Nick Goiran set to clinch Upper House Liberal leadership, as new era dawns in WA politics

Liberal powerbroker Nick Goiran is set to emerge as Upper House Opposition Leader on Thursday, as the new term of the Legislative Council shakes up the political dynamic in WA. An expanded party room of 10 Liberals will meet on Thursday to decide their new leader, following the retirement of Peter Collier, with insiders tipping Mr Goiran would win the support of his colleagues. In a statement to The West, Mr Goiran— the Shadow attorney general — confirmed he would run. “As the most experienced member of the team, I’m intending to nominate to be Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council,” he said. Asked on Tuesday about the new Upper House, Mr Goiran said the last four years had been “impossible” as a result of Labor’s majority in the Council. “In terms of it working well, it’s been appalling, and we saw bill after bill rammed through the Parliament,” he said. “It was really some form of masquerade of a democracy in these last four years. What’s great about Thursday is that no one’s got the numbers. “The government doesn’t have the numbers. The opposition doesn’t have the numbers. And that’s good for Western Australia. “Everyone’s going to have to work very hard. If you put up a good argument that can persuade the crossbench, you’ve got a good chance of getting something through.” Labor will have 16 seats in the new 37-seat chamber, but will need four votes to pass laws after it nominates Alanna Clohesy for a second term as president. Ms Clohesy will be required to vote in the event of an 18-all tie. With 17 new Upper House MPs joining the chamber after an historic election, the Government will be forced to negotiate with an expanded crossbench or the Greens to pass laws, after losing its majority. The Greens will have four seats, growing from sole MP Brad Pettitt, with former journalist Sophie McNeill, ex-MP Tim Clifford and Conservation Council head Jess Beckerling joining the Parliament. The Animal Justice Party was also successful under the Statewide electorate, with new MP Amanda Dorn to be sworn in. Rod Caddies and Phil Scott will fill One Nation’s two seats, with Maryka Groenewald sitting as WA’s first Christian MP, and Julie Freeman and Rob Horstman the two Nationals’ MPs. Legalise Cannabis MP Brian Walker, elected for a second term, said he was looking forward to more equality on the crossbench as well as more debate on Bills. “The last term was actually an autocratic dictatorship, in fact, and we had no real discussion of major bills coming through,” he said. “It’s evidence that we do need a balance in the upper house of people who are working to find the best forms of legislation, and not simply that which is passed from the (lower house).” Premier Roger Cook stood by Labor’s record in the Upper House, given the last term was the only time the Government had won a majority in the chamber. “What I think you saw during that time is that we considered very carefully the views of of minority parties, but we’ve always had to negotiate our legislation through the upper house, so we’ll continue to do that,” he said. “I’m very happy to meet with any members of Parliament. I’ve met with members of the minor parties . . . so I welcome the opportunity to engage them at any time.”