Andrew O'Connor has been a journalist for 30 years, most of that time with ABC News and current affairs as reporter and producer.
He currently works as a reporter and video journalist covering stories for ABC News on television, radio and online.
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The Liberals and Labor spent much of the week crunching and debating the financial figures — but it was that One Nation preference deal and Pauline Hanson's candidates who dominated much of the debate.
Topics: elections, states-and-territories, alp, liberals, one-nation, perth-6000, wa
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| UpdatedAs the Barnett Government battles for a third term in office, Albert Jacob, John Day and Paul Miles face tough struggles to hold seats normally considered safe.
Topics: elections, political-parties, wa
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WA Premier Colin Barnett maintains his staunch defence of the Liberals preference deal with One Nation, while distancing himself from extreme comments of some of its candidates.
Topics: elections, minor-parties, gays-and-lesbians, wa
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| UpdatedThe Barnett Government pledges to lift the payroll tax threshold for business to $900,000, claiming the change will boost jobs and save small businesses millions.
Topics: elections, political-parties, small-business, tax, wa
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| UpdatedElection promises by the major parties and another bleak budget update for WA Treasurer Mike Nahan feature on the campaign trail, with One Nation also gaining a surprise candidate.
Topics: elections, political-parties, ellenbrook-6069, perth-6000, collie-6225, wa
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| UpdatedA new line to Ellenbrook could reduce city commuting times for residents in Perth's north-eastern corridor by up to 30 minutes, WA Labor says while spruiking its Metronet rail system.
Topics: elections, rail-transport, federal---state-issues, perth-6000, ellenbrook-6069, wa
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| UpdatedThe make-up of Western Australia's planned Rural Fire Service is yet to be announced, despite the State Government announcing it wants it to be headquartered in the South West town of Collie.
Topics: emergency-planning, fires, collie-6225
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| UpdatedWestern Australia's Treasurer and shadow treasurer offer to resign if their parties fail to honour key commitments, as they clash over proposals for a mining tax and an outer harbour at Kwinana.
Topics: elections, political-parties, perth-6000, wa
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Heated debates and threatened resignations dominate the WA election campaign trail, as the Nationals' controversial mining tax generates more angst.
Topics: elections, political-parties, wa
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| UpdatedPreference deals, the promise of a new marina and a fierce debate over "fake costings" dominate the WA election campaign trail on Tuesday.
Topics: elections, political-parties, wa
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WA Labor rules out a blanket preference deal with One Nation but appears to leave the door open to seat-by-seat deals once candidate nominations close later this week.
Topics: elections, political-parties, one-nation, alp, wa
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| UpdatedLabor says it will not use state debt to fund its $2.5 billion Metronet plan, while Deputy Premier Liza Harvey takes to the streets of Perth to sell the Big Issue.
Topics: elections, rail-transport, wa
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| UpdatedLabor's flagship $2.5 billion Metronet rail plan will be funded through a range of funding sources and will not impact net debt, Opposition Leader Mark McGowan says.
Topics: elections, rail-transport, federal---state-issues, perth-6000, ellenbrook-6069, yanchep-6035, wa
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| UpdatedAn emotional One Nation leader Pauline Hanson masses her candidates for the WA election on the steps of State Parliament, urging them to "speak up" ahead of the March poll.
Topics: elections, government-and-politics, one-nation, wa, perth-6000
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An international developer flags plans to construct what would be Perth's tallest building as the centrepiece of a World Trade Center development that it believes will transform the CBD.
Topics: government-and-politics, building-and-construction, perth-6000
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WA Premier Colin Barnett believes his Government may have to choose between rival nominations for the Senate vacancy created by the disqualification of Rod Culleton, but says he will take on board advice from his former party One Nation.
Topics: government-and-politics, wa
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| UpdatedThe WA Liberals commit $140 million to fund the expansion public health services at the Joondalup Health Campus, but the Opposition brands it a "panicked" move as the unofficial campaign for the WA election gears up.
Topics: health, government-and-politics, joondalup-6027, wa
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The Barnett Government hopes a private sector-led project diverting flows from the Collie River and using desalination will help boost agricultural production in WA's south west.
Topics: irrigation, water-management, collie-6225
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WA Premier Colin Barnett defends his Government's claims of massive job losses from Labor's plan to cancel the Roe Highway extension across the Beeliar Wetlands, arguing the project is "desperately needed".
Topics: road-transport, government-and-politics, beeliar-6164
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| UpdatedContractors building Perth's new children's hospital appear no closer to solving the problem of high lead levels in the water supply, sparking opposition claims the Government has lost control of the project.
Topics: healthcare-facilities, state-parliament, water-supply, water-pollution, nedlands-6009, perth-6000
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A $13 million water park at Elizabeth Quay in Perth reopens, 10 months after it was shut down because of persistent problems with contaminated water.
Topics: government-and-politics, urban-development-and-planning, states-and-territories, perth-6000, wa
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| UpdatedOpponents of a Roe 8 highway extension over wetlands may find themselves defending bare ground come the March election, as the Government pushes ahead with construction, leaving Labor in a difficult position should it win office.
Topics: urban-development-and-planning, environmental-impact, environment, conservation, government-and-politics, elections, beeliar-6164, wa
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| UpdatedAn environmental group loses its last avenue of appeal against the Western Australian Government's plans to build the controversial Roe 8 highway extension, which goes through a wetlands area.
Topics: federal---state-issues, courts-and-trials, environmental-impact, perth-6000, beeliar-6164, fremantle-6160, bibra-lake-6163
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| UpdatedNationals leader Brendon Grylls is under attack on two fronts as he fights the mining lobby's opposition to his planned new tax while campaigning to hold onto his seat of Pilbara.
Topics: mining-industry, tax, state-parliament, elections, wa, perth-6000
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| UpdatedA three-dimensional emerges as the new weapon helping Perth police keep traffic flowing following serious crashes.
Topics: police, perth-6000