WA Premier Cook Sued One Nation for Promoting Dubious Candidates
· news
‘Bizarre display of gutter politics’: WA One Nation leader returns serve to premier’s broadside
West Australian Premier Roger Cook has launched a scathing attack on One Nation for promoting candidates with dubious backgrounds, but the move reveals a worrying trend within his own party: an opportunistic willingness to play dirty when it suits them.
One Nation’s WA leader Rod Caddies was quick to retaliate, accusing Cook of using “desperate and bizarre tactics” in an attempt to discredit the opposition. The premier’s decision to highlight Georgia Tree’s 2021 podcast comments about potential “skeletons in the closet” within Labor seems like a calculated move to shift attention away from One Nation’s own controversies.
Tree’s appearance on the In the House & In the Senate podcast was indeed newsworthy, given her candid discussion of workplace harassment and the need for greater transparency. However, Cook’s defense of Tree’s comments – that she “stands up for her community” by speaking out against those who silence others – rings hollow when compared to One Nation’s own track record.
The party’s leader, Pauline Hanson, has faced criticism for rehiring Sean Black as national campaign director after he was jailed in 2018 for raping and violently assaulting a woman. Similarly, South Australian One Nation candidate Aoi Baxter was dumped on the eve of an election after it was revealed he was wanted in the UK for allegedly failing to appear in court over sexual touching charges.
Cook’s attempt to contrast Labor’s supposed commitment to promoting women with One Nation’s own “skeletons” raises questions about his party’s own moral standards. The allegations against federal Brand MP Madeleine King, who faced criticism last year for being too soft on her staff member Georgia Tree, have largely been forgotten.
One Nation’s critics often accuse the party of being a haven for extremist views and unsavory characters. However, Cook’s comments also reveal an uncomfortable truth about Labor’s own willingness to play dirty. When Caddies accused Cook of using “weasel words” to imply nefarious things about his candidate or him, he was spot on.
It’s a charge that could be leveled at both parties in this byelection. Tree herself noted that the real issue here is not about who’s promoting tainted candidates – it’s about the party’s commitment to genuine reform. The premier’s comments can also be seen as an attempt to shift attention away from his own party’s vulnerabilities, particularly given One Nation’s strong polling in certain areas.
As this byelection unfolds, it will be interesting to see how both parties continue to play their respective cards. Will Labor maintain its commitment to promoting women and genuine reform? Or will it succumb to the temptation of dirty politics?
Ultimately, One Nation may be tainted by its own controversies, but Labor’s opportunism will prove a far greater danger to democracy itself. In a contest where both sides are playing with fire, one can only hope that voters remember what’s truly at stake – not just who wins the byelection, but the kind of politics they want to see in their country.
Reader Views
- RJReporter J. Avery · staff reporter
The real story here isn't about one party's moral decay, but rather how our politics have devolved into a free-for-all where scandals are used as ammunition by all sides. We're not just seeing hypocrisy, we're witnessing a breakdown in accountability and fact-checking that's allowing these dirty tactics to fly under the radar. If Premier Cook is serious about transparency, he should start by taking on his own party's skeletons, rather than merely accusing others of having them.
- ADAnalyst D. Park · policy analyst
The WA Premier's decision to sue One Nation for promoting dubious candidates has blown back in his face. Not only does Cook's own party have a history of playing dirty politics, but his attempt to deflect attention by highlighting Georgia Tree's podcast comments has come across as desperate and opportunistic. What's more concerning is the lack of scrutiny on Labor's handling of workplace harassment allegations against Madeleine King. While one can argue that Tree's candor is commendable, it's equally important for both parties to hold their own leaders accountable for fostering a culture of transparency and respect within their ranks.
- EKEditor K. Wells · editor
It's time for Cook and One Nation to stop playing the victim card and actually address their own skeletons in the closet. Labor's hypocrisy on this issue is well-documented, but it's not a valid excuse for the premier to ignore his party's own questionable decisions. For instance, what about Madeleine King's staffer Georgia T who got her job despite being under investigation? Cook should be scrutinizing the internal policies of both parties rather than grandstanding in an attempt to deflect attention from One Nation's controversies.