Joe Spagnolo: From Colin Barnett to Gillon McLachlan, the people who delivered our WA AFL grand final

So today, as we enjoy the afterglow of an historic occasion for the west, I thought I’d mention the following: Former Liberal premier Colin Barnett: Within media and political circles it is well known Mr Barnett and I weren’t exactly besties during the 2013-17 era — his second term of government. This was because I was highly critical of the way he had racked up unbelievable amounts of debt on projects WA didn’t have money for. When Barnett won government in 2008, State debt was $3.6 billion. Just before the March election in 2017, Treasury released its pre-election financial projections statement which had net debt heading to $41 billion in 2019-20. One project Barnett was criticised for, mainly by Labor, was the building of a new stadium at Burswood. Under Alan Carpenter, Labor promised a new stadium at Subiaco — rebuilding the old venue. When Barnett won government, he put a halt to the Subiaco plan and insisted on a new stadium at Burswood. For mine, the now named Optus Stadium was Barnett’s greatest achievement. It took courage and vision to build a new stadium at Burswood and WA is reaping the benefits of that decision. WA can now put its hand up for many an international sporting and entertainment event because we have the world-renowned stadium. I don’t know we would have had an AFL grand final in Perth last night without Optus Stadium. AFL boss Gillon McLachlan: I’ve never been a fan of McLachlan and that’s mainly because I have always felt he has never paid WA the respect he should in terms of our State’s contribution to the national competition. I remember interviewing him in Perth, when the Nicky Winmar statue was unveiled at Optus Stadium, about a grand final ever being held in Perth and he wouldn’t even entertain the idea. That’s because Victoria stitched up the grand final at the MCG until at least 2057 as part of a massive deal with the AFL in 2018. A one-year contract extension was added last year when the MCG could not stage the event due to COVID-19 last year and apparently another year has now been added to compensate the Victorians for missing out in 2021. That means Melbourne has the GF until 2059. What a joke. What the last two years have shown us, is that the grand final can be successfully taken to the people of Australia. We shouldn’t have to rely on a pandemic for footy to become relevant outside of Victoria. But credit where credit is due. Well done to McLachlan for finally seeing the light. Labor Premier Mark McGowan: McGowan is copping a bit at the moment, at least in the circles I move in. There is this sense that good luck has played a significant part in McGowan’s premiership years and he is one, lucky, lucky Premier. Sure, luck has played a significant part in WA’s COVID-19 success story but McGowan’s insistence on a hard border policy — one of the first Premiers to do so — has played a significant part in allowing the west to thrive during this pandemic. Had it not been for a policy which virtually locked the disease out of WA, yesterday’s grand final would not have occurred. And for this, McGowan should be applauded. And finally, The people of WA: Look at what’s happening in NSW and Victoria at the moment and you cannot help but feel proud of the way many West Australians have conducted themselves during this pandemic. Well done WA.

Joe Spagnolo: From Colin Barnett to Gillon McLachlan, the people who delivered our WA AFL grand final

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