Dean Nalder

Securing union support for his bid to introduce competition into the local electricity retailing market will be a major test of Ben Wyatt’s political and negotiating skills.

Grants from the federal government and delayed dividend payments from state-owned enterprises have helped the state government report an operating deficit 73 per cent below forecast in the 2018 financial year, while the non-trade economy has grown after a sustained period of shrinking.

The state budget will be in surplus in 2019/20, according to Premier Mark McGowan, while a $421 million expansion of the Keystart program for first homebuyers and a move to reduce red tape will be two new policies to support the local economy.

The state government has ceased its funding agreement with Carnegie Clean Energy for its Albany wave project, a week after the company reported a net loss of $45 million for the half year.

WA BUDGET: Federal infrastructure grants and reform of the GST have helped the state government project a $1.5 billion operating surplus in the upcoming financial year, although funding for the Ellenbrook rail line is largely absent.

Mike Nahan announced at 7pm last night his intention to step down as leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, with a view to installing a new leader by the end of this week.

The McGowan government has inked its biggest privatisation deal yet, with Landgate’s titles register to be operated by a consortium including industry superannuation funds and a Macquarie Group fund, in a deal worth $1.4 billion.

A $2.4 billion surge in revenue above forecast levels helped the state government record a $1.3 billion operating surplus in the year to June, but the overall cash position of the budget is still in a deficit of $924 million.

The state government has used today’s mid-year review to tout falling debt levels and a higher surplus, disguising what are otherwise middling projections for GSP and wage growth.

Property industry lobby groups have called for a bipartisan approach to maintaining stamp duty rebates in the apartments sector, after a robust debate in parliament yesterday revealed the Liberal opposition as a critic of the tax cut.

Steve Thomas and Tony Krsticevic are among those given more responsibility in changes to the shadow cabinet announced by opposition leader Liza Harvey on the weekend.

A 3.1 per cent contraction of Western Australia’s economy is anticipated in the 2021 financial year, following a 5 per cent fall in the current quarter, but Treasurer Ben Wyatt is more optimistic about the pace of recovery than he was two months ago.

The state government is poised to reveal its $4 billion plan for a new port at Kwinana as it seeks to ramp-up infrastructure projects to help kickstart the state’s economic recovery from COVID-19.

Western Australia’s jobless rate has improved by a modest amount, with 19,000 more people in mostly full-time work, while national figures worsened to their highest level in 22 years.

With the McGowan government’s plans for a strong budget upended, it is now focused on supporting jobs and the broader economy.

Shadow treasurer Dean Nalder has lashed out at the state government for not spending enough to support the community during the COVID-19 downturn.

The state government has done little to support struggling households and businesses and left the heavy lifting to the federal government, according to Dean Nalder.

The state government’s response to COVID-19 is smaller than investment after the Global Financial Crisis, shadow treasurer Dean Nalder claims.

Western Australia's economy is the envy of the nation but a second coronavirus wave remains a massive risk.

The jobless rate in WA is among the country’s lowest, with some workers finding jobs and some leaving the labour force.

Ben Wyatt’s fourth budget has set the scene for a push towards re-election.

Liza Harvey has resigned as leader of the opposition, just months before the state election.

The Liberals will head into March’s state election with the least experienced leadership team in the party’s history, in what is shaping as a desperate strategy to save the furniture.

First-term MP Zak Kirkup is tipped to lead the Western Australian Liberals to the polls in March as they seek to avoid electoral obliteration.

Former banking executive and cabinet minister Dean Nalder or former political adviser Zak Kirkup will likely emerge as the WA Liberal Party’s leader tomorrow.

Zak Kirkup has been elected leader of the opposition unopposed after Dean Nalder withdrew his candidacy earlier this morning.

Zak Kirkup says he aims to win the March state election, promising there will be no deviation between the opposition or government on COVID-19 health policy.

Dean Nalder has announced he will not recontest Bateman at the next state election, one week after ending his bid to succeed Liza Harvey as opposition leader.

Dean Nalder has today expressed disdain for the political aspects of his parliamentary career while making no apologies for his leadership ambitions.

The state Liberals’ new leader is an unknown quantity to many voters, but he has youth on his side.

Newly elevated opposition leader Zak Kirkup has announced a promise to deliver payroll tax relief to up to 5,500 small businesses if elected.

The Liberal Party WA should look to Canada if it wants to rebuild its standing, writes Mannkal Economic Education Foundation executive director Andrew Pickford.

With about 13 weeks until the state election, can a 33-year-old first-term MP defy the odds and become Australia’s youngest serving premier?

The new president of the Liberal Party's Mt Lawley branch has called on powerbroker Peter Collier to resign, blaming the long-serving Upper House member and fellow powerbrokers Nick Goiran and Mathias Cormann for the party's "demise".

Australia’s most populous state will phase-out taxes on property sales by 2040, raising the question of whether WA could follow suit.

Wages grew at a fractionally faster pace than expected in the final three months of 2020, lagging expectations for record property price increases this year.

Where will dozens of departing members of state parliament find themselves in the months ahead?