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.
Posted
A volatile West Australian electorate and disaffected voters worried about their jobs will throw up unpredictable results in next year's state election, Premier Colin Barnett believes.
Topics: government-and-politics, us-elections, elections, wa
Posted
WA Nationals Leader Brendon Grylls vows to target the Commonwealth GST distribution system at the next federal poll as he escalates his campaign for a new mining tax to boost the state's coffers.
Topics: government-and-politics, nationals, tax, wa
Posted
The WA Premier urges Australia's largest iron ore miners to end the state's tax debate by eliminating a production rental fee in exchange for an upfront cash payment, as major Chinese firms voice concern about the proposed tax hike.
Topics: government-and-politics, industry, mining-industry, wa
Posted
| UpdatedThe first of the restored warders' cottages in Fremantle is being offered for public sale by the West Australian Government.
Topics: community-and-society, history, fremantle-6160
Posted
West Australians will "reluctantly" embrace the privatisation of Western Power once they see the potential economic and employment benefits, Treasurer Mike Nahan says.
Topics: government-and-politics, electricity-energy-and-utilities, wa
Posted
| UpdatedWA Nationals leader Brendon Grylls promises "blood nose politics" and pledges to crash or crash through with his plan to fix the budget and solve the state's GST shortfall with a mining tax.
Posted
WA Nationals escalate policy push to boost revenue and revive economy with new tax and payroll tax relief.
Topics: government-and-politics, nationals, states-and-territories, mining-industry, business-economics-and-finance, geraldton-6530
Posted
A forecast sharp increase in GST revenue appears to save WA from a further downgrade in its credit rating, but the state's outlook remains negative according to the ratings agency Standard and Poor's.
Topics: economic-trends, wa
Posted
| UpdatedThe Barnett Government will attempt to persuade voters to back the sale of Western Power with a promise to spend the billions of dollars in proceeds on new infrastructure.
Posted
| UpdatedGood luck! That is the blunt message from WA Electoral Affairs Minister Peter Collier to Nationals thinking about running in metropolitan seats at the March state election.
Posted
The WA Nationals may consider escalating their campaign for a mining tax to solve the Government's financial woes by mounting a direct assault on Liberal and Labor seats in the metropolitan area in the next state election.
Topics: political-parties, elections, government-and-politics, wa
Posted
WA Labor will seek legal advice on the termination clause of the $330 million contract for Roe 8 before deciding whether it will axe the project if elected to government.
Topics: road-transport, urban-development-and-planning, political-parties, wa, fremantle-6160, beeliar-6164, bibra-lake-6163
Posted
The WA Government hopes comprehensive guidelines for apartment design will stamp out flawed developments with jarring facades and windowless rooms.
Topics: urban-development-and-planning, state-parliament, housing-industry, wa
Posted
| UpdatedColin Barnett tells West Australian power consumers they have nothing to fear from the full or partial privatisation of government-owned electricity utility Western Power.
Topics: government-and-politics, privatisation-and-deregulation, wa
Posted
| UpdatedThe WA Liberals and Nationals edge closer to forming a united front on the sale of state-owned electricity supplier Western Power, which is shaping as a key battleground for the state election next year.
Topics: government-and-politics, wa
Posted
| UpdatedThe Barnett Government comes under pressure from WA's most senior Liberal Party figure Norman Moore to resolve uncertainty over its plans to link Roe Highway to Fremantle.
Topics: liberals, government-and-politics, palmyra-6157, fremantle-6160, perth-6000
Posted
WA Labor steps-up its campaign against the sale of Western Power, launching a public petition calling on the Government to abandon the plan and vowing to make it a major election issue.
Topics: electricity-energy-and-utilities, government-and-politics, wa
Posted
| UpdatedThe WA Premier accuses Labor and a former Cabinet colleague of degrading debate on a bill to remove time limits on sexual abuse victims seeking compensation.
Topics: child-abuse, perth-6000
Posted
| UpdatedThe WA Nationals are refusing to back away from their plan for a $5 per tonne production tax on the nation's biggest iron ore miners, despite criticism from the party's own federal leader.
Topics: mining-industry, tax, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, federal---state-issues, perth-6000
Posted
Environmental groups opposing the controversial Roe 8 project believe the Premier will expose WA to huge financial risks by signing construction contracts before a potential High Court challenge has been decided.
Topics: environment, environmental-impact, environmental-management, road-transport, state-parliament, bibra-lake-6163, beeliar-6164, fremantle-6160, perth-6000
Posted
| UpdatedContracts worth $450 million for the controversial Roe 8 project, stage one of the Perth Freight Link which will connect the city's industrial east to Fremantle Port, will be signed this week, Premier Colin Barnett announces.
Topics: government-and-politics, wa, perth-6000
Posted
| UpdatedWA Premier Colin Barnett closes Cabinet gaps with new ministers to fill vacancies from the resignations of Dean Nalder and Tony Simpson.
Topics: government-and-politics, state-parliament, wa
Posted
BHP Billiton warns the mere existence of a proposal for a $5 per tonne tax on iron ore could threaten looming investment decisions in Western Australia.
Topics: mining-industry, tax, perth-6000
Posted
| UpdatedWater Corporation pours another $362 million into the coffers of the cash-strapped Barnett Government.
Topics: water, water-management, perth-6000
Posted
The State Opposition says the $1.9 billion Perth Freight Link has been thrown into chaos by the Barnett Government's admission it faces increased costs and needs to renegotiate contracts.
Topics: states-and-territories, government-and-politics, perth-6000