Peter Kennedy

Despite the Liberals’ big margin in Canning, the government is taking nothing for granted as the by-election nears.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA says it will join the campaign to promote the proposed Chinese Free Trade Agreement, because it will provide significant benefits for locally based companies.

Not only did state funding for housing in the Pilbara come too late, when it did flow it was poorly targeted.

After failing to implement its council amalgamation plan, the government is targeting funding arrangements.

Political parties’ focus on the polls, and winning power for its own sake, have led to an absence of mature policy debate in Australia.

The polls suggest Colin Barnett and his government are in some trouble ahead of the next election, but Labor has plenty of work to do.

Both major WA parties have new faces directing operations behind the scenes.

His light may have only shone briefly, but Alan Bond’s legacy remains etched in WA’s collective political and corporate memory.

A top WA economic commentator can’t see a way back to AAA any time soon.