Amber-Jade Sanderson, the Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation in Western Australia, has publicly endorsed Roger Cook to lead the WA Labor party in the upcoming 2029 state election. This announcement was made during the Labor state conference held on March 15, 2024, where Cook reaffirmed his commitment to his current role as Premier despite recent speculation regarding his political future.
At a previous event, Cook had declined to confirm whether he would lead the party into the next election, stating, “That’s a question for a range of people…my caucus will make some decisions about these things, as will the people of Western Australia.” Nonetheless, Sanderson emphasized the importance of Cook’s leadership, asserting that his vision for the state aligns with the needs of both the government and the party.
“I’ve said before, and I say it again, the caucus made the right decision when they backed Roger in 2023 and the election result and the community resoundingly endorsed that decision,” she stated. Sanderson expressed confidence in Cook’s leadership, describing him as possessing a strong vision for the future of Western Australia, supported by a united team.
Cook, addressing concerns about potential dissent within his cabinet, remarked, “I want my ministers to be ambitious.” He highlighted the strength of his cabinet and the depth of talent within the party, including younger members poised to take on more significant roles. “It goes beyond the current election cycle. It’s about changing the whole way our economy works, and it’s about creating the jobs, the health, and the housing that we need,” he explained.
Commitment to Sustainable Development
In conjunction with the conference, Cook and Sanderson unveiled a new initiative aimed at integrating local green steel into major government projects. Cook announced, “My government will seek suppliers to provide local green steel for major government projects, including the hospital developments that we announced in recent days.” This initiative is part of a broader vision to position Western Australia as a leader in renewable energy and sustainable practices.
Sanderson elaborated on the plan, which consists of two key components. The first focuses on establishing a green iron industry, while the second aims to develop a green steel recycling sector. “We have enormous amounts of steel infrastructure, oil, and gas infrastructure that gets decommissioned, that can be recycled into new steel products that can be used,” she stated.
The green iron sector is pivotal in supporting the transition to a decarbonized steel supply chain, according to Sanderson. She noted, “We are the world’s largest exporter of iron, so we obviously produce and provide a huge amount of iron ore to decarbonize the steel supply chain. We need to be providing an opportunity to process that ore onshore and do that with the abundant renewable energy that we have across Western Australia.”
As the Labor party gears up for the 2029 election, the focus on sustainable development and local manufacturing signals a strategic shift that could resonate with voters concerned about environmental issues and economic resilience. With Sanderson’s endorsement, Cook’s leadership appears set to steer the party through a transformative period in Western Australia’s political landscape.
