Shadow Minister for Tourism Scott Leary MLA says the Premier and Tourism Minister has failed to stand up for Western Australia’s tourism industry after he refused to say whether he had acted over changes threatening the supply of backpacker workers to regional WA.
In State Parliament today, Mr Leary asked the Premier what action he had taken with his Federal Labor colleagues following reports Working Holiday Maker visa applications had been paused for 24 countries and delayed for a further 19.
Mr Leary said the question was simple – had the Premier acted to protect WA tourism businesses that rely on Working Holiday Makers to fill critical workforce shortages?
“The Premier had every opportunity today to tell Western Australians what he has done to stand up for our tourism industry – but he refused to answer,” Mr Leary said.
“That should be deeply concerning for tourism and hospitality operators across regional WA who are already struggling to find enough workers.
“Working Holiday Makers are not just tourists. They are a critical part of the workforce in regional communities across the state, working in our hotels, restaurants, cafes and tourism businesses.
“If fewer backpackers can get to Western Australia, it will be regional businesses that feel the impact first.”
The latest concerns follow the Federal Labor Government’s decision to remove priority visa processing for regional employers, adding further pressure to businesses already struggling with persistent workforce shortages.
Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love MLA said the State Government could not claim tourism as a priority while remaining silent when Federal decisions threatened the workforce underpinning the industry.
“The Premier is also the Tourism Minister. He should be on the phone to Canberra making it crystal clear that Western Australia cannot afford decisions that make it harder for regional tourism businesses to find workers,” Mr Leary said.
“Regional tourism operators deserve to know whether their Tourism Minister is actually fighting for them.”
Nearly two months into the job, the Cook Labor Government’s new Mines and Petroleum Minister was unable to explain core responsibilities of his own portfolio, raising serious concerns about his preparedness for the role.
Shadow Minister for Mines, Petroleum and Exploration Lachlan Hunter MP said Question Time today raised serious doubts about whether Minister Daniel Pastorelli was prepared to manage one of WA’s most important portfolios.
Mr Hunter questioned the Minister on the State Government’s responsibilities for onshore oil decommissioning and whether he had engaged with the Federal Government on offshore decommissioning obligations.
“These were straightforward questions about who is responsible, what processes are in place and whether the Minister is actually engaging with the Commonwealth on an issue of major importance to Western Australia,” Mr Hunter said.
“The Minister’s response did little to inspire confidence he understands the significant regulatory, environmental and financial responsibilities of petroleum decommissioning, or the need to engage with Canberra on offshore obligations.”
Mr Hunter said the Government’s lack of confidence in its new Minister was further highlighted when Labor later directed a Government question about mining in the Goldfields to former Mines Minister David Michael, rather than Minister Pastorelli.
“That really said it all. Labor writes its own Dorothy Dixers, yet when it came time to ask a question about mining in the Goldfields, they turned to the former Minister,” Mr Hunter said.
“If the Cook Government does not have confidence in its new Mines Minister to answer its own scripted questions about the industry, why should the resources sector have confidence in him?
“Nearly two months into the job, Daniel Pastorelli is still relying on his predecessor to do the heavy lifting. Premier Cook might see him as Labor’s boy wonder, but WA’s resources sector is too important for on-the-job training.”
Mr Hunter said WA’s resources sector required experienced and engaged leadership, particularly as the State navigates increasingly complex issues around decommissioning, investment, regulation and Commonwealth-State responsibilities.
“The Mines, Petroleum and Exploration portfolio is central to WA’s economy, jobs and State finances. It demands a Minister who knows the brief and is prepared to lead,” Mr Hunter said.
“The question for Roger Cook is simple: when will his new Mines Minister be ready to do the job?”
Member for Geraldton Kirrilee Warr MLA has echoed calls for the Federal and WA Governments to work to ensure the aged care sector is functioning properly, saying Geraldton residents are being failed by the system.
It comes following Shadow Minister for Aged Care Bevan Eatts’ call for Federal Labor to clarify the ambiguity on official aged care wait times.
Ms Warr said enquiries have been made to her office surrounding the aged care system.
“A number of issues have been raised with me in regard to aged care, with concerns about the waitlist,” she said.
“Residents are being told there are a hundred people ahead of them in the queue, with no suitable alternatives to keep them in Geraldton while they wait.
“Instead, some are being told to relocate to places where they do not necessarily have the support networks in place.
“It’s disappointing, and the State and Federal response from here must be better going forward.”
Ms Warr echoed Mr Eatts’ comments, saying residents need adequate time in order to plan their futures.
“The inconsistencies between what is officially reported which includes two figures and what families are being told is creating confusion in the community,” she said.
“Families, particularly those in regional WA, need clear timeframes so they can make an informed decision about their care.”
The Nationals WA has renewed concerns about the impact of Working Holiday Maker (WHM) visa changes on regional Western Australia industries, following reports that the Australian Government has paused visa applications from 24 countries and delayed processing for a further 19 countries.
The reported changes have raised concerns among regional employers, agricultural producers and tourism operators who rely on backpackers to help fill seasonal workforce shortages.
Nationals WA Leader Shane Love said the WHM visas had long played an important role in supporting regional industries and communities.
“Regional industries have consistently highlighted the contribution that Working Holiday Makers make to agriculture, tourism and hospitality across Western Australia,” Mr Love said.
“Many businesses rely on seasonal workers to meet labour demands during peak periods, particularly in regional and remote areas where workforce shortages remain a challenge. Western Australia’s tourism and hospitality operators in tourism hubs like Broome, Exmouth and Margaret River rely heavily on backpackers to fill frontline roles.
“Capping or cancelling WHM visas will be devastating to Western Australia’s tourism – something this WA Labor government, with the Premier at the helm of Tourism, is keen on pushing as a supposed priority. What’s the point of pushing an Exmouth whale shark experience in New York’s Times Square, if there will be no workers to look after the influx of tourists? What exactly are this government’s priorities?”
Mr Love said any cuts to the Albanese government program would also worsen seasonal labour shortages across regional Western Australia. Backpackers provide the flexible, short-term workforce relied on by WA’s horticulture, grain and wine industries, particularly in regions such as the South West and Gascoyne. Fewer arrivals would mean fewer workers available for fruit picking and harvests.
“The agriculture industries already have a mountain of roadblocks to navigate: fuel issues, feral animal infestations, drought; so why would the government make things even more difficult?”
Media reports indicate the visa pauses and processing delays form part of the Federal Government’s broader migration management settings.
The Nationals had previously drawn attention to the devastation that cutting back on these visa holders would have on an already suffering agriculture industry, Australia-wide and Mr Love said concerns raised by regional industries mirror warnings that have been made for several years about the importance of maintaining access to seasonal labour.
“Industry groups, including the National Farmers’ Federation, have repeatedly pointed to the role backpackers play in supporting regional economies and helping businesses remain productive,” he said.
The National Farmers’ Federation’s 2024 report on Working Holiday Makers highlighted the significant contribution backpackers make to regional Australia, particularly in sectors experiencing persistent labour shortages.
“What has been covertly released these past few days will no doubt make a present report even more negative. Producers and regional employers are seeking certainty about workforce availability as they plan for upcoming seasons.”
The Nationals WA said it would continue to monitor the situation and engage with regional stakeholders regarding the potential impacts of the reported visa changes, but also called on the State Labor government to stand up for the regional industries and ensure workers are available.
The Nationals WA have rejected the Animal Justice Party’s (AJP) push to establish an Independent Office of Animal Protection, describing the proposal as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing”.
Nationals MLC Julie Freeman said the AJP motion, recently put forward in the Legislative Council, calls for the establishment of an Independent Office headed by a Chief Animal Protection Officer, and advised by an Animal Protection Advisory Committee.
“Let us be absolutely clear: The Nationals WA oppose this proposal,” Ms Freeman said.
“The AJP can dress this up in reassuring words like ‘independent’, ‘transparent’ and ‘accountable’, but Western Australians should look beyond the language and at the agenda behind it. Their own published policies make it clear where they stand – they want to abolish animal farming, racing, rodeos, pony rides and zoos.
“That is not a balanced approach to animal welfare; it is an ideological agenda completely disconnected from the realities of agriculture, regional communities and the industries that support thousands of Western Australian livelihoods.”
The AJP has avoided debating its Bill to establish the three institutions, opting instead to move a motion that calls on the Cook Labor Government to urgently establish the office and provide legislation, funding, and a timeline for implementation.
“A Bill could have been scrutinised clause by clause, allowing Parliament to properly examine exactly what powers this office would have, what safeguards would apply, what it would cost taxpayers and who would have a seat at the table. Instead, Parliament is being asked to endorse the concept before those fundamental questions have been answered,” Ms Freeman said.
Under the AJP’s proposed model, people with commercial animal-sector experience would be permanently excluded from becoming Chief Animal Protection Officer, while there is no equivalent exclusion for activists committed to ending industries involving animals.
“That tells you everything you need to know about their version of ‘independence’,” Ms Freeman said.
“They want to exclude people with practical, hands-on industry knowledge while leaving the door wide open to activists whose stated objective is to shut those industries down.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food and Racing and Gaming Lachlan Hunter MP said “The Nationals WA stand with our farmers, veterinarians, trainers, researchers, racing and recreation participants, small businesses and regional communities.
“We support strong animal welfare standards, credible science and effective enforcement, but we will not support the creation of an ideological bureaucracy designed by a party whose own policies seek to abolish lawful industries that sustain livelihoods and regional communities.
“The Nationals are not fooled. The language might be the sheep’s clothing, but the AJP’s own published agenda reveals the wolf beneath.”
Shadow Minister for Aged Care Bevan Eatts MLA is calling for the Federal Labor Government to explain conflicting official figures on aged care wait times, saying older Australians and their families deserve to know how long they will actually wait.
Mr Eatts said the Government’s repeated claims that aged care wait times are “continuing to fall” do not appear to align with its own published data.
According to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s recently released June data, standard-priority applicants face a wait of seven to eight months which is no change from March reports.
“Australians are being told wait times are falling, yet the published figure appears unchanged from March,” Mr Eatts said.
Mr Eatts said concerns were heightened by the absence of a June-quarter statistical report, making meaningful comparisons with previous quarters impossible. and further compounded by government reports using different methodologies to calculate waiting times.
“Families need to know whether help is around the corner or many months away,” Mr Eatts said.
“When an older person is assessed as needing care, every day matters, let alone months. Families need clear answers, not confusion.”
In response to a recent Senate Estimates question, the Department confirmed its published wait time information includes both new applicants and people seeking a higher level of care, following reassessment. However, the Department’s statutory Wait Times Report excludes reassessments altogether.
“As a result, Australians have been presented with two official wait-time figures measuring different groups of people,” Mr Eatts said. “It’s not good enough”.
Mr Eatts said he would write to Federal Minister for Aged Care Sam Rae, seeking an explanation of the different methodologies and asking for consistent, comparable wait-time reporting.
Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Hon Rob Horstman MLC says the Eucla Airstrip is a critical lifeline for one of Western Australia’s most remote communities.
He is calling on the Cook Labor Government to urgently progress it’s long-promised upgrade – warning the remote community should not be left waiting any longer for critical transport and emergency infrastructure.
“When rain falls at Eucla, the airstrip can become unusable for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), WA Police and emergency services. Even minor rainfall can render the unsealed runway dangerous, forcing aircraft to land on the Eyre Highway during medical emergencies,” says Mr Horstman.
While the State Labor Government committed $3.38 million in 2024, the project has failed to appear in recent State Budgets and construction has yet to commence.
Mr Horstman said the Government’s failure to honour its commitment was leaving remote communities exposed and delaying critical infrastructure they had long been promised.
“This is not a wish-list project—it’s essential infrastructure that can mean the difference between life and death. The Labor Government announced funding with great fanfare, yet there is no sign of the project progressing and no provision for it in recent State Budgets. Communities deserve answers.”
Mr Horstman said the consequences of further delays were well understood.
He said the Eucla community, emergency responders and the Shire of Dundas had advocated for the upgrade for more than a decade, highlighting its importance not only for local residents but also for the thousands of motorists travelling the Eyre Highway each year.
Mr Horstman calls on the State Government to immediately recommit funding, provide a clear construction timetable and deliver the long-overdue project.
“Regional Western Australians deserve the same access to safe emergency services as anyone living in Perth. The Government must stop making promises and start delivering.”
Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love MLA said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese must give Western Australians an unequivocal guarantee today that he will not cut WA’s GST share and will reject any change that leaves Western Australia worse off.
“The Productivity Commission review must not become an excuse to unwind, weaken or circumvent the 2018 GST reforms,” Mr Love said.
“There should be no change to WA’s GST deal, whether directly, by stealth, or through a new formula that reduces WA’s funding while claiming to preserve the GST floor. Western Australia already carries an extraordinary share of the national economic load. WA produces more than 45 per cent of Australia’s goods exports despite having only around 11 per cent of the nation’s population.”
Mr Love said that it’s a well-known fact that much of that wealth is generated in regional Western Australia, particularly the Pilbara and Goldfields.
“The Pilbara is the engine room of Australia’s iron ore industry, with Pilbara Ports handling around 81 per cent of the nation’s iron ore trade, while the Goldfields remains one of Australia’s most significant mining and export producing regions,” he said.
“These regions are not simply regional economic centres. They are nationally significant production hubs that generate exports, jobs, company profits and government revenue across Australia.
“They do not operate for free. They require enormous and ongoing investment in roads, ports, power, water, housing, health services and community infrastructure to support the workforce and industries that keep the national economy moving. You cannot rely on regional Western Australia to generate wealth for the nation and then take away the revenue WA needs to keep those regions productive.”
Mr Love said it was unreasonable to expect regional WA to continue generating wealth for the nation while reducing the revenue needed to sustain those industries and communities.
“Western Australia accepts that being part of the Federation means supporting other states and territories. We already do that substantially,” he said.
“WA Treasury estimates Western Australia made a net fiscal contribution to the Federation of around $39 billion in 2023-24. Even with the current GST reforms, WA remains a major net contributor to the rest of the country.
The current arrangements are not excessive. They simply stop Western Australia from being treated unfairly for the strength of its economy.
Mr Love said it made no economic sense for Canberra to encourage Western Australia to invest billions of dollars developing industries that generate national income, only to penalise the State when those investments succeed.
“Prime Minister Albanese regularly describes Western Australia as a driver of the Australian economy,” he said.
“If he genuinely believes that, he should back those words with a clear commitment that WA will not lose a dollar from its GST share. The Prime Minister cannot praise Western Australia for driving the national economy and then allow Canberra to raid our GST share.”
Mr Love said any recommendation arising from the Productivity Commission review should be judged against a simple test.
“Does Western Australia lose money or lose the capacity to invest in the industries and communities that underpin the national economy? If the answer is yes, then it is a bad deal for Western Australia and ultimately a bad deal for Australia.”
Mr Love said The Nationals WA would oppose any proposal that reduces Western Australia’s GST share or undermines the State’s capacity to invest in regional industries and communities.
“The 2018 reforms must remain the floor, not become the starting point for another raid on Western Australia,” he said.
There is an old saying that tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire.
It is a sentiment worth remembering as Western Australia’s Parliament considers whether to remove the Lord’s Prayer from the Legislative Assembly.
As the youngest member of the Assembly, and someone who freely admits to being a student of parliamentary history and procedure, I welcome the review of our Standing Orders. The first comprehensive review in almost 30 years provides an opportunity to modernise aspects of Parliament and ensure its rules remain fit for purpose.
But modernisation should not be confused with amnesia.
The debate about the Lord’s Prayer is often presented as a simple choice between tradition and progress. It is not.
The Lord’s Prayer has opened parliamentary proceedings throughout the Westminster world for generations. It predates Federation, predates responsible government in Western Australia and connects our Parliament to a democratic tradition that stretches back centuries.
Its significance is not simply religious.
The Westminster system emerged from a long struggle to constrain power, protect liberty and establish the principle that governments are accountable to elected representatives.
The traditions of Parliament, including its ceremonies, symbols and conventions, help remind us that democratic institutions are bigger than the politicians who temporarily occupy them.
The Lord’s Prayer is one of those traditions.
As a Catholic, I value the prayer itself. But even for those who do not share my faith, there is something worthwhile in preserving a practice that encourages humility before the business of governing.
After all, Parliament is one of the few places in modern society where people routinely believe they have all the answers.
A brief reminder that we may not is not the worst way to start the day.
The prayer is also a recognition that our democracy did not appear from nowhere.
Institutions are inherited before they are reformed. They are built over generations and entrusted to those who follow.
Too often in modern politics we approach institutions with the assumption that if something is old, it must be outdated.
History suggests the opposite can sometimes be true.
Trial by jury is old. Parliamentary privilege is old. Freedom of speech within Parliament is old. The rule of law itself is old.
Their age is not a weakness. It is evidence that they have endured because they continue to serve a purpose.
This does not mean every tradition should be preserved forever. Institutions must evolve. Parliament should reflect the society it serves.
We rightly acknowledge Aboriginal Australians and their enduring connection to country.
That practice has become an important part of our parliamentary proceedings and should continue. But I reject the notion that this must be an either-or proposition.
A mature democracy should be capable of recognising multiple strands of its history simultaneously. We should be confident enough to add to our traditions without feeling compelled to erase existing ones.
The larger question raised by this debate is what we expect Parliament to be.
Increasingly, there is a temptation to view Parliament as a legislative production line, a place where governments process Bills and manage political messaging.
That misunderstands its purpose.
Parliament is not primarily a vehicle for government. It is a forum for scrutiny, debate and representation. It exists so competing ideas can be tested in public and so governments can be held accountable for the exercise of power.
Strong debate produces stronger laws. Strong scrutiny produces better government.
As someone who has spent a fair amount of time testing the limits of Standing Orders, I know that parliamentary procedure can occasionally seem arcane. But these rules and traditions matter because they shape how democracy functions in practice.
The Lord’s Prayer will not determine whether Western Australia succeeds or fails.
But the way we approach this debate says something important about our attitude towards institutions.
In an age when trust in democratic institutions is declining across much of the Western world, we should be cautious about discarding traditions that connect us to the foundations of our democracy.
Not because they are old.
But because they remind us that democracy is not merely inherited. It is maintained.
And that task requires a little humility from all of us.
Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love MLA has vowed the WA Nationals and Liberals will continue working constructively with the Cook Labor Government to pass the Rail Safety National Law Application Amendment (Rolling Stock Lighting) Bill 2026, after debate continued in State Parliament yesterday.
The debate was adjourned before amendments could be agreed upon, giving the Opposition and the Government further opportunity to negotiate.
“I thank the Minister and Government for accepting the need to mandate lighting on trains to enhance public and industry safety.”
“We will use the time before debate resumes next month to continue working constructively with the Government and make the case for stronger measures that genuinely improve the visibility of trains at passive rail crossings.”
Following consultation with industry, Mr Love proposed a series of amendments to his Bill that would address concerns from rail operators while preserving the intent of the legislation.
The Opposition’s proposed amendments would change the amber beacon to a white beacon, clarify that only the lead locomotive would need to have the beacon operating, extend the implementation period for side lighting from two to three years, and remove penalties for individual drivers while retaining a financial penalty for rail operators.
The Government has proposed its own amendments, which would remove specific references to flashing beacons and side lighting and instead mandate compliance with the draft AS7531 lighting standard. It would also extend the implementation period to five years.
Mr Love said the Opposition was seeking clarity on the lighting requirements under the Government’s proposed approach.
“The standard the Government wants to rely on is still in draft form. We do not know what the final standard will look like, when it will be finalised or when the measures contained within it will actually be implemented,” Mr Love said.
“We will keep negotiating, we will keep fighting for the families who have spent decades campaigning for change, and we will see this through to the end.”
Families and friends who have lost loved ones at passive rail crossings will stand together on the steps of WA Parliament tomorrow, as a decades-long fight for improved rail safety reaches a critical moment.
The Rail Safety National Law Application Amendment (Rolling Stock Lighting) Bill 2026 introduces a range of enhanced visibility measures for trains and rolling stock at passive level crossings, including a flashing or rotating beacon and lighting along the sides of trains and rolling stock or carriages.
Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love MLA, who has proposed the Bill, will join families and supporters ahead of the debate in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
Family members will travel from across Australia to attend the Parliament, where a memorial of photographs for 13 loved ones, who sadly lost their lives at passive rail crossings, will be displayed.
Mr Love said, “Their presence would be a powerful reminder to every Member of Parliament of what is at stake.”
“This Bill is not about removing responsibility from motorists or suggesting that one measure will prevent every collision. Road safety is about putting multiple layers of protection in place, particularly when the consequences of getting it wrong can be catastrophic.”
“This Bill gives Western Australia the opportunity to lead the nation, by mandating greater train lighting and visibility.”
The Rail Safety Bill will be further debated on Wednesday during Private Members Business in the Legislative Assembly at 4:00pm.
Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love MLA has named Member for Central Wheatbelt Lachlan Hunter MP as Shadow Minister for Mines, Petroleum and Exploration in an adjustment to The Nationals WA’s shadow ministerial responsibilities.
Mr Love said the change reflects the continued development of The Nationals WA parliamentary team and recognises Mr Hunter’s strong understanding of regional industries and the crucial role mining and petroleum projects play in Western Australia’s economy.
“Mr Hunter has established himself as an energetic and passionate regional representative, and this portfolio is a natural fit for his experience and interests,” Mr Love said.
“Born in Kalgoorlie and now representing the Central Wheatbelt, Lachlan understands firsthand the importance of the resources sector to Western Australia’s prosperity, as well as the need for development to deliver lasting benefits for communities right across the State.
“This appointment reflects the strength and depth of our parliamentary team and gives Lachlan the opportunity to make a significant contribution in one of Western Australia’s most important policy areas.”
Mr Love said he would remain closely engaged with the sector in his capacity as Nationals Leader.
“Mining and petroleum will continue to be a major priority for The Nationals WA, and I look forward to working closely with Lachlan as he takes on the portfolio.”
Mr Hunter said he was honoured to be entrusted with the responsibility.
“Western Australia’s resources sector is a vital pillar of the State’s economy, supporting thousands of jobs, driving investment and creating opportunities for communities across Western Australia.
“I look forward to working closely with industry to ensure Western Australia remains an attractive place to invest, and I thank Shane for his confidence and for the strong foundation he has established in the portfolio.”
Water security is one of the most important long-term challenges facing Western Australia, and it will only become more critical as our population, economy and industries continue to grow.
Yet after almost a decade in government, Labor’s management of the water portfolio has left Western Australia increasingly exposed to ageing infrastructure, growing demand and emerging risks to our future water supply.
As Shadow Minister for Water, I take those challenges seriously. I only wish the Cook Labor Government would demonstrate the same urgency.
The latest Cabinet reshuffle has delivered yet another Minister for Water. But changing the name on the office door will not change the problems confronting Western Australia.
Daniel Pastorelli inherits a portfolio under considerable pressure: parts of Perth’s water and sewerage network are more than 70 years old, regional pipelines continue to fail, Water Corporation workers are taking industrial action, and questions remain about whether the agencies responsible for managing our water resources have the capacity and resources needed for the task ahead.
After growing public concern about the management of the portfolio, the Government was right to recognise that a change was needed. The real test is whether the new Minister will be given the authority, resources and determination to change course — or whether Labor intends to continue with more of the same.
Water Corporation workers say they are overstretched and undervalued. Concerns have been raised about the condition and future requirements of critical infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation is being asked to manage increasingly complex pressures around water licensing, groundwater allocations and declining water availability.
The people working in these organisations continue to do their best. The failure has been political: Labor has not delivered the long-term planning, investment and infrastructure program required to keep pace with Western Australia’s growth.
That lack of priority was evident again in the recent State Budget.
Regional water programs were cut, including funding for rural water planning, the WaterSmart Farms initiative and water carting programs. At the same time, the Government allocated just $41 million across regional Western Australia for water and wastewater infrastructure to unlock housing, and $25 million for regional water infrastructure.
For a Government entering its tenth year in office, it is simply not good enough.
Across regional Western Australia, communities continue to face water shortages, ageing pipelines and constraints on housing and economic development because basic water infrastructure has not kept pace.
Too often, Labor’s approach has been reactive — responding when pipes fail, supplies run short or development stalls — rather than investing early enough to prevent those problems occurring in the first place.
And the pressures are only increasing.
Population growth, expanding industry, greater demand on groundwater, increasing reliance on desalination and the rapid development of AI-driven data centres will all add to Western Australia’s future water requirements.
Artificial intelligence presents significant economic opportunities for our State, but those opportunities cannot come at the expense of household, agricultural or industrial water security.
Data centres can be significant users of water, particularly for cooling, and as demand for AI infrastructure grows, governments need to understand and plan for its cumulative impact on water supplies.
Yet significant questions remain about how water use by data centres will be assessed and regulated at both a State and Federal level.
The Federal Government’s National AI Plan provides insufficient guidance on the water implications of large-scale data-centre development. The question is no longer whether Western Australia will attract more of these projects, but whether the Cook Labor Government is properly planning for their impact before they arrive.
Local governments are already beginning to grapple with these issues. The City of Stirling is considering stronger planning controls for data centres, including whether they should be treated as a prohibited use in some circumstances, amid concerns about residential amenity and pressure on local resources.
Western Australia should not wait until individual communities are forced to confront these challenges development by development.
Water security must be embedded in the State’s long-term economic, industrial and land-use planning, supported by stronger policy, greater transparency and genuinely integrated management of our water resources.
Desalination will undoubtedly play an important role in Western Australia’s future, but it cannot be the only answer.
We must also expand wastewater recycling, protect groundwater resources, strengthen water licensing and compliance, and accelerate the maintenance and replacement of ageing infrastructure — particularly in regional communities where a single pipeline failure can have enormous consequences.
Most importantly, government must start planning ahead of demand rather than chasing it.
Western Australians deserve confidence that the water they rely on — for their homes, farms, businesses and communities — is being secured not just for today, but for the decades ahead.
Daniel Pastorelli has inherited the consequences of almost a decade of Labor’s management of this portfolio. He also has an opportunity to change direction.
A new Minister will only matter if there is a new approach.
The question now is whether the Cook Labor Government is finally prepared to give Western Australia’s water security the priority it deserves.
Shadow Minister for Road Safety, Hon Julie Freeman MLC, is once again calling for a greater visible police presence on Western Australian roads as the State’s road toll reaches 135 lives lost this year.
Ms Freeman said Western Australians, particularly those living and travelling in regional areas, were consistently calling for more police patrols and stronger frontline enforcement.
“People want to see police out on our roads because a visible police presence is one of the strongest deterrents to dangerous driving,” Ms Freeman said.
“Cameras have a role to play, but they cannot pull over a dangerous driver, conduct a breath or drug test, or take an unsafe vehicle off the road.
“Police can identify dangerous behaviour and deliver an immediate consequence for speeding, drink or drug driving, failing to wear a seatbelt or using a mobile phone.
“When the consequence is immediate, it has a much greater impact and is far more likely to change behaviour.”
Ms Freeman said the mounting loss of life was particularly unacceptable while record revenue from the State’s new AI safety cameras was flowing into the Road Trauma Trust Account.
“Every dollar collected through these cameras is quarantined for road safety, yet the toll continues to rise,” Ms Freeman said.
“Western Australians deserve to know how this record revenue is being used and when they will see results on our roads.
“The Cook Labor Government has the money. It must invest more of the Road Trauma Trust Account into frontline enforcement, including additional traffic patrols and targeted police operations across regional WA.”
Ms Freeman said Premier Roger Cook’s attempts to defend the Government’s record by pointing to an improvement in the per-capita toll ignored how poorly Western Australia continued to compare nationally.
“At 6.3 deaths per 100,000 people, Western Australia has the second-worst road fatality rate in the nation,” Ms Freeman said.
“We are only performing better than the Northern Territory and remain well above the national rate of 4.8 deaths per 100,000.
“That is not a record the Premier should be trying to defend. It is a warning that the Government’s approach is not working.”
Ms Freeman said the continued overrepresentation of regional Western Australians in the road toll demanded urgent action.
“Once again, most fatal crashes are occurring on regional roads, despite regional Western Australians making up only a small proportion of the State’s population.
“Regional drivers travel longer distances, often on poorer roads, and can wait much longer for emergency assistance. They deserve more visible and sustained traffic policing—not an occasional blitz after the toll reaches another terrible milestone.
“One hundred and thirty-five people have already failed to make it home, so far this year. The Government must stop making excuses and start delivering the visible action Western Australians are asking for.”
Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love MLA says while migration into Australia needs to be better managed, today’s changes to the Federal Labor Government’s skilled migration priorities risk making it harder for regional Western Australian businesses to fill critical workforce shortages, and will further cripple regional businesses.
Under the changes announced today, regional migration will no longer receive priority processing, with applicants already in Australia to be prioritised over skilled workers applying from overseas.
Mr Love said the Federal Government should not solve that challenge at the expense of regional communities already struggling to attract workers, and questioned the way in which it was done – the Home Affairs Minister ‘quietly’ issuing a ministerial direction late last month.
“There is no doubt migration levels need to be carefully managed, and Australians expect governments to have a system that is fair, sustainable and in the national interest,” Mr Love said.
“But regional Western Australia is not facing the same challenges as our major cities. Removing priority processing for regional migration ignores the reality that many regional employers continue to struggle to fill essential roles.”
Mr Love said employers across regional Western Australia already faced significant challenges recruiting mechanics, aged care workers, hospitality staff, health professionals, tradespeople and other skilled workers.
“For many regional businesses, overseas migration isn’t the first option – it’s the last option after they’ve exhausted every opportunity to recruit locally,” he said.
“These businesses already navigate a costly and complex migration process. Making it harder to bring skilled workers to regional Australia will leave more vacancies unfilled and place even greater pressure on businesses already doing it tough.
“For regional Western Australia, this comes on top of recent changes to the State’s DAMA framework, reducing the migration pathways specifically designed to address local workforce shortages.
“Combined with the Federal Government’s decision to scrap priority processing for regional visas, it’s a double blow for regional businesses already struggling to find workers and keep their doors open.”
Mr Love said the Federal Government could continue reducing overall migration while prioritising regional WA.
“Regional Western Australia drives our economy through agriculture, mining, tourism and regional industries and those industries need access to workers if they are to continue supporting jobs, exports and economic growth.
“I urge the Federal Government to reconsider the decision to remove regional migration as a priority and ensure regional businesses are not left behind in the pursuit of lower migration numbers.”
