Scott Morrison’s former right-hand man gets another gig from McGowan government

Scott Morrison’s former right-hand man gets another gig from McGowan government

Ben Morton was the WA Liberal party’s WA director for seven years,but his history with the opposition party has not swayed Premier Mark McGowan’s decision to appoint him to significant positions at government trading enterprises.

  • byHamish Hastie

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From cop to dolphin trainer to MP – and why Sam Lim thinks Gough Whitlam is God

From cop to dolphin trainer to MP – and why Sam Lim thinks Gough Whitlam is God

Sam Lim is likely parliament’s most multilingual member,but the language he learned as a dolphin trainer could be the most intuitive when wading into political life.

  • byAngus Thompson
‘Best job ever’:Dolphin trainer flips seat of Tangney in Perth

‘Best job ever’:Dolphin trainer flips seat of Tangney in Perth

The highlight of Sam Lim’s career – until Saturday night when he ousted one of Scott Morrison’s closest advisers from what had been a safe Liberal seat – was his time working in Malaysia as a dolphin trainer.

  • byDaile Cross andHamish Hastie
Politician payday:Morton spends 239 days in Canberra outside sitting weeks on taxpayers’ dime

Politician payday:Morton spends 239 days in Canberra outside sitting weeks on taxpayers’ dime

An analysis of parliamentary travel claims from Ben Morton,his lower house WA colleagues and other WA ministers found he claimed nearly $144,000 in his first 2½ years of this term of government.

  • byHamish Hastie
Why the Liberals face a fight for survival in battleground WA

Why the Liberals face a fight for survival in battleground WA

If it does not at least hold the line,the Liberal brand is at serious risk of becoming a spent force in the west.

  • byGareth Parker
Morrison’s assistant minister tests positive for COVID-19 as PM misses WA reopening

Morrison’s assistant minister tests positive for COVID-19 as PM misses WA reopening

Before testing positive the Prime Minister spent three hours in a meeting with cabinet ministers and senior defence and intelligence officials.

  • byRachel Clun
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Independents spark funding concern,call to inform the AEC

Independents spark funding concern,call to inform the AEC

A confidential email shows the government wants its own MPs and others to tell the Australian Electoral Commission about new candidates to force them to reveal more about their campaign spending.

  • byDavid Crowe
Voter ID laws on the cards ahead of next federal election

Voter ID laws on the cards ahead of next federal election

The Coalition intends to introduce laws to require voters to show ID before casting their ballot in an attempt to overcome a problem the AEC says is “vanishingly small”.

  • byKatina Curtis
Scott Morrison reshuffles cabinet after Christian Porter’s exit

Scott Morrison reshuffles cabinet after Christian Porter’s exit

The PM promoted one of his closest allies to cabinet,Immigration Minister Alex Hawke,in the small reshuffle that also rewarded Ben Morton and Tim Wilson.

  • byDavid Crowe
After early success,has bickering got in the way of national cabinet?

After early success,has bickering got in the way of national cabinet?

While political brawling between premiers and PMs is nothing new,COVID has introduced many Australians to the oddities of the federation.

  • byRob Harris andAnnika Smethurst
Public sector bonuses to be dramatically slashed in federal government edict

Public sector bonuses to be dramatically slashed in federal government edict

Big bonuses for taxpayer-funded staff will be slashed and instead offered mainly to workers doing high-level jobs in areas competing with commercial operators for talent.

  • byRob Harris