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Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Josh ZimmermanCommentsPremium
opinion
Fatal youth justice failures continue to dog Labor Govt

Roger Cook and Paul Papalia have said publicly they want Unit 18 shut down. That they refuse to nominate a date for doing so means one of the darkest stains on Labor’s time in government continues to linger. 

Josh Zimmerman

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Josh ZimmermanCommentsPremium
opinion
Mettam has made no ground in winning over West Aussies

Libby Mettam has publicly dismissed the dismal 61-39 two-party preferred result. Privately, concern must be mounting. 

Josh Zimmerman

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Josh ZimmermanCommentsPremium
opinion
Pollies on both sides fleeing for the exits before election

Nine months out from the next State election, and without a single vote being cast, we already know at least a quarter of Parliament is headed for the door.

Josh Zimmerman

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
State PoliticsCommentsPremium
opinion
‘Mega project’ era could spell trouble ahead for WA budget

If you believe Perth’s new women’s and babies hospital is going to cost just $1.8 billion, the Cook Government has a bridge to sell you.

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Josh ZimmermanCommentsPremium
opinion
Floreat aftermath exposes ugly truth of gun grandstanding

With just 26 words, Ariel Bombara exposed 48 hours of grandstanding over gun reform for exactly what it was: hollow political point-scoring.

Josh Zimmerman

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Federal PoliticsCommentsPremium
opinion
Dutton’s opposition to mining tax breaks puts votes at risk

The path to a Liberal victory at the next election — both State and Federal — is already narrow.

Josh Zimmerman

analysis
analysis
BudgetCommentsPremium
analysis
Saffioti is asking WA to put a lot of faith in Metronet

Rita Saffioti has begun spruiking the rail project as key to unlocking land for new homes, including high-rise apartments. Her problem is none of the new lines have opened.

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Josh ZimmermanCommentsPremium
opinion
Recent events shattered West Aussies’ illusions of safety

Up until Saturday night, terrorism was as remote a concept to West Australians as daylight saving. Sure, we all knew it existed. But here in our own backyard? No way.

Josh Zimmerman

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Josh ZimmermanCommentsPremium
opinion
Sugar hits, not baked in spending, Saffioti’s budget recipe

There is no doubt Treasurer Rita Saffioti’s first Budget will ‘share the surplus’. The only issue: her idea of sharing may be very different from what teachers have in mind. 

Josh Zimmerman

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Josh ZimmermanCommentsPremium
opinion
Shift in WA Liberal power dynamic throws up familiar faces

You don’t need a stash of leaked WhatsApp messages to tell you who is in control of the WA Liberal Party today.

Josh Zimmerman

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Josh Zimmerman CommentsPremium
opinion
Who can blame school leavers reluctant to learn trades?

Despite shifting work trends, the hammer and the ute remain emblematic of the Middle Australia mythologised and desperately courted by both major parties.

Josh Zimmerman

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
State politicsCommentsPremium
opinion
Cash splashes and attack ads as WA enters war footing

Bang. A year out from the next State election, the starting pistol has sounded.

Josh Zimmerman

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Josh ZimmermanCommentsPremium
opinion
Quigley’s retirement surest sign captain’s picks are done

In the end, it wasn’t age that caught up to John Quigley. It was Labor’s factions.

Josh Zimmerman

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Josh ZimmermanCommentsPremium
opinion
Lessons for Federal EPA architects in heritage debacle

Well-intentioned reforms don’t automatically make good laws. Just ask anyone involved in the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act.

Josh Zimmerman

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Josh ZimmermanCommentsPremium
opinion
Dutton’s pitch to win WA hearts is similar to Premier’s

It wasn’t that long ago that Peter Dutton was attacking the ‘woke’ leadership of BHP and Rio Tinto over their financial backing of the Voice referendum.

Josh Zimmerman

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Josh ZimmermanCommentsPremium
opinion
Tax cut tinkering a huge gamble for Labor, will it pay off?

After pledging to implement the stage three tax cuts in full at the last election, the Albanese Government this week opened the door to tinkering.

Josh Zimmerman

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Josh ZimmermanCommentsPremium
opinion
No winners as Labor seeks to neutralise Lord Mayor’s threat

It’s hard to pick a winner in the ongoing spat between Basil Zempilas and the Cook Government over a now shuttered women’s shelter. 

Josh Zimmerman

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Josh ZimmermanCommentsPremium
opinion
Alcoa closure highlights the key issues facing Cook

The loss of more than 1000 jobs — many of them in his own electorate of Kwinana — is not how Roger Cook hoped to start 2024.

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Josh ZimmermanCommentsPremium
opinion
Government report card: Who’s top of the class?

With Christmas bringing a much-needed reprieve, let’s grade some of WA’s leading politicians on their performances across 2023.

Josh Zimmerman

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Josh Zimmerman CommentsPremium
opinion
Surplus means public servants in for a merry Christmas

Amid a cost-of-living crisis, the pressure on Rita Saffioti and Premier Roger Cook to splash that cash around is immense. 

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Josh ZimmermanCommentsPremium
opinion
Who’ll get Cabinet call? There’s room for one at top table

The departure of Bill Johnston necessitates the portfolio load be shared more evenly. Only Cook and his closest circle know how he will elect to approach that task. 

Josh Zimmerman

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Josh ZimmermanCommentsPremium
opinion
Labor is discovering the downside to electoral domination

Landslide election victories bring a lot of perks. Total control of the legislative agenda. A diminished and downtrodden opposition. But swollen backbenches also present headaches... 

Josh Zimmerman

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Josh ZimmermanCommentsPremium
opinion
WA goes it alone, again

Masks are required in public hospitals, COVID cases are climbing and the Premier is warning WA’s ‘unique pathway’ will place it at odds with the rest of Australia. 

Josh Zimmerman

Josh Zimmerman

opinion
opinion
Josh ZimmermanCommentsPremium
opinion
Festive battles begin: But will voters be left with turkeys?

Christmas is usually a time for politicians to retreat to their electorates, lick their wounds and plot for the coming year. Not so in 2023.

Josh Zimmerman

Josh Zimmerman