Western Australian premier backs Secret Harbour candidate amid past party criticism
Western Australia Premier Roger Cook defended Labor’s Secret Harbour by-election candidate Georgia Tree after remarks she made five years ago criticizing the party’s handling of sexual-harassment issues.
Premier Roger Cook publicly supported Georgia Tree, the Labor candidate for the Secret Harbour by-election, despite her earlier comments questioning the party’s response to sexual-harassment concerns. Cook described Tree as someone who “doesn’t take bull crap” and expressed confidence that her views have changed. Tree issued a statement reaffirming her original remarks while noting that both politics and the party have evolved over the past five years. The exchange highlights internal tensions within the state Labor organization as it prepares for the upcoming vote.
Why it matters
Voters need to know how a party handles past internal criticism as it may affect confidence ahead of the by-election.
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