It is generally acknowledged that the longer a government is in power, the harder it is to stay there.
Perhaps they run out of ideas, or out of talent as members retire. Or backbenchers waiting for a shot at promotion run out of patience. If it’s a Labor administration, maybe the factional wars get destructive.
And the “It’s Time” factor — a slogan used with effect by Federal Labor to win in 1972 — remains powerful.
A year ago, Labor won a third term of Government in WA, and so far it has managed to keep those issues under control.
It is still sitting a long way ahead of its rivals.
Polling shows that if an election was held this weekend, Labor would still romp home.
One significant factor is that the Cook Government is swimming in cash, courtesy of billions in iron ore and gold royalties, as well as annual GST distributions that since 2019 have totalled $43 billion.
In the first six months of this financial year, Labor has already recorded an operating surplus of $2.3b — on track for its eighth consecutive surplus since winning office in 2017.
Its good fortune to be in power when the resources sector is pumping cash into Treasury gives it some flexibility to pivot quickly to areas of need.
One area where that has been necessary has been the trouble spot of health.
An appalling lack of maintenance work at Perth’s public hospitals, highlighted by the media, has given the State Opposition strong ammunition to attack Labor’s record in health, and ambulance ramping has been a constant pressure point, with the 4892 hours ambulances spent in limbo outside hospital emergency departments last month making it the worst February on record.
Getting enough homes built to keep up with WA’s rapidly growing population remains a major headache, and Labor is also vulnerable on the issue of public housing, with more than 23,000 people on the public housing list.
Pet projects, including the racetrack and sport and recreation precinct at Burswood, and a contentious ferry terminal on the Swan River at Matilda Bay, are also causing waves.
For its part, the Opposition under Liberal leader Basil Zempilas works hard and has made some progress.
But such is the secure position in which Labor finds itself that the idea of winning the next two elections does not seem impossible.
For now, Roger Cook seems entrenched and has declared he will lead Labor to the 2029 election.
That puts the spotlight on the leadership ambitions of Treasurer Rita Saffioti and Energy Minister Amber Jade-Sanderson.
It remains to be seen how long they are prepared to wait in the wings, and whether Mr Cook will run out of puff.
He will also have to manage the expectations and ambitions of those on his large backbench.
But there is no compelling evidence Labor is about to succumb to third-term blues.
https://thewest.com.au/politics/state-politics/sunday-times-editorial-labor-keeps-keeping-on–c-21857247
