Western Australian Premier Roger Cook, who recently declared himself "the best person" to lead the state, now confronts a critical test of his leadership following a damning report into the neglect of Perth's public hospitals.
Premier Absent as Damning Health Audit Released
Despite asserting his authority and confirming plans to lead the Labor Party to the 2029 election, Roger Cook was notably absent from a major press conference last Thursday. The event detailed a scathing health infrastructure maintenance audit, which laid bare years of failure to address serious issues in the state's hospitals.
Instead, Health Infrastructure Minister John Carey faced the media for nearly an hour alongside the director-general of WA Health. Carey, who was handed the critical health portfolio in a March cabinet reshuffle while retaining housing and planning, stated, "The buck stops with me. I'm the Minister for Health Infrastructure."
The audit confirmed that repair works were taking far too long and, in some instances, were never completed, leaving hospitals like Sir Charles Gairdner in an appalling state due to neglected basic maintenance.
Leadership and Accountability Under Scrutiny
When questioned on Friday about his absence, Premier Cook acknowledged that "the buck ultimately stops with me." However, he offered no explanation for why he allowed his minister to shoulder the public scrutiny alone for a significant government failure.
This episode has intensified focus on the Cook Government's ability to manage fundamental governance issues. Critics argue that before pursuing legacy projects like the proposed $100 million Perth Bears NRL team, the administration must prove it can competently deliver core services in health and housing.
The government points to billions of dollars being invested in these areas, yet tangible improvements for the public remain elusive. This is despite the state enjoying unprecedented financial wealth, with royalties and GST revenue forecast to hit $17 billion this financial year alone.
A Legacy Built on Governance, Not Grand Projects
While it is too early to define Roger Cook's legacy, the path it will take is becoming clear. His predecessor, Mark McGowan, is remembered for steering WA through the COVID-19 pandemic, and Colin Barnett for delivering Optus Stadium.
For Cook, however, his legacy will be judged on a less glamorous metric: governance. It will be determined by whether his government successfully addressed the foundational issues in health, housing, education, and law and order.
"Hospital maintenance isn't sexy," as one observer noted, but getting it right is vital. With at least three more years in office, and potentially beyond 2029, Cook has time to correct course. But as this latest audit demonstrates, the public's patience for basic service failures is wearing thin, and the political heat is squarely on the Premier who put himself forward as the state's indispensable leader.
