WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas told a state conference there is a pathway to victory in the 2029 state election. He said the party is not working in partnership with One Nation, though the two share a goal of removing Labor. Zempilas said his ambition is to govern in its own right with the Nationals, while not ruling anything out as circumstances change. The party faces a choice between leveraging rising support for One Nation or confronting it directly. Federal Liberal leader Angus Taylor also addressed the conference.
Western Australian MPs say hostility toward politicians is growing, with several saying it is becoming harder to stay accessible to voters. The concern follows an alleged attack on federal independent MP Helen Haines, whose motive is not yet clear, and a man charged with threatening staff in state Labor MP Hannah Beazley's office. Police Commissioner Col Blanch urged politicians to look after themselves while remaining part of their communities. The state government announced it will fund security upgrades at MPs' homes, fast-track a security review of Parliament and provide an extra electorate officer.
A man accused of making threats with improvised nunchucks at Hannah Beazley's Victoria Park electorate office has been ordered to remain in custody for medical assessment. John Lawrence Smart faces charges including being armed in a way that may cause fear, making an unlawful threat and possessing cannabis. His lawyer said the 56-year-old may have been holding musical percussion sticks rather than a weapon. Police allege he raised one implement above his head while demanding to see the politician. No one was injured. WA Premier Roger Cook said discussions on upgrading security for parliamentarians are under way.
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A 56-year-old man has been charged after allegedly threatening staff at the Victoria Park electoral office of WA Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley while holding nunchucks. Police said nobody was injured, and the man was arrested in Bentley. He has been charged with making unlawful threats, being armed in a way that may cause fear and possessing cannabis. Bail was refused. Premier Roger Cook said he was appalled by the incident and is considering blocking public access to the Parliament House car park as part of new security measures.
WA Police have arrested a 56-year-old man after he allegedly entered the electoral office of WA MP Hannah Beazley and threatened staff with nunchucks. Police say the man was causing a disturbance outside the Albany Highway office in Victoria Park on Wednesday, around 1.15pm, and made verbal threats while holding the weapons. He was arrested in Bentley and is assisting police with inquiries. No injuries were reported and no charges have been laid. Ms Beazley, who was not in the office at the time, said her staff were shaken and that her focus is on their welfare.
The West Australian Labor government is preparing a business case to merge Curtin University, Murdoch University and the University of WA. A cost-benefit report, released this month, found positive net benefits from the merger. Murdoch University vice-chancellor Andrew Deeks argued it relied on flawed assumptions, while Curtin vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne said the university opposes a forced merger. The National Tertiary Education Union said most surveyed staff oppose the proposal.
WA Tertiary Education Minister Tony Buti is pressing ahead with a plan to merge Curtin University, Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia. He says the merger would address duplicated courses, fragmented investment and limited scale. Curtin and Murdoch vice-chancellors have strongly opposed the plan, while UWA called it an opportunity. Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas criticised a Deloitte cost-benefit report that contained errors. Deloitte has described the errors as minor and Mr Buti says he will ask the firm to return part of its fee.
The View From The Round House podcast features Martin Drum discussing several political topics. Topics include a proposed merger of UWA, Murdoch and Curtin universities in Western Australia, and a possible fracking ban in the Kimberley. The episode also covers Josh Frydenberg's possible return to politics, challenges facing Jim Chalmers as Treasurer, and Mark Butler's work on private health rebate changes. Editor Michael Barker hosts the discussion.
