Andrew O'Connor
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.
FOI documents revealing Perth Freight Link blowout 'outdated'
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The Barnett Government is accused of misrepresenting the true cost of the Perth Freight Link project by billions of dollars after FOI documents are released, but Treasurer Mike Nahan says they are out of date.
Topics: government-and-politics, urban-development-and-planning, elections, wa, perth-6000
WA Labor pledges no new taxes, Barnett holds on to GST hopes
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WA Labor says it will not impose any new taxes or tax increases on West Australians if it wins government in next month's state election, while the Premier holds on to hope for action on GST distribution.
Topics: elections, government-and-politics, tax, wa
Turnbull to face questions from Barnett on GST floor pledge
Posted
Six months after his pledge to set a base level for WA's GST share, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is set to face hard questions about how it will be done and when.
Topics: elections, tax, perth-6000, wa
WA election: It's the economy, stupid — or is it One Nation? Analysis
Posted
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
WA ministers fight to hold 'safe' seats ahead of election
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As 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
Premier defends One Nation deal despite candidate's offensive tweets
Posted
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
WA Liberals push payroll tax cut to entice business
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The 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
Debt woes, an Ellenbrook bus ride and Hayley Dodd's mum (photos)
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Election 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
Ellenbrook rail line could halve city commute times: WA Labor
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A 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
Structure of WA Rural Fire Service yet to be finalised (photos)
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The 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
'We're both resigning': Nahan, Wyatt clash over WA election pledges
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Western 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
WA election campaign: What you need to know today
Posted
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
Preferences, hecklers, The Big Issue dominate WA campaign trail
Posted | Updated
Preference 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
Labor rules out blanket One Nation deal
Posted
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
Five things we learned on the WA campaign trail today (photos)
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Labor 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
Metronet cost will not increase debt: Labor
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Labor'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
One Nation a 'threat' to major parties at WA poll, Hanson says
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An 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
Proposed World Trade Center to change Perth cityscape
Posted
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
WA Premier will listen 'seriously' to One Nation on Senate vacancy
Posted
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
Joondalup hospital $140m pledge dismissed as election campaign 'panic'
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The 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
Wellington Dam desalination plan to boost local agriculture
Posted
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
Barnett defends Government claims of massive Roe 8 job losses
Posted
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
No end in sight to children's hospital lead contamination
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Contractors 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
Trouble-plagued Elizabeth Quay water park reopens (photos)
Posted
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
Analysis: Labor election win may not save Roe 8 wetlands
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Opponents 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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