Jacob Kagi is a multi-platform journalist based in the Perth newsroom who also covers State Parliament. He joined ABC News in 2012 after attending Curtin University. As an undergraduate Jacob wrote for the State Basketball League, AFL media and AAP. He is also a talented sportsman having played in the National Water Polo League.
Posted
| UpdatedWestern Australia is facing a diminished role in the next federal election, with population estimates putting the state in serious danger of losing one of its seats in Federal Parliament — a move that could reduce the attention major parties pay to the state.
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, federal-elections, perth-6000, wa, australia
Posted
| UpdatedLabor's poor federal election result was in stark contrast to its landslide win at the 2017 state election. Anything resembling a repeat of this in 2021 would spell absolute disaster for Mark McGowan, writes Jacob Kagi.
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, federal-election, state-elections, federal-elections, perth-6000, wa
Posted
| UpdatedNationals leader Michael McCormack couldn't help but gloat as the election results came rolling in. But looking at their dire showing in WA, the Nationals have far less reason to crow, writes Jacob Kagi.
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, political-parties, federal-elections, federal-election, perth-6000, wa
Posted
| UpdatedMark McGowan may have won by a landslide in the 2017 state election, but Labor's wages and negative gearing policies proved to be too much for traditionally conservative WA voters to stomach in the federal election, writes Jacob Kagi.
Topics: states-and-territories, government-and-politics, federal-elections, federal-election, perth-6000, wa
Posted
| UpdatedLabor hoped to grab up to five seats in the west, with the daughter of former leader Kim Beazley one of the star candidates, but the Coalition holds its ground in a state that has long been a Liberal stronghold.
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, federal-elections, federal-election, perth-6000, wa, australia
Posted
| UpdatedLabor talked up its high hopes of winning as many as five WA seats at the start of the campaign. The bookies are still backing a Labor win, but the latest odds show the money swinging back towards Liberal candidates, writes Jacob Kagi.
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, gambling, federal-elections, elections, perth-6000, wa, australia
Posted
The WA Labor Government proudly declared the state back in the black as it delivered a budget surplus this week — but the stage appears set for a renewed battle with unions angry at its ongoing public sector wage freeze, writes Jacob Kagi.
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, public-sector, unions, budget, perth-6000, wa
Posted
| UpdatedWith consecutive surpluses on the cards, Ben Wyatt's third state budget sets the scene for a potential cash splash next year ahead of the 2021 state election, writes Jacob Kagi.
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, state-elections, federal-elections, budget, perth-6000, wa
Posted
| UpdatedTwo years ago, the WA Government described the state's finances as "the worst since the Great Depression" — but today's Budget is expected to reveal a significant turnaround even earlier than expected, writes Jacob Kagi.
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, budget, perth-6000, wa
Posted
| UpdatedThe WA Government's fight with Clive Palmer continues to escalate as Premier Mark McGowan threatens to intervene in Mr Palmer's long-running dispute over the Sino Iron Ore project in the state's Pilbara.
Topics: states-and-territories, government-and-politics, state-parliament, industry, mining-industry, perth-6000, wa
Posted
| UpdatedOil and gas giant Chevron has finally committed to building its new Perth headquarters after years of delays, but planners concede it will be at least five years until the waterfront precinct is fully developed.
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, building-and-construction, perth-6000, wa
Posted
The WA Government pours $30 million into the long-dormant East Perth Power Station site to attract a developer to a precinct long viewed as one of Perth's biggest eyesores.
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, perth-6000, wa
Posted
| UpdatedPreviously students have had to choose between ATAR or VET pathways to pursue academic or vocational studies. Now the system is being shaken up, and here's what it means for students and parents.
Topics: secondary-schools, schools, education, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, perth-6000, wa
Posted
| UpdatedLeft-wing activist group GetUp! plans to make 180,000 phone calls in the marginal federal seat of Pearce to try to unseat Attorney-General Christian Porter, who holds it with a slim 3.6 per cent margin, in the group's first major foray into WA politics.
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, federal-elections, perth-6000, middle-swan-6056, toodyay-6566, york-6302, northam-6401, gingin-6503, mindarie-6030, australia, ellenbrook-6069, wa
Posted
A marathon speech to delay surrogacy laws is a preview of what we can expect when a highly-charged debate around WA's voluntary euthanasia bill is tackled by the state's politicians, writes Jacob Kagi.
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, surrogacy, euthanasia, perth-6000, wa
Posted
For years Western Australia has been a federal Liberal stronghold. But in this election, a host of seats are on the line which the party is desperate not to lose, writes Jacob Kagi.
Topics: state-parliament, federal-election, federal-government, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, perth-6000, wa, australia
Posted
| UpdatedAfter a speech lasting nearly 24 hours, Liberal MP Nick Goiran has convinced his Upper House colleagues to delay a vote on contentious surrogacy laws by at least four months, bringing to an end one of the longest filibuster speeches in WA Parliament's history.
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, perth-6000, wa
Posted
| UpdatedWA MP Nick Goiran is accused of acting selfishly and wasting Parliament's time during a debate on surrogacy laws with a "huge" speech that has already taken up more time than it would to read the entire first Harry Potter book aloud.
Topics: government-and-politics, state-parliament, parliament, surrogacy, reproduction-and-contraception, health, perth-6000, wa
Posted
| UpdatedWA Treasurer Ben Wyatt says a write-down in expected GST revenue revealed in the Federal Budget will leave a big hole in his forecasts, warning there are "some economic headwinds approaching".
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, tax, budget, government-and-politics, perth-6000, wa, australia
Posted
As the merry-go-round of federal leaders making lavish spending promises for WA continued this week, Mark McGowan could barely contain his glee, writes Jacob Kagi.
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, elections, federal-elections, government-and-politics, perth-6000, wa, australia
Posted
| UpdatedAs Scott Morrison returns to WA this week, the bookies are providing plenty of reasons for him to be nervous about his fortunes in the west — predicting much more red across the electoral map in the traditionally Liberal stronghold.
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, federal-elections, elections, federal-government, perth-6000, wa, australia
Posted
Bill Shorten's trip to Perth this week was much less about what he was doing than who he was doing it with, writes Jacob Kagi.
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, alp, perth-6000, wa
Posted
| UpdatedThe Greens propose voting reforms in WA elections to help fix what they call an "unacceptable" system, while changes to regional representation could also be addressed in a wider Upper House shake-up.
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, perth-6000, wa
Posted
| UpdatedThe Environmental Protection Authority's sudden decision to quickly reverse strict new carbon emissions guidelines after a meeting with the WA Premier raises doubt about its independence, writes Jacob Kagi.
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, mining-industry, schools, environment, perth-6000, karratha-6714, karratha-industrial-estate-6714, port-hedland-6721, wa
Posted
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan promises to ease pressure on household budgets, saying the state's improved financial position will be used to minimise pain in the upcoming state budget after years of big hikes to utility charges.
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, budget, perth-6000, wa