New balance of power in WA as Labor loses majority and Greens look to ‘get stuff done’

A record number of new MP’s have been sworn-in, wresting control of the Legislative Council from Labor for the first time in four years, but the Greens have vowed to use their increased numbers to get things done. The Cook Government still has 16 seats in the Legislative Council but lost its majority in the chamber in the wake of the March State election. Needing 19 votes to pass legislation, they would likely rely on support from the Opposition, with 10 Liberal MLC’s and two Nationals MLC’s, or the Greens with four votes. One Nation has two seats, with Legalise Cannabis, the Australian Christians and Animal Justice Party on one each. Greens leader Brad Pettitt has vowed the minor party would be constructive but warned the Cook Government would have to negotiate. “We’re not here to block, we’re here to get stuff done,” Mr Pettitt said. “That’s the really exciting thing, we’ll be really actually pushing Labor harder to make some of those bold decisions, bring legislation forward and we’re here to pass it and to make it better, not to block it.” Nick Goiran has become the new Leader of the Opposition in the upper house, after the retirement of Peter Collier. He has accused Labor of misusing it’s control of the numbers in the wake of the 2021 election landslide, and vowed to restore debate. “The Opposition’s approach will be to insist that Parlianent’s upper house resume its role as a proper house of review,” Mr Goiran said. “That will mean fierce constructive scrutiny.” Asked whether the new balance of power would make his job harder, Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn said it would make things “interesting.” “We’ll work with them and we’re hoping for a constructive relationship, I hope they take the attitude that we’re there for the public good,” Mr Swinbourn said. Labor’s Katrina Stratton has shifted from the Legislative Assembly to the Upper House, but said she wouldn’t be picking up where former Labor MLC Kyle McGinn left off — after he used his final speech on Wednesday to perform a “shoey” and drink out of his shoe. “Ruin these (heels), absolutely not,” she laughed. “I certainly won’t be doing a shoey but I’m very much looking forward to setting out the values and the ways of working that I’ll be bringing to the Parliament. “I think we’ll find ways of working towards our common purpose, which is making Western Australia a great place for everyone to live.” Greens MLC Sophie McNeill wore a Palestinian flag pin as she was formally sworn-in and donned a red keffiyeh scarf — which have been banned in Victoria’s State Parliament — during Question Time. “This is a statement that I’m standing with the people of Gaza,” she told reporters outside Parliament. “There’s babies starving to death in front of our eyes right now and we’re really proud to be that strong voice here in our WA State Parliament and say, yes, we’re using our position of privilege of power to say that we stand against genocide.” A former ABC foreign correspondent, Ms McNeill said the keffiyeh should not be confused for support for Hamas. “I have seen first hand how horrific the Hamas terrorist organisation is and what they’ve done to the people of Palestine,” she said. There was no objection, when Ms McNeill rose to her feet wearing the scarf. Parliament’s guidelines prohibit clothing displaying political slogans in the public gallery, but the rules for elected members are unclear, and clothing that accords with “religious or cultural customs” is permitted. New Liberal MLC Simon Ehrenfeld wore a Jewish skullcap as he was sworn-in. Labor’s Parwinder Kaur became the first politician in Australia to swear an oath on Sikh scripture. The diversity of the new-look upper house was on show during Question Time on Thursday, with new MLC’s signalling their priorities. One Nation MLC Rod Caddies pressed the Government on class sizes and Nationals MLC Julie Freeman asked for a breakdown of regional roads funding. The Australian Christians’ Maryka Groenewal requested statistics about “signs of life” after abortions and Animal Justice MLC Amanda Dorn asked how many animals have been injured by the use of sow stalls in WA.