Most Influential SPECIAL REPORT Most Influential FEATURE LOCK STEP: Mark McGowan and Bill Shorten with Madeleine King (rear left) and Roger Cook (rear, right). Photo: Gabriel Oliveira Election set to spark power shift The looming federal election could mark a big shift in political power, not just in Canberra but also WA. Shorten are clear signals a fed- the west; that number has not There are currently no unexpected retirement in June eral election is getting close. changed, although the seniority Western Australians in the 2018. The election is tipped for mid- of the WA contingent has, shadow cabinet. When Business News asked May and, judging by numerous especially with the pending The most senior WA Mr Shorten last month about the opinion polls, Labor is favoured retirement of former foreign representative in Bill Shorten’s prospects of having a Western to win. minister Julie Bishop. team is shadow consumer Australian in his cabinet, he A Labor government under Experienced ministers affairs minister Madeleine replied: “Good, if you vote for Bill Shorten would bring about Mathias Cormann, Christian King, in the outer ministry. them”. a major shift from coalition Porter and Michaelia Cash have A former chief operating However, as Peter Kennedy policies, while a shift in power been joined in cabinet by Linda officer at the Perth USAsia explains on page 50, it is Labor’s Mark Beyer at the national level would also Reynolds (defence industry) and Centre at the University of caucus – not the leader – that [email protected] bring major changes in Western Melissa Price (environment). Western Australia, who also selects ministers. @AMarkBeyer Australia. With Michael Keenan and Ken had a stint as an adviser to Labor is trying to compensate WA has been well represented Wyatt in the outer ministry, WA former resources minister Gary for the lack of senior federal MPs in Canberra since the coalition has a total of seven ministers Gray, Ms King was elected to in WA by pushing the premier to AJOR spending prom- won power in 2013 under Tony (see table on facing page). parliament less than three years the fore. ises announced in Abbott’s leadership. Should Labor win power, ago. Mark McGowan has M Perth last month by WA’s representation reached there is a distinct possibility She was a surprise pick for accompanied Mr Shorten on Prime Minister Scott Morri- a high point in 2017 when five WA will not have any cabinet the shadow ministry after many public appearances, and son and opposition leader Bill cabinet ministers were from ministers. Perth MHR Tim Hammond’s his face is plastered on Labor’s FEATURE WESTERN AUSTRALIANS ON THE FRONT BENCH IN CANBERRA WESTERN AUSTRALIA WESTERN AUSTRALIA CABINET MINISTERS SHADOW CABINET MINISTERS Mathias Cormann Minister for finance, Govt leader in Senate nil Christian Porter Attorney General Michaelia Cash Small business, vocational education Linda Reynolds Defence industry, Emergency management Melissa Price Environment OUTER MINISTRY SHADOW OUTER MINISTRY Michael Keenan Human Services Madeleine King Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister Ken Wyatt Seniors, Aged care, Indigenous health Assisting for small business, resources ASSISTANT MINISTERS SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTERS Steve Irons Assistant to PM Patrick Dodson Assistant for Indigenous Affairs Louise Pratt Assistant for Universities, Equality Glenn Sterle Assistant for Road Safety The WA Liberals have 16 Fed MPs WA Labor has 9 Fed MPs Mr Porter’s example shows of the Transport Workers the precarious nature of a career Union, who is shadow assistant in politics. minister for road safety. I reject the fairy tales Depending on how the Progressive Labor is also led votes fall, in his electorate and by two of the most militant spun by the vested interests of elsewhere, he could be looking union leaders in WA – Christy for a new job, or he may continue Cain and Mick Buchan. as a senior minister in a re- Mr Cain is head of the big business, which says that elected Morrison government, Maritime Union of Australia in or he may be a leadership WA while Mr Buchan is state reasonable wage rises cause contender in opposition. secretary of the CFMEU. His upper house colleagues, They have been thorns in the such as senators Cormann and side of the state government, economic dislocation - Bill Shorten LOCK STEP: Mark McGowan and Bill Shorten with Madeleine King (rear left) and Roger Cook (rear, right). Photo: Gabriel Oliveira Cash, have much better job which has been striving to security. present itself as moderate and in WA and the opposition leader wages policy, which has capped sensibly pro-business. has happily been photographed growth in wages and played a Behind the scenes The premier reportedly with Messrs Cain and Buchan. big part in getting state budgets The prospect of a Labor banned Mr Cain from his It is notable that the back to surplus. government in Canberra office after the union leader Construction, Forestry, Most unions have acquiesced Election set to spark power shift would have repercussions in attacked the government’s Maritime, Mining and Energy but they have had more success WA, including for the complex recent decision on gas fracking Union (CFMMEU), which on other policies. factional power battles inside – a compromise that banned was formed nationally last The right wing-aligned SDA the Labor Party. the practice in most of WA but year through a merger of the (formerly the shop assistants The dominant faction inside allowed it to proceed in defined CFMEU, the MUA and the union) has fought hard against WA Labor has for many years locations prospective for gas. Textile, Clothing and Footwear retail trading deregulation. been the broad left, which Mr Cain responded by Union, has been a strong SDA secretary Peter O’Keeffe campaign bus alongside Mr revolves around the union describing the premier as average. supporter of Mr Shorten. has been quoted as saying his Shorten and deputy leader United Voice. “He’s no friend of mine. I don’t The CFMMEU’s national union would walk out of the Tanya Plibersek. Its no coincidence that United think I’m on his Christmas list,” secretary is Mick O’Connor, the Labor Party if the government Voice WA secretary, Carolyn Mr Cain told 6PR radio earlier brother of Mr Shorten’s shadow moved to further deregulate Retirements Smith, is also Labor’s WA president. this year. minister for employment and trading hours. The upcoming election will Mr McGowan is not factionally In contrast, Mr Cain has workplace relations, Brendan The Electrical Trades Union bring to an end the political aligned but has a good working been strong in praise of Mr O’Connor. has also had success in getting careers of several prominent relationship with the broad Shorten, particularly after the Labor winning power in the government to back away MPs. left, whose representatives opposition leader backed the Canberra would be a big fillip from deregulation of the retail Julie Bishop and Michael in cabinet include Fisheries union’s campaign against BHP for the CFMMEU and its state- electricity market. Kennan plan to retire, and Minister Dave Kelly. for cutting Australian crews on based divisions, including those Another hot issue facing several other MPs face an The broad left’s dominance has iron ore vessels. led by Messrs Buchan and Cain. the state government is the uncertain future. been challenged over the past “He’s well balanced. He’s a That would complicate life CFMEU’s push for tough These include Liberals Ken couple of years by a grouping good leader. He wasn’t scared to for the premier and senior industrial manslaughter laws. Wyatt (Hasluck) and Steve Irons called progressive Labor, which come out against BHP,” Mr Cain ministers such as Treasurer Ben Both the premier and the (Swan) whose seats would fall to brings together several disparate said. Wyatt, who for the most part Industrial Relations Minister Labor with only a small swing. groups from Labor’s hard left Mr Shorten has returned the have deftly managed relations Bill Johnston have indicated Labor is also targeting Christian and right wing factions. favour. Both he and his deputy, with the state’s unions. they are looking at industrial Porter in the seat of Pearce, in Its leading lights include Tanya Plibersek, have attended One of their big achievements manslaughter legislation. Perth’s northern suburbs. Senator Glenn Sterle, formerly CFMEU and MUA conferences has been the state government’s Continued on page 21 FEATURE MOST INFLUENTIAL Federal election one week later, it was more nuanced. to spark power Mr Shorten said the first step would be for the Fair Work shift Commission to determine what From previous page a living wage should be. Two recent reports – the Labor wants it to move away Boland Review and a Senate from the concept of a bare committee report – have safety net towards a living recommended the introduction wage. of such laws. The second step will be for “The McGowan government the Fair Work Commission to is currently considering both consider the time frame over of these reports and the wider which the increase should be question of how to introduce phased in, taking into account industrial manslaughter laws,” the capacity of businesses to a spokesperson for the minister pay and the potential impact on said. employment, inflation and the Business groups are opposed to broader economy. this move and would be even more Business Council of Australia BUSTED: Labor’s campaign bus features Bill Shorten and Tanya Plibersek with Mark concerned if the WA government chief executive Jennifer followed the lead of Victorian McGowan, but no WA candidates. Photo: Gabriel Oliveira Westacott welcomed this Premier Daniel Andrews.