Two weeks in politics: it's a long time these days!

Posted by on February 20, 2026

If a week in politics is a long time, then two weeks feels like an eternity. In that short span, the federal Liberal Party has elected a new leader in Angus Taylor and kissed and made up with the National Party. Political polls have been fascinating to watch — as public sentiment appears to have swung heavily toward One Nation.

For those of us in the major parties, it should be a strong wakeup call that an increasing number of Australians are growing tired of major parties that no longer appear to represent their interests. Many are recognising that too many in the political class put self‑interest or tribal politics ahead of the freedom, prosperity, wellbeing, and genuine safety of those they were elected to uphold.

I joined the Liberal Party because I believe deeply in the values stated so clearly by Sir Robert Menzies in the We Believe statement. These are values that have provided a free and prosperous nation that remains one of the most sought-after destinations in the world. Public sentiment cannot be ignored, and the people of Australia have put us on notice.

As our WA Leader, Basil Zempilas, has so commendably articulated recently, “good governments get the basics right, then get out of the way.”

Angus Taylor, as our new federal leader, has come out of the gate very strongly, with an agenda that puts Australia first and I wish him and the new team every success in being the alternative government Australia so desperately needs.

Remembering Vivian Bullwinkel and the Nurses of the Vyner Brook.

This past week marked two significant anniversaries.

On 14 February 1942, the SS Vyner Brooke was sunk by Japanese aircraft in the Banka Strait off the coast of Sumatra as the small evacuation vessel left a besieged Singapore carrying 181 passengers, including civilian women and children, along with 65 Australian Army Nurses. Around 150 survivors eventually reached Banka Island over the following 48 hours, only to find themselves without food, support, or assistance from the local villagers.

By 16 February, approximately 60 Commonwealth servicemen, merchant sailors, and 22 nurses had gathered on Radji Beach. Believing they had no other option, they sent a small group to surrender to the approaching Japanese forces, hoping to be treated as prisoners of war.

Instead, the soldiers marched the men away and shot or bayoneted them. The 22 nurses and one civilian woman were then forced to wade into the sea and were machine‑gunned where they stood.

Only Sister Vivian Bullwinkel survived. Despite being shot, she lived by feigning death, later enduring years as a prisoner of war and keeping the truth of the war crimes and massacre hidden until after Japan’s surrender.

On Valentine’s Day, my wife and I joined about forty friends and Liberal Party colleagues at a VIP performance of Theatre 180’s 21 Hearts, a powerful and deeply moving portrayal of Vivian Bullwinkel and the nurses of the Vyner Brooke.

It is a production that will stay with me for life — a story I know I will remember every Valentine’s Day. I remain deeply grateful to Theatre 180 for preserving our history and honouring those who served.

Power Outages in Bullsbrook: Are we becoming a third world nation?

Power outages really do seem to be “part and parcel” of life in Western Australia, as Premier Cook remarked last summer — and Bullsbrook appears to be getting more than its fair share. With sixteen outages recorded by 10 February, it was no surprise to find a highly engaged and understandably frustrated community when we met with residents and business owners alongside Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas.

For families and small businesses, reliable power isn’t a luxury — it is the basic foundation of safety, food security, and economic survival during the West Australian summer. Many residents told us they had already lost a second freezer‑load of food in days, with no idea how they would afford to restock. One father caring for his paraplegic son spoke of the essential need for continuous power — and the cost of providing his own backup generator. Businesses shared stories of turning customers away and losing vital income.

Before entering Parliament, I helped establish a subsea pipeline plant in Johor, Malaysia, where reliable power was critical. Within a few years, the Malaysian government ensured infrastructure sufficient to make backup systems redundant. Yet here in Western Australia — one of the wealthiest regions in the world — our government is entering its tenth year unable to keep the lights on. It’s time they did better or made way for those who will.

Closing Thoughts – Who serves who?

As I review the growing list of legislation passing through Parliament, placing an ever-increasing burden of laws on the good people of Western Australia, I notice a troubling pattern. Throughout almost every bill, we see the steady erosion of freedoms, the watering down of procedural fairness, and repeated attempts to reverse foundational principles such as the burden of proof.

Meanwhile, decision‑making powers are being transferred to the administrative state, even as transparency becomes opaquer. While you, the citizen, are held increasingly liable for every small misstep, the bureaucracies overseeing you are granted growing immunity from their own mistakes and abuses.

My constituents in the firearms community know this only too well. But bill by bill, law by law, every Western Australian is being drawn into this tightening web.

As the great 18th‑century statesman Edmund Burke warned:

“The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away, for expedience, and by parts.”

From my seat in the Legislative Council, I see a managerial state that views a free people as an inconvenience — and is all too willing to nibble away at your freedoms to make its own life easier.

Who serves who?

What do you think?

Once again, I thank you for your recent responses, lets continue to grow together through the free exchange of ideas.

Speak up, write to your MPs, sign the petitions, and encourage others to stay alert. Democracy only works when citizens make themselves heard.

Kind regards,