State election 2025: WA Premier Roger Cook says he’s ‘just getting started’ as campaign kicks off

It would not be over-egging to suggest 2025 is shaping as a massive year for Roger Cook. Politically, Mr Cook will lead the ALP to the State election in March, hoping to extend Labor’s eight-year tenure in government for at least another four years. On the home front, Mr Cook’s only daughter Isabelle is getting married next year. Yes, if it all goes according to Labor’s script, Mr Cook will become an elected Premier and father of the bride in 2025. “I am really proud of her,” Mr Cook said of his daughter. “She came to me and said that her and Lachlan were going to get married, and I was so excited for them. “But I just made one thing very clear. I just said, ‘Sweetie, please whatever you do, please do not put it on before the election’. That is going to be my highlight for 2025.” Coincidentally, it’s not just Isabelle’s wedding which happens to be in the same year as Mr Cook’s State election battle. Anthony Albanese goes to the polls next year amid speculation he might also be eyeing off March for a Federal election. Did Mr Cook also ask Albo to steer clear of March? “I wouldn’t insult his intelligence by asking him for his insights (into when the Federal election would be held),” Mr Cook said. “Western Australians know the difference between a State and Federal election. “From that perspective, we’re not too fussed.” Most pundits would bet the house on Mr Cook winning the March 8 poll. Never before in WA politics has any premier been at such unbackable odds to win an election. Libby Mettam’s Liberals hold just three out of 59 seats in the Legislative Assembly — her alliance partner, the Nationals also have just three Lower House MPs. Sounding like a footy coach trying to dampen expectations of an easy grand final win, Mr Cook reckons he’s taking it one day at a time. “I remind myself, as I remind everyone in my team that any election is loseable,” he said. “At every election you have to seek the support and the trust of the people of WA and so you have to be absolutely disciplined and focused in relation to that. “Make sure that you stay humble. Make sure that you are taking the opportunity, and you are working hard to earn the people’s vote. “Any sense or any arrogance is absolutely off limits.” Mr Cook became Premier after Mark McGowan pulled the pin in 2023. Up until that point he had been Mr McGowan’s deputy and a former health, tourism and State development minister. Does Mr Cook believe he has come out from under the shadow of the hugely popular Mark McGowan? “I think people see that I’m my own person and people are appreciating the leadership that we are providing,” Mr Cook said. “I got to watch Mark over many years, so I was familiar with the opportunities — I was familiar with the responsibilities. “Nothing prepares you for the intensity of the role and it takes you a while to ease into that. “But I am really enjoying the opportunities, and the challenges are equally rewarding.” An exercise freak who likes to push himself to the limit, he says he continues to evolve in the role of premier. “You learn what you are capable of,” he said. “You learn how you can push yourself and continue to make sure that you can provide control during that process.” Unions and Labor MPs ultimately picked Mr Cook as Premier over Rita Saffioti and Amber-Jade Sanderson — the arch rivals who also eyed off the iron throne when Mr McGowan stood down. Predictably, Mr Cook plays down suggestions he is desperate to become an elected premier — one chosen by the people of WA rather than union kingmakers. “I don’t have any personal attachment to it (becoming an elected premier) at all,” Mr Cook said. “I don’t think of it as a personal milestone at all. “This is about locking in a third term, Labor government agenda.” By the time the 2025 election comes around, Labor will have been in power for eight years. Labor’s signature project has been the $13 billion Metronet, which has delivered projects like the Ellenbrook line and Yanchep rail extension. If Mark McGowan’s main claim to fame was commissioning Metronet, and seeing the State through COVID, what will be Mr Cook’s legacy once his tenure comes to an end? He says WA has a unique opportunity to be a world leader in clean energy — energy produced by renewables such as solar and wind. His Government is scheduled to shut down the State’s existing coal-fired power stations by the end of 2029. And he says WA needs to build things rather than just export raw materials. “I have got an ambitious agenda,” he said. “It’s an agenda that I want to see realised, particularly around diversifying of our economy. “The increased role of manufacturing, the clean energy plan; that’s going to see our whole economy shift from rocks and crops to making and baking. “It’s going to be a real exciting period in our economic future.” But while Mr Cook’s election catchcry appears to be “clean energy”, he says gas will continue to play a part in the State’s growth under Labor. “We can’t turn our back on gas,” he said. “We will still need to have gas as a smoothing fuel — making sure that in those moments when you are depleted in terms of your wind and solar capabilities and you’re already starting to deplete your energy storage through our big battery program, that you have gas to get us through.” And he wants WA to continue to establish itself as a heavyweight in attracting big sporting and entertainment events. He confirmed staging another WWE in Perth next year was among events eyed for 2025. “It’s in the mix,” he said. “If we could get another WWE, that would be fantastic.” Mr Cook has also confirmed he’d like to see more women as part of an expected new-look cabinet post the 2025 poll, with just seven women currently sitting around the 17-person ministerial table. As previously revealed by The Sunday Times, in other changes to Cabinet, Ms Sanderson is expected to make a shift from health, possibly into State development, finance or energy. Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti is also likely to shed transport and pick up sport and recreation in addition to her tourism and treasurer portfolios. “Gender diversity is an important consideration in the make-up of Cabinet and I want to see more women in the Cabinet,” he said. Among those women is likely to be Kimberley MP Divina D’Anna who is privately being touted as the State’s first female Indigenous Aboriginal affairs minister. With just 68 days to the State election, Labor and the Liberals are eyeing off January 5 as the unofficial start to the campaign. While long-term vision wins elections, so does action in addressing current problems. Both the State and Federal governments are dealing with cost of living as the number one issue at their respective elections. Though the Cook Government has already this year thrown $1.1b at cost-of-living measures, welfare agencies push for more, and more targeted measures. Just this week, Ms Saffioti forecast the 2024-25 Budget surplus would be $3.1b, intensifying calls from welfare agencies and the Liberals for Labor to do more next year as more West Australians feel the pinch. Mr Cook did not discount another power bill credit in 2025 but he wouldn’t be drawn on whether that would be an election or State Budget commitment. “I am not ruling it out,” he said of another power bill credit. “We need to see how interest rates track. “But more importantly, we will look to see where West Australians are suffering, and how we can best assist them. “Traditionally, the electricity credits have come in at the June-July bill cycle and the December-January bill cycle. “So, if we did that again (power credit) you would probably see it around those dimensions.” As for speculation that Mr Cook would retire before the 2029 poll if he wins next year? “I’m just getting started,” he said. “I’ve only been in this job for 18 months.”