Well, the entree was delicious, but I can’t wait for the main course. While the political games to elect a new minister were entertaining to watch, I cannot wait to see the eventual stoush to pick a new ALP leader when Roger Cook eventually sails into the sunset. What an extraordinary week in WA politics. WA Labor is normally pretty good at keeping its internal fights away from public eyes. But not this time. We all got a fascinating insight into the power plays behind political appointments — specifically the role unions play in determining who is WA’s premier and who are ministers. I covered the appointment of Alan Carpenter as premier in 2006, when then union power broker Jock Ferguson’s metal workers publicly supported the then Willagee MP over Michelle Roberts to take over from a retiring Geoff Gallop. But metal workers union boss Steve McCartney’s public outburst this week, demanding Mr Cook make Kimberley MP Divina D’Anna a minister instead of Cook’s pick, Daniel Pastorelli, was absolutely brutal. McCartney, in an interview with me published in The West Australian, confirmed publicly what everyone within WA political circles knew — that he and the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (known as the metal workers) had been the king maker that ultimately delivered Cook the Premiership in 2023. “When I supported Roger, that was a good thing for Western Australia,“ McCartney said. He then made it clear he wanted to make another Labor political appointment — that of D’Anna as a minister — replacing the just-retired Paul Papalia.
Why It Matters
This week’s developments highlight the significant influence of union factions within the WA Labor Party, particularly the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union’s role in political appointments. The tensions surrounding the ministerial selection process underscore the internal dynamics of the party, which has historically managed to keep such disputes out of the public eye. With 33 Labor MPs aligned to the Left faction and 25 in the Right faction, the balance of power within the party could significantly impact future leadership contests. The events also foreshadow potential shifts in allegiances and support as the party prepares for the eventual leadership transition following Cook’s tenure.
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