broome.

Peter Robertson from the Wilderness Society said WA's new environment minister was too inexperienced.

But Mr Jacob said he was used to cracks about his young age - and they would only stop when people started saying he was too old.

"I caught wind of those comments, and I am going to be criticised by many people for many things, but being criticised for being young is not one that is going to be cutting to the bone,'' he said.

"I will be going out there to learn, to do the hard work and to listen.''

The issue of forced amalgamations of councils around WA was a little-heard topic of the election, but it is likely to generate loud and angry debate throughout Mr Barnett's second term.

Former government whip Tony Simpson will be the one cracking the whip with councillors and authority chief executives.

"We have got a long way to go on that before we make any decisions on that process,'' Mr Simpson said.

Submissions from councils on the state government-funded Robson review of the future of Perth's councils are due to finish on April 5.

WINNERS AND LOSERS AT A GLANCE

Winners:
- Ken Baston (Agriculture and Food)
- Mike Nahan (Energy, Finance, and Citizenship and Multicultural Interests)
- Tony Simpson (Local Government, Community Services, Seniors and Volunteering, and Youth)
- Albert Jacob (Environment and Heritage)
- Joe Francis (Emergency Services, Corrective Services and new portfolio of Veterans)

Losers:
- Simon O'Brien, dumped and replaced by Mr Nahan
- Robyn McSweeney, axed, losing her Child Protection portfolio to Mental Health Minister Helen Morton
- Murray Cowper, dumped, losing the Corrective Services, Training and Workforce Development portfolios
- National Terry Redman, replaced by Liberal Ken Baston for Agriculture and Food. Mr Redman also lost housing to Bill Marmion but retained Forestry and gained Water, and Training and Workforce Development.

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Labor launch rethink as venue cuts booking

WESTERN Australia's Labour Day holiday seemed like good timing for the opposition's general election launch, but the party has been left looking for a venue after its booking was cancelled.

WA Labor said on its Facebook page it had confirmed a booking with Catholic Fremantle university Notre Dame for March 4, but were advised yesterday that a mistake had been made.

The university said it had taken the booking in January, but later realised it was "inconsistent'' with its policies concerning the hosting of party-political events during election campaigns.

The ALP's Facebook entry was posted around the same time Opposition Leader Mark McGowan was taking part in a second debate with Premier Colin Barnett at an Australian Christian Lobby function, where the two leaders touched on weighty topics including abortion, prostitution, gay marriage and euthanasia.

Their views took up a little breakfast radio airtime today, but were overshadowed by the threat of the then-category four cyclone Rusty off the Pilbara coast, which was downgraded to a category three as it made landfall near the tiny community of Pardoo.

The afternoon airwaves were dominated by a fast-moving bushfire on Perth's northeastern fringes, and with Mr Barnett in the state's far south for much of the day, the politicians didn't get much of a look-in with local media.

Before flying to Albany - where he recently copped flak for using a government jet to attend events including a campaign "kick off'' for local Liberal candidate Trevor Cosh - Mr Barnett received some coverage for a planned $20 million expansion of Joondalup Arena in Perth's northern suburbs.

The Liberals also promised $5 million to refurbish and maintain Goldfields Art Centre in Kalgoorlie, which if implemented would ensure the world's third-largest mining conference, Diggers and Dealers, stayed in the Goldfields town.

The party also pledged a $12 million upgrade to Great Eastern Highway between Greenmount and Mundaring to improve safety on the deadly road.

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Labor commits $100m to cancer research

Labor leader Mark McGowan has promised $100 million for cancer treatment and research. Source: PerthNow

MARK McGowan has announced Labor would allocate $100 million over four years to provide more doctors, nurses and research to combat cancer.

The package would include $45 million for cancer staff, $40 million for medical research, $10 million for asbestos-related cancer prevention, and $5 million to help low-income earners with cancer-related travel.

Mr McGowan said the funding would lead to shorter waiting lists to see specialists and encourage more specialists to practise in WA.

The asbestos funding would also establish a register to identify the location and amount of asbestos in WA, and the deadly material's safe removal, he said.

But the Liberals accused Labor of playing catch-up to their own commitment of $109 million over four years.

The Liberals funding includes the same $45 million Labor committed to cancer doctors and nurses, which was already allocated in the current state budget.

It also includes an additional $30 million for health and medical research and $34 million over four years for palliative care.

Mr McGowan dodged questions from the media on opinion polls, saying he was focused on working hard on winning the March 9 election.

Latest poll results show the Liberals well in front as preferred party.

"If that poll is accurate, well then, the people of Western Australia will have an arrogant and out of touch government for the next four years,'' Mr McGowan said.

He also said Labor's Metronet public transport project would be submitted to Treasury to be costed on Monday or Tuesday.

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'Labor would turn Quay into pond' - Barnett

QUAY OR POND: Premier Colin Barnett says Labor would turn the $440 million Elizabeth Quay development into a pond. Source: PerthNow

QUAY OR POND: Premier Colin Barnett says Labor would turn the $440 million Elizabeth Quay development into a pond. Source: PerthNow

PERTH'S new $440 million dollar riverside development would become an inner-city "pond'' if a Labor government was elected, says WA Premier Colin Barnett.

Ahead of the televised election debate tonight, WA Labor leader Mark McGowan said, if elected, he would explore renegotiating contracts on the Elizabeth Quay project, which has been under construction for 12 months.

Further roadworks on the project caused more congestion on Perth roads this week and Mr McGowan claimed the city's traffic was now in chaos.

But Mr Barnett defended the project, named in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, saying work was well advanced and he had no intention of changing contracts.

``Elizabeth Quay is well into construction, a $200 million contract has been awarded, and work continues,'' Mr Barnett said.

``The whole idea is opening up the river and the city together so having a wide expanse of water. If you left Riverside Drive what you would have is a pond in the city. Not much point.''

Last week, an urban think-tank described the quay project as fundamentally flawed and said it would provide ``no net economic benefit to the public''.

Having already vowed to dump or alter several of WA's major projects, including the new Burswood stadium, Mr McGowan said he was setting out his priorities to the voters.

``It's a strong message to send to the people of WA that Elizabeth Quay is not my priority and closing Riverside Drive is not my priority and putting increased costs on nurses and other hospital workers for parking are not my priorities,'' Mr McGowan said.

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Labor: Hands off Mitchell Plateau

HANDS OFF: Labor says it would quarantine pristine Mitchell Plateau fro mining. Picture: Jackson Flindell Source: PerthNow

HANDS OFF: Labor says it would quarantine pristine Mitchell Plateau fro mining. Picture: Jackson Flindell Source: PerthNow

HANDS OFF: Labor says it would quarantine pristine Mitchell Plateau fro mining. Picture: Jackson Flindell Source: PerthNow

HANDS OFF: Labor says it would quarantine pristine Mitchell Plateau fro mining. Picture: Jackson Flindell Source: PerthNow

MINERS will be asked to relinquish leases on the Mitchell Plateau under the West Australian opposition's plans to establish national parks in the Kimberley region.

If the party wins the March 9 election, talks will begin with several companies that are exploring mainly for bauxite on the Mitchell Plateau, Opposition Leader Mark McGowan says.

These include Rio Tinto and Alcoa.

``We will commence negotiations with the mining lease holders on the Mitchell Plateau to ensure that over time, it is put into a national park,'' he told reporters on Friday.

The threat of future mining on the Mitchell Plateau should be removed, Mr McGowan said.

``It is a beautiful area and the idea that it may one day be mined under State Agreement Acts signed 40 or 50 years ago is not acceptable,'' he said.

``It should never be mined.''

As soon as the exploration leases expired, the opposition would seek to ensure they were not renewed.

``It's subject to a State Agreement Act so obviously requires the consent of the mining leaseholders but I think a sensible discussion with those mining lease holders should result in a fair and good outcome.''

WWF welcome Kimberley commitment

WWF-Australia spokesperson Paul Gamblin welcomed today’s commitment from Mr McGowan to significantly expand the Kimberley marine park network and also move to protect some important areas including the Mitchell Plateau and Horizontal Falls.

"We hope today’s announcement is a step towards a comprehensive world-class system of protected areas across the Kimberley region,'' Mr Gamblin said.

"The investment in additional Indigenous ranger jobs and joint management is recognition of the need to protect both cultural and conservation values.''

"Unfortunately today’s announcement made no reference to the Dampier Peninsula. We’re calling on all parties to resist growing pressure to industrialise the Kimberley, by rejecting development such as the proposed gas processing facility at James Price Point.''

Mr McGowan said he would personally hold the conversations with the leaseholders.

``I am confident people will see the reason in not ever allowing mining on the Mitchell Plateau,'' he said.

Mr McGowan denied the move would be seen as increasing sovereign risk for mineral explorers and didn't expect they would need to be paid compensation.

``Norman Moore recently closed down eight mining leases in the southwest - that was a far more dramatic decision.''
To mine bauxite on the Mitchell Plateau could require a refinery, which was unacceptable, he said.

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