Western Australia’s Premier Roger Cook is becoming one of the more intriguing figures in Australian politics. His latest intervention—opposing the Federal Government’s “Nature Positive” environmental laws—must be leaving the Green Left spluttering into their organic green tea.
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s Nature Positive Bill,* as initially proposed, was poised to deliver crippling delays to project approvals while entangling industries in layers of green tape. The legislation seemed almost nostalgic for a pre-mining, pre-industrial era when Australia relied solely on “the sheep’s back” for its wealth. While this might appeal to the remnants of the stockacracy—(unfortunately WA has few of them left), it would send WA back to being an improvised backwater relying on grants from the other states to survive.
The Nature Positive Bill, with its ambiguous “climate trigger,” threatens to paralyse Australia’s mining and energy sectors, the very engines of our national economy. To grasp the consequences, consider Australia’s GDP per capita without its gas, coal, and iron ore exports. Based on rough calculations, we’d end up poorer than New Zealand (GDP per Capita $73,506 vs Australia’s $104,456). Take it further: add the economic constraints of the 2030 and 2050 net-zero targets, and we’re hurtling toward Greece’s GDP per capita levels ($45,000, including their crippling debt). To show you what that means when it comes to living standards Greece’s average worker’s income is a mere $35,634 AUD—compared to New Zealand $47,892 and Australia’s $100,017 AUD.
Premier Cook appears to have joined the dots and realised the urgency of insulating WA from the economic illiteracy coming from Canberra. His submission to the Senate inquiry into the Nature Positive Bill made for fascinating reading, laying out the dire implications for WA should environmental approvals be tied to the unrealistic goal of “zero impact” project development.
Of course, no one in Canberra seemed to pay attention. Plibersek and her department, likely viewing the bill through their green tinted glasses saw the new laws as yet another tool to shutter extractive industries in pursuit of a utopian green nirvana.
But Cook’s principled stance—including warnings against climate trigger mechanisms and, reportedly, a blunt conversation with Albanese—no doubt hinting which of them would be going under the bus, proved pivotal. It’s likely Cook reminded the Prime Minister of the electoral risks this legislation posed in WA ahead of the next state election. His intervention appears to have derailed a deal between Labor and the Greens, sparing WA from regulations that could have spelled economic disaster.
This isn’t the first time Premier Cook has stepped in to protect WA from poorly conceived policies. Last year, he reined in the contentious WA Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, taking control of a runaway department and an activist minister. He also intervened to halt the WA Water Bill, which flirted with granting Aboriginal veto power over water projects. Notably, Cook has also resisted the push for a state treaty or voice, avoiding the costly paths followed by South Australia, Victoria, and Queensland—moves that would have undoubtedly thrilled his cabinet’s progressive wing.
Cook’s ability to push back against the Left within his own faction is refreshing. It demonstrates a rare quality among modern Labor leaders: the recognition that wealth is not created by borrowing money, locking up resources, or indulging in endless virtue-signaling. Choosing industry over activists is never easy for a leader on the Left, but Cook has shown he is willing to make the hard calls. If only his federal colleagues shared his pragmatic approach.
Beyond safeguarding industry, Cook has continued his predecessor Mark McGowan’s commitment to fiscal restraint. WA remains the standout in terms of budget management—something no other state has achieved, and the previous Liberal-National government struggled to emulate. This fiscal discipline sets Cook apart as a leader who prioritises long-term economic stability over short-term political gain.
The farming community, often sceptical of Labor governments, must acknowledge that Cook has set a high bar for the Liberals and Nationals to meet in the upcoming election. While rural WA may not always receive its fair share of the state’s wealth, and while some of Cook’s ministers may be less than competent, there’s no denying that WA has fared far better under McGowan and Cook than other states have under their own leaders.
To Premier Cook: your efforts to protect WA’s industries, manage the budget responsibly, and stand firm against excessive regulation have not gone unnoticed. You’ve set a benchmark for pragmatic leadership that all WA political parties would do well to emulate as they prepare for the next state election.
In turn WA’s Liberals and Nationals need to face that they need to take an aggressive high risk approach to the policies they take to the next election. They need to go far beyond simply spending the surplus or telling Canberra to “bugger off”. Those spaces now belong to Cook.
* Nature Positive (Environment Protection Australia) Bill 2024 [Provisions] and related bills
I wouldn’t and couldn’t be as glowing in my assessment of Premier Cook as Mr Whittington, even the singling out of his seeming opposition to Plibersek’s ridiculous Nature Positive Bill. As Health Minister in the McGowan government in the unnecessarily dark days in WA of covid in 2021/22, he did and said nothing to temper the hard line taken by authorities – Health, Police, employers – with respect to restrictions on freedom of movement, and mandatory innoculations of substances of nil merit, which any independent reviewer knows to underpin a spike in unexplained deaths since the vaccinations commenced, and to have adverse lingering effects. I am unaware of any opposition to, or even toning down, of the obnoxious Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act. Along with the Nature Positive Bill, I’m prepared to accept Mr Whittington’s praise of Cook’s attitude to the ACHA, but I have not seen it. Given Cook’s patent support of a Yes vote to The Voice Referendum, I’d be surprised.
I have also yet to see or hear any determined opposition from Cook to the pending closure of the live sheep export business that’s so vital to farmers, others in the supply chain, and entire regional communities. A devastating blow, aimed at preventing the leakage of votes to the Greens in a by-election in the inner-Melbourne seat of Dunkley. What terrible consequences, and which demand that Cook shout his support for WA farmers and rural regions from the rooftops.
Under his stewardship WA entered, this year, into the closure of the WA Hardwood Timber Logging industry, and so killed a well-managed renewable, sustainable, industry with adverse effects on southwest employment, businesses, and ordinary regional people. This in favour of importation of our hardwood needs from south east Asia, where management of earth’s natural resources so precious to WA Labor are subject to minimal management and oversight at the best. Out of sight, out of mind, an easy transference of our responsibilities to those less able to manage. And yet, in the Darling Scarp, home of the best Jarrah reserves in the state, zones allocated to bauxite mining are expanded, thousands of hectares of forests are cleared to get at the mother lode, with no meaningful remediation demands by the government placed on the miners. What’s done is done, money is made, employment prospers, but the jarrah forest pays the price. The contradictions within Cook’s government re WA timber are stark indeed.
Under his stewardship, the government sponsored a review by the activist left-leaning, US-based Pew Group of the South Coast Fishery east of Bremer Bay to the SA border. Did the Cook government expect any different outcome from this outfit than the one it got? Was it conceivable that an Environment Minister with no marine credentials and no seeming interest in the outdoors would reject or even question the Pew recommendations? Only determined opposition from a South Coast community overwhelmingly opposed to the introduction of nogo sanctuary fishing zones and similar restrictions in one of the most remote and lightly-fished coastlines on Earth, with the able help of Recfishwest and WAFIC, representing amateur and professional fishermen, toned the initial Pew recommendations down.
So no, Trevor, while I have communicated cooperatively by email with you in the past on regional matters, I cannot speak as well of Mr Cook and his government as you.
Frank
A CONSIDERED RESPONSE AND HERE IS MY CONSIDERED RESPONSE IN RETURN
I wouldn’t and couldn’t be as glowing in my assessment of Premier Cook as Mr Whittington, even the singling out of his seeming opposition to Plibersek’s ridiculous Nature Positive Bill.
GLOWING IS PROBABLY A BIT OVER THE TOP. HOW ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGING A FEW POSITIVE STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
As Health Minister in the McGowan government in the unnecessarily dark days in WA of covid in 2021/22, he did and said nothing to temper the hard line taken by authorities – Health, Police, employers – with respect to restrictions on freedom of movement, and mandatory innoculations of substances of nil merit, which any independent reviewer knows to underpin a spike in unexplained deaths since the vaccinations commenced, and to have adverse lingering effects.
REFER TO ALL MY COMMENTS AT THE TIME IN THE FARM WEEKLY AGAINST BOTH THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AT THE TIME CONDEMMING THE DRACONIAN CHANGES BUT MYMOST RECENT ARTICLE WAS REFERRING TO COOK IN HIS TIME AS PREMIER.
I am unaware of any opposition to, or even toning down, of the obnoxious Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act.
HE KNOCKED IT ON THE HEAD.
Along with the Nature Positive Bill,
HE PUSHED BACK ON THIS LEGISLATION
I’m prepared to accept Mr Whittington’s praise of Cook’s attitude to the ACHA, but I have not seen it.
GOOGLE IS A WONDERFUL TOOL
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-27/albanese-kills-environmental-protection-reforms/104651976
Given Cook’s patent support of a Yes vote to The Voice Referendum, I’d be surprised.
REFER ABOVE
I have also yet to see or hear any determined opposition from Cook to the pending closure of the live sheep export business that’s so vital to farmers, others in the supply chain, and entire regional communities.
GOOGLE AGAIN A WONDERFUL TOOL
A devastating blow, aimed at preventing the leakage of votes to the Greens in a by-election in the inner-Melbourne seat of Dunkley. What terrible consequences, and which demand that Cook shout his support for WA farmers and rural regions from the rooftops.
ALL ROADS LEAD TO CANBERRA
Under his stewardship WA entered, this year, into the closure of the WA Hardwood Timber Logging industry, and so killed a well-managed renewable, sustainable, industry with adverse effects on southwest employment, businesses, and ordinary regional people.
THE ROT STARTED YEARS AGO WITH THE GALLOP CARPENDER GOVERNMENTS BUT YES THE FINAL NAIL WAS NOT COOK BUT MCGOWAN
https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/McGowan%20Labor%20Government/McGowan-Government%27s-historic-move-to-protect-native-forests-20210908
This in favour of importation of our hardwood needs from south east Asia, where management of earth’s natural resources so precious to WA Labor are subject to minimal management and oversight at the best. Out of sight, out of mind, an easy transference of our responsibilities to those less able to manage. And yet, in the Darling Scarp, home of the best Jarrah reserves in the state, zones allocated to bauxite mining are expanded, thousands of hectares of forests are cleared to get at the mother lode, with no meaningful remediation demands by the government placed on the miners.
NOT TRUE THE EPA RESTRICTIONS ARE VERY DETAILED
What’s done is done, money is made, employment prospers, but the jarrah forest pays the price. The contradictions within Cook’s government re WA timber are stark indeed.
Under his stewardship, the government sponsored a review by the activist left-leaning, US-based Pew Group of the South Coast Fishery east of Bremer Bay to the SA border.
INTERESTING I CAN FIND NO REFERENCE TO THAT.
Did the Cook government expect any different outcome from this outfit than the one it got? Was it conceivable that an Environment Minister with no marine credentials and no seeming interest in the outdoors would reject or even question the Pew recommendations?
THE LAST THING WE NEED IS MINISTERS WHO HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE DEGREES
Only determined opposition from a South Coast community overwhelmingly opposed to the introduction of nogo sanctuary fishing zones and similar restrictions in one of the most remote and lightly-fished coastlines on Earth,
PARTLY BECAUSE THE NATURAL FISH STOCKS ARE SO LOW
with the able help of Recfishwest and WAFIC, representing amateur and professional fishermen, toned the initial Pew recommendations down.
MORE LIKELY THEY ALL COMMENTED ON A GOVT REPORT NOT A PEW REPORT BUT I STAND TO BE CORRECTED
So no, Trevor, while I have communicated cooperatively by email with you in the past on regional matters, I cannot speak as well of Mr Cook and his government as you.
WELL I WOULD HAVE THOUGH MY 500 PLUS ARTICLES HIGHLY CRITICAL OF MOSTLY LABOUR MINISTERS PREMIERS AND PRIME MINISTERS WOULD HAVE BALANCED OUT MY ONE LIMITED RECOGNITION OF A COUPLE OF THINGS OUR STATE PREMIER ACHIEVED IN HIS TIME IN THE TOP JOB. ONE SHOULD BE PREPARED TO RECOGNISE MOVES BY THOSE ONE IS NOT POLITICALLY ALIGNED TO WHEN THEY DO THE RIGHT THING. YOU SHOULD REREAD THE ARTICLE AND TAKE IT AT FACE VALUE, IM SURE YOU WILL FIND THAT I HAVE PLENTY TO CRITISISE THE COOK GOVT IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS STARTING WITH MY NEXT ARTICLE ON FIREARMS REFORMS