Roger Cook puts retirement rumours to bed and eyes a fourth term for the Labor Government at 2029 election

Premier Roger Cook will on Sunday put to bed speculation he will retire at the 2029 State Election, telling the party faithful he isn’t going anywhere. Addressing Labor’s first State conference after winning the March election in a landslide, the 60-year-old will commit to seeing out this term of government — and contesting the next election in four years’ time as Premier. “Each of you today has my word . . . that I will be leading this great party of ours to the 2029 WA State Election,” Mr Cook will say in his address to Labor members on Sunday morning. “I will lead this brilliant team of talented ministers and Labor MPs to the election that will determine which party sees this great State through to the next decade.” His public declaration comes after weeks of growing speculation about his future — both within Labor ranks and wider political circles. Internally, Labor ministers’ chief of staffs were this week assured the Premier would contest the 2029 poll. And it’s understood the Premier’s office staff also spread the word during this week that Mr Cook would not pull the pin this term of government. Mr Cook’s declaration spells bad news for Treasurer and Deputy Leader Rita Saffioti and Energy Minister Amber Sanderson who several Labor sources say have their eyes firmly set on the “Iron Throne”. “The WA Labor Government has a clear vision it is following, and it’s not the kind of vision that’s for the short term — or the faint-hearted for that matter,” Mr Cook says in his speech. “But we’re not deterred by the task. “We’re not, for example, sidetracked by debating amongst ourselves, questioning whether to pursue a net-zero future. “We’re simply getting on with our plan to rewire our grid to prepare for renewables, phase out coal power and set our economy up for the future. “Clearly, this is a plan that needs following through beyond the election cycle. “It needs an unwavering focus on the task at hand. It’s something that energises me every single day.” Mr Cook’s Labor Party won a third term of government in March, winning 46 out of 59 seats in the Legislative Assembly. Labor continues to be confident that WA voters still firmly back the party, despite several controversial decisions such as pouring nearly $100 million into a new NRL side in Perth, and a planned $200m-plus racetrack and amphitheatre at Burswood. In a clear sign that Mr Cook and Labor are now eyeing off a fourth term of government, the WA Premier this week canned the planned $1.6 billion redevelopment of the Perth Convention and Entertainment Centre worried that the Government would be criticised over the expenditure at the next election. Instead, the Cook Government announced the money would be spent on a new hospital in Mandurah, a new emergency department at Royal Perth Hospital and the acquisition of a private hospital in Mount Lawley to help alleviate pressure within the public health system. Internal Labor polling seen this week by The West Australian shows Labor would still win handsomely if an election was held now. One thousand people were engaged in a long-form telephone interview last month. Asked by pollsters who they would vote for if an election was held, 40 per cent said Labor, followed by the Liberal Party on 26 per cent and the Nationals at five per cent. At the March State Election Labor’s primary vote was 41 per cent, compared to the Liberals 28 per cent. This translates to a two-party preferred vote of 57-43 to Labor — exactly mirroring the March election result. Interestingly, support for One Nation is now at six per cent, up from a four per cent primary vote at the March poll. The polling also showed Mr Cook is still by far WA’s preferred leader, with his net favourability at plus 23 per cent, compared to Mr Zempilas’ plus one per cent When asked about Mr Zempilas, more than one quarter of people polled viewed him “very unfavourably”. “Based on what I’ve seen of our opponents . . . who are the political equivalent of a broken TV — all sound, no vision . . . I know that we can win (the next election) if we stay focused on the priorities of the community — jobs, health and housing,” Mr Cook says. “And if we continue to deliver, then WA Labor will have the great honour of seeing our vision through.”