Western Australia's Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas has delivered a scathing assessment of Premier Roger Cook's leadership, highlighting growing concerns about the government's direction and decision-making just eight months after its re-election.
Leadership Under Fire
Roger Cook spent last weekend shoring up his leadership position despite being only recently re-elected, according to Zempilas. The Premier's major hospital policy reversal after months of insisting the plans were "world class" failed to convince the public, who saw through what Zempilas described as a "convenient" convention centre cancellation.
The situation worsened when Cook claimed new hospital infrastructure would use "local green steel" despite none currently existing in Western Australia. What should have been a triumphant weekend for the Premier instead became what Zempilas characterised as "desperate stage-managed PR."
Policy Failures and Public Perception
Zempilas identified several key issues damaging the Cook Government's credibility. The Business Council of Australia has ranked WA as the second worst state in the country to do business, citing payroll tax, land tax, and restricted retail trading hours as major concerns.
On energy policy, Zempilas acknowledged West Australians want sustainable energy solutions but emphasised that reliability and affordability must remain priorities. "Under the Cook Labor Government household and business power prices keep going up," he noted, committing to hold the Premier and his Energy Minister accountable for their "unrealistic energy transition" plans.
Controversies and Cultural Moments
The opposition leader condemned a Labor Upper House MP's use of the term "Fuhrer" in Parliament, calling it "hugely offensive" and particularly hurtful to Jewish Liberal MP Simon Ehrenfeld, who was presiding at the time.
In lighter news, Zempilas confirmed that AC/DC frontman Brian Johnson's voice is reportedly in fine form ahead of the band's Perth performance in December. He also expressed cautious optimism about cricketer Cam Green, who fell just short of a century with 94 runs in his latest innings.
Looking ahead to sporting events, Zempilas welcomed the upcoming Ashes series while reserving judgment on the AFL's proposed wildcard round, suggesting the concept needed to be seen in practice to be properly evaluated.
