Team united after ‘therapeutic’ meeting: Barnett

Colin Barnett has seen off an attempted spill motion at today’s party room meeting by 31 votes to 15, emerging with what he claimed was a united Liberal team after a ‘therapeutic’ exercise.

Mr Barnett was flanked by numerous parliamentary party members when he fronted the media after a lengthy meeting. The premier said he and challenger Dean Nalder had shaken hands after the result, and he took the former transport minister at his word when he said the issue had been put to bed.

There was no indication as to who would be added to cabinet to fill the two vacancies created over the weekend, although Mr Barnett signalled an announcement could be made tomorrow.

After the challenge had failed, the party continued meeting for around two hours for a discussion about the leadership and other issues, something Mr Barnett described as “possibly overdue’’.

Mr Barnett said he had spoken very little during the meeting and listened to his colleagues.

“I allowed everyone to have their point of view ... some made comments about my style of leadership, my office,” he said speaking to the press outside parliament house.

“Some made comments about local issues.

“It was full and open.

“I accept some (criticisms).”

The issue of leadership was now resolved, he said, and he was heartened by having a two to one result in the spill motion vote.

“I suspect some members voted for a spill and probably would've voted for me in a leadership contest,” Mr Barnett said.

But he had also received praise from colleagues.

“I think I'm a decisive leader, sometimes people might find that a little abrupt,’’ Mr Barnett said.

“Running a government is a very vibrant, fast moving, sometimes contentious role.

“Sometimes because I like to get on with the job people think I'm not listening.

“People made very clear they want more opportunity to speak to me.”

Big issues

Two issues Mr Barnett flagged would be on the agenda in the weeks ahead were the Perth Freight Link and the potential sale of Western Power, with the government seeking to resolve both.

On the freight link, there was an issue of timing and the question of whether the government would proceed to a second stage, he said.

With regard to Western Power, he denied that his position was at odds with Treasurer Mike Nahan, who had said it would be a key plank of the government’s debt reduction strategy.

The premier said the public would expect the government to take a clear stand soon.

Support

Deputy Premier Liza Harvey said it had been a very productive meeting and that all members had had their say.

“What I’m pleased with is that we’re all very, very focussed on getting out into our electorate, getting into the community, and Colin Barnett winning the election,” she said.

“We want to tell the story about our eight years in government to the community of Western Australia.”

Government leader in the Legislative Council, Peter Collier, said the meeting had two outcomes.

One was that it was clear the overwhelming majority of the party’s parliamentary members support the premier, the second was that people had been given a proper opportunity to voice their concerns.

“We’ve got a great story to tell, we've got a visionary, dynamic Premier (who) is going to take us to victory,” Mr Collier said

“By the end of the meeting, every man and woman who was in that room were united in the prospect of facing the electorate in March 2017.”

Earlier

Member for Murray-Wellington Murray Cowper moved to spill the leadership at the Liberal Party’s meeting this morning .

The result was fast, with the motion failing 31 to 15.

That’s more than some had expected it to receive but less than the 20-plus number flagged by Mr Nalder’s supporters through the media.

It follows a tumultuous weekend for the government, with two former ministers, Dean Nalder and Tony Simpson, resigning from cabinet and citing issues with Mr Barnett’s leadership style.

Former ministers Helen Morton and Mr Cowper spoke up with similar concerns.