Gareth Parker
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Magellan problems a test for future miners
In the wake of the Barnett Government’s rejection this week of a second coal mining proposal in Margaret River, another litmus test is looming for a jurisdiction the Premier proclaims as the world’s leading mining province.It’s 10...
Thu, February 9, 2012, 9:09 am WST -
CHOGM, fires end a chaotic year
JULY The month began with revelations of a split in Colin Barnett's Cabinet over his choice of Burswood as the site for WA's new 60,000 seat stadium.Planning Minister John Day thought the peninsula site was too expensive, Education Minister Liz...
Thu, December 29, 2011, 12:17 pm WST -
State leaders feel political heat
JANUARY The year might have begun disastrously for the Barnett Government after Environment Minister Bill Marmion went on his Christmas holidays without telling the public about a lead scare involving Magellan, the Wiluna miner responsible for the...
Thu, December 22, 2011, 10:18 am WST -
State mired in fiscal equalisation
Thanks to a letter from the Prime Minister to NSW Independent Rob Oakeshott, we now know the Gillard Government wants to punish the States if they exercise their constitutional right to set mining royalties.It's there in black and white....
Thu, November 24, 2011, 1:05 pm WST -
Queries over veracity of reports
When is an independent report not an independent report? It's a question that loomed large over the final days of State Parliament a fortnight ago before the Legislative Assembly rose for its six-week winter recess.Amid a flurry of furious debate,...
Thu, July 7, 2011, 12:36 pm WST -
Steady leader rallies worried troops
Eric Ripper's speech to the party faithful in the members' grandstand at Ascot Racecourse yesterday reflected the man who delivered it. Steady, reasonable and predictable.It revolved around familiar themes, the veins Labor's parliamentary team has...
Mon, June 27, 2011, 10:44 am WST -
'Zealots' bad for health of sports
There's a routine statutory review of the 2006 Tobacco Products Control Act going on at the moment that, paradoxically, is causing a fair bit of angst in WA's sporting community.One would think the objectives of a law designed to reduce the harmful...
Thu, June 9, 2011, 2:16 pm WST -
Where are the bargains, Premier?
When Inside State heard Colin Barnett's comments yesterday about first-homebuyers needing to "adjust their expectations" - comments made in the context of his Government's complete inaction on housing affordability and on the day it released a...
Thu, May 12, 2011, 9:58 am WST -
Budget woes as royalties go bush
Treasurer Christian Porter has stuck to one key message ahead of his first State Budget, to be handed down on May 19. Taking his cues from his predecessor, the Premier, Mr Porter is keen for you to know that the biggest structural threat to the...
Thu, April 28, 2011, 12:19 pm WST -
Rookie Treasurer has a tightrope to walk
In just two months, rookie Treasurer Christian Porter will deliver his first State Budget.Amid a backdrop of increased mining royalties, a raft of commitments to major infrastructure projects, Opposition attacks on the level of State debt and a public...
Thu, March 17, 2011, 12:19 pm WST -
Stadium sums just don't add up
Until now the debate about major sporting facilities in WA has revolved around two questions: what we have and what we want. There is general agreement on the answer to the former - a fairly ordinary collection of patched-up stadiums that fall well...
Thu, March 3, 2011, 12:22 pm WST -
WA Labor's phoney war heats up
Last night the battle for the State Labor leadership, and what a prize it is, remained a phoney war.Indications are it will not remain phoney for much longer.While Eric Ripper yesterday maintained he had the support of his colleagues to continue as...
Wed, January 5, 2011, 12:51 pm WST -
Big-picture Barnett rewrites WA history
Colin Barnett was in an expansive mood on Tuesday when he delivered a speech to a packed WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry audience to mark the mid-point of the Liberal-National Government's first term....
Thu, December 2, 2010, 10:56 am WST -
There's no end in sight for sorry Oracle debacle
As far as sexy political stories go, the continuing debacle surrounding the State Government's Office of Shared Services project doesn't exactly leap off the page.But as a chronic example of waste, mismanagement and incompetence, it's a saga that should...
Wed, November 17, 2010, 11:00 am WST -
Stop and search laws pushed to the bitter end
Police Minister Rob Johnson tried until the bitter end to win the support of the five Upper House National Party members for his stop and search laws, but in the end it was a lost cause.After announcing on Tuesday he was prepared to amend the Bill to...
Fri, November 12, 2010, 9:32 am WST -
First-termer Carles gets taste of political reality
Is it improper or indeed corrupt for the Government to offer an independent MP additional resources in return for their vote in Parliament? It's a question that dominated the opening of Parliament's last session for the year as a re-energised State...
Wed, November 10, 2010, 11:18 am WST -
Rebel Barnett maintains the Canberra rage
Colin Barnett was asked a light-hearted question this week about Halloween. His stony faced answer made it clear he didn't care for the encroaching Americanism of a festival that appears slowly to be gaining a foothold in Australian society."I am...
Wed, November 3, 2010, 8:25 am WST -
Shoppers to dictate whether stores stay open later
The Mezz shopping centre in Mt Hawthorn, which the State Government hand-picked for yesterday's commemorative picture opportunity, is a microcosm of what shoppers should expect from now on.The centre's anchor tenant is a mid-sized Woolworths super-...
Tue, November 2, 2010, 9:10 am WST -
Alannah's exit interview
One of the more noteworthy aspects of Saturday's incredible Federal election was the bringing down of the curtain on the career of Alannah MacTiernan. A tenacious and polarising politician, Ms MacTiernan began as a City of Perth councillor and WA Upper...
Mon, August 23, 2010, 8:34 am WST -
Demands of a NBN
While the National Broadband Network is undoubtedly a nerd's wet dream, the question that must be asked is whether it's worth the $43 billion in taxpayers' money Julia Gillard says it is going to cost.Despite the claims of some industry analysts, the...
Thu, August 12, 2010, 7:40 am WST
Our choice
Opinion
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Gary Adshead
May 24, 11:57 amA question of trust and clarityConstruction company boss Gerry Hanssen was quick to shoot the messenger when a report appeared on the front page of The West Australian yesterday ab...
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Andrew Probyn
May 25, 12:31 pmThomson inquiry in contemptDown in the bowels of Parliament there are remnant reminders of how seriously it takes punishment. In the southern end of the basement there were onc...
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Ben O'Shea
May 24, 12:32 pmSpam filterFrom: William DouglasSent: Wednesday, 16 May 2012 7:35 PMTo: Ben O’SheaSubject: Attention: Ben O’Shea, Please contact meAttention: Ben O’Shea,I’m Mr ...
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