Libertarian Party WA

25/10/2026

Three WA Government media statements in three days, and not one tells you what it costs. The Government says "securing blockbuster events" like the Rugby League World Cup is part of its economic diversification strategy, but doesn't say what, if anything, the Government paid for Perth's four matches. Devlyn Australia has won the contract to build Rockingham's new mental health emergency centre, but the contract value isn't given; the tender (May) and master plan (August) statements didn't give a build cost either. And a new Kimberley gambling-harm campaign includes radio advertising and digital content, with no budget mentioned. Some of these may be worthwhile. Taxpayers can only judge that if they're told the price.

25/10/2026

The WA Government is paying Murdoch University more than $670,000 for two research projects that will produce "planning tools" to help reach its target of 30% tree canopy by 2040. The minister lists what comes with it: a greening strategy, residential code changes on tree retention, rebates and more programs. Trees are great. But in a housing crisis, every new planning layer on how people use their own land adds cost and delay to building homes. Habitat research can be funded by people who value it. Homeowners should decide what grows on their own land.

24/10/2026

On 15 and 16 October 2026, the WA Government announced more than $8.6m in new grant rounds across four media statements: over $5m for shared school sporting facilities, $1.67m for regional athletes, $1.1m for girls' sport clubs and $900k for four cultural festivals. Each one sounds nice on its own, and each gets its own good-news headline. Added together, it's a lot of taxpayers' money in just two days. Who checks what these grants actually achieve, and would that money do more good left with the families and businesses who earned it?

24/10/2026

On 20 and 21 October the WA Government put out releases on the West Test, AFL Origin 2027, a regional tourism convention, a food and drink trade show and a defence trade delegation. All talk up jobs, visitors or new markets. None say what taxpayers are paying. Even if some deal terms are commercially sensitive, it's public money. If these events pay their way, the Government should be happy to show the numbers.

24/10/2026

RENT CAPS?! WA has a rental shortage, and now someone wants rent caps!?

A new report from "Make Renting Fair" is calling for rent increases to be capped at 2% or inflation, whichever is lower.

Why 2%? Why not 1%? Where did that number come from, and how exactly will it create more rental properties?

It's obvious that "Make Renting Fair" created a report to support their conclusion, and now it's being treated as "science".

We've seen what happens when rent controls are applied.

In San Francisco, a major study found that affected landlords reduced rental housing supply by 15%, selling properties to owner-occupiers or redeveloping them.

In 1970s New York, collapsing property values and poor rental returns contributed to widespread building abandonment. Some landlords even burned their buildings to collect insurance payouts, although insurance incentives and urban decline were also major factors.

The economics isn't complicated.

If the return on providing rental housing falls, investors will take their money elsewhere. Existing tenants might enjoy cheaper rents in the short run, but the next family looking for a home will have fewer choices of poorer quality.

In 2024, an economist reviewed 112 published empirical studies on rent control.
And the consequences were entirely predictable:
- Shortages
- Rationing and queues
- Black markets
- Declining quality
- Reduced investment and supply

Don't fall for this propaganda. If prices were arbitrary everything would be free.

A new report out today reveals rent stabilisation is long overdue.

WA is experiencing "the worst rental crisis in living history, and is now one of the least affordable places to live on the planet", according to 'The Cap Still Fits' report by Make Renting Fair.

For Peel resident Michelle, a looming rent increase of $100 per week will outpace her wage and rent will cost her 69 per cent of her income.

She told Nadia Mitsopoulos on 102.5 ABC Perth that the increase was hidden into her lease renewal and will create a crisis for her single-parent household budget.

Michelle said she feels like she doesn't have any option but to agree to what the landlord wants.

"I can fight, but then that leaves me in the predicament of possibly not having my lease renewed and with the rental shortage, I feel like I don't have any options," Michelle said.

Shelter WA CEO Kath Snell is calling for a rent cap to be introduced.

She describes rent increases over the last few years as ludicrous and said people are being pushed to their absolute limits.

"It's gone up 132 per cent in five years and in that same time period, salaries have gone up 18 per cent and CPI has gone up 23 cent," Ms Snell said.

24/10/2026

The WA Government is developing what it calls "Australia's first government-led Play Strategy". A survey is open until 11 November, with a special toolkit to help adults ask children aged eight and under what play means to them and what "helps or hinders" it. Play matters, and parents already know it. Kids have been playing in backyards, parks and streets for generations without a government strategy. If the Government wants more children playing, it could start by removing the rules, liability fears and red tape that make it harder for councils, schools and families to let kids play freely, rather than writing another strategy. The release doesn't say what the strategy, survey, toolkit or advisory committee will cost.
Sources: https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook%20Labor%20Government/Western-Australian-children-and-families-to-have-their-say-on-play-20261015

23/10/2026

We've told the Senate to reject the Digital Duty of Care Bill in full.

The bill puts a vague duty on online services to "ensure a safe online environment", backed by a civil penalty of 60,000 penalty units. The cost of compliance "must not be taken into account" (s 26A(3)). Faced with that, platforms will play it safe and delete lawful posts: political argument, satire, religious views, and frank talk about health.

Serious harms like threats, harassment and child abuse material are already crimes. The bill's own Explanatory Memorandum says its serious harms are "closely aligned" with Criminal Code offences. Where it goes further, it reaches lawful speech.

Adults are responsible for their own choices, and parents for their children's. A regulator shouldn't decide what lawful speech you see, or how the apps you choose are designed.

Australia has no bill of rights, so Parliament is the only check.

Read our full submission, signed by WA President Jordan Woodhams: https://wa.libertarians.org.au/submissions_digital_duty_of_care

23/10/2026

The bill also moves to all-up four-year council elections from 2031 and lets the next-in-line candidate fill vacancies for up to three years without a by-election. Fewer elections may save money, but they also mean fewer chances for ratepayers to hold councils to account. Scrapping the Dadour poll would remove residents' right to block a recommended amalgamation, which they can do now if at least half of electors vote and most vote no. Keep the veto.

23/10/2026

**If a politician can take away your freedom of speech, was it ever really a right? Or was it just temporary permission?**

At the Australian Lobby Group rally, I argued that we need to take the power to censor Australians away from politicians altogether.

My solution? Put the US First Amendment into the Australian Constitution. **"Parliament shall make no law."**

I also spoke about immigration, and why the **RATE** of immigration matters.

You can welcome immigrants, appreciate their contributions to Australia, and still believe that we're bringing too many people into the country, too quickly.

The rate matters. For cultural integration, for housing affordability, and for the country our children will inherit.

And Australians should be free to have an honest conversation about these issues without being labelled hateful for questioning government policy.

23/10/2026

Telethon does wonderful work, and Western Australians give generously every year. At last weekend's Telethon (17-18 Oct), the State Government added a record $18 million "on behalf of every Western Australian", its fifth record donation in a row. In 2023 it was $12 million, so that's a 50% rise in three years. It's taxpayers' money, given in our name, to a charity many of us already support ourselves. The Health Minister also pointed to the difference donations make at Perth Children's Hospital, which is a State Government hospital. If a public hospital needs equipment, fund it openly through the health budget, where it can be scrutinised. Leave the giving to us.