Jessica Page: Gloves off as Burswood mud starts to stick

Roger Cook says he’s not a gambling man. Only six months after a resounding election win he doesn’t have to worry about the odds yet.

He has people to do that for him.

A few inside Labor, and more outside, are starting to bet that the Burswood entertainment precinct might be a late scratching.

So far, though, party officials are holding their noses and hoping the stink that has developed over the race track (don’t forget the amphitheatre, says Labor!), ambulance ramping and mouldy hospitals will fade over time. That depends on a lot of variables.

Labor MPs privately concede the Government has lost some skin in recent weeks, but remain convinced the Government can grit its teeth and bear it without handing Basil Zempilas another early win.

That should not be the deciding factor.

The Premier left the tiniest margin for error on Tuesday, when he refused to entertain the “hypothetical” that the business case process — launched after the promise was made — might uncover hidden costs.

Hypothetical, but a plausible get-out-of-jail card.

But Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti doubled down in Parliament a few hours later.

“It’s pretty clear we are committed to delivering an incredible sports and entertainment precinct in Burswood,” she said.

“We are about looking to the future, looking beyond the commentary (and) the commentators.”

She ignored the interjection about “the people”, as Speaker Stephen Price called an Opposition MP to order.

In Burswood, the ground is muddy. Literally, and metaphorically. Whether the mud sticks is the question.

The Liberal party’s polling might be biased.

Federal Labor MP Patrick Gorman won’t rub salt into the wound by releasing his own poll’s numbers that convinced him to speak out of turn against the project.

And the Government’s four-page summary that claimed majority “positive” feedback during community consultation didn’t pass scrutiny.

What is clear in September 2025 is that 2029 will be a more even fight. The gloves are off, the battle lines have been drawn and there are several deadlines that both sides of politics have circled in red.

Winter 2026: Ramping, hospitals and aged care

Roger Cook this week vowed to start planning earlier to avoid the winter flu crippling hospital EDs next year.

Ambulance ramping figures will be the measure he is held against in July and August of 2026.

That will also prove whether the State Government’s pleas in Canberra have made any difference to divert older patients away from hospitals.

If advocating fails? The Premier said he’s willing to step in.

“I’ve asked the relevant ministers in WA plus the Treasurer to come to me with options . . . for how we as a State can lean more heavily into the aged care space and, if necessary, we will become active,” he said.

February 2027: V8 Supercars

Once it is built, will they come? Or, will the critics forget?

In Parliament on Tuesday, Ms Saffioti shrugged off her Federal Labor colleague’s call to abandon the project and shadow treasurer Sandra Brewer’s suggestion it means the Albanese Government won’t provide funding.

“We don’t expect any money from the Federal Government for this project. We never asked for it,” she said.

The business case is due to be submitted to Infrastructure WA in “coming weeks”.

Mr Zempilas has challenged Labor to build it, figuring he wins either way.

May 2028: State Budget

The Budget before the election will be the best measure of State and family finances, after Labor starting pulling back on cost-of-living relief post-election.

Mr Cook has put a strong economy and jobs at the top of his priority list, arguing that provides the means for investment on health and housing.

The key numbers? Whether net debt turns around, and how much power bills go up.

July 2028: End of financial year

The EOFY will provide the best assessment of whether the great Australian dream of home ownership is still achievable and whether WA is holding up its end of the national housing accord targets.

So far, all States are falling short but the rate of construction approvals has improved.

2029: Women and babies hospital

The debate over the location is over, but after nine years in power Labor so far has no new hospitals to show for it.

Construction of the new women and babies hospital in Murdoch is due to be finished in 2029.

It’s unclear whether the target date is before or after the election in March, but Labor will want to show off proof that it’s close.

2030: Coal versus net zero

Labor’s self-imposed deadline to make WA the first State to turn off coal doesn’t pass until after the next election.

But the data dashboard showing 31 per cent of the South-West Interconnected System was still powered by coal at 4pm on Tuesday will be a good measure to judge it against.

Jessica Page is the State political editor