Federal election: Roger Cook defends ‘eye-to-eye’ comments amid stoushes over live export, nature positive

Roger Cook has defended his claim he sees “eye to eye” with Anthony Albanese, despite a number of high-profile policy conflicts. Mr Cook made the claim as he welcomed the Prime Minister to the State at Sunday’s national campaign launch in Perth and on Monday he and senior Federal Labor frontbenchers continued to spruik the party unity message. Mr Cook reinforced his strong relationship with the Prime Minister amid ongoing stoushes between the Federal and State governments over Labor’s live sheep export ban and the soon-to-be resurrected nature positive regime. “I do see eye to eye with him. We believe in job creation, we believe in diversifying the economy. We believe in making more things here and ensuring that the economy stays increasingly resilient,” Mr Cook said. “(That) doesn’t mean we don’t have our differences of opinion, and times I’ve expressed that, and as you know, stood up for Western Australians on the issues which matter to our State.” Mr Cook repeatedly opposed the live export ban and was credited with forcing the Prime Minister’s hand to shelve Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s plans to institute a nature positive regime for resources companies. Resources Minister Madeleine King rejected the talk of discord between the two levels of government, with Federal Labor eager to capitalise on the popularity of the recently re-elected Mr Cook. “We always talk with our State colleagues. And of course, I mean, I discuss a lot of matters with Premier Cook regularly, as does Prime Minister Albanese and a number of Cabinet colleagues,” Ms King said. “Talking with Roger Cook and his ministers is always welcome because they’re constructive, thoughtful people that do a good job, and obviously they’ve been backed in by the Western Australian people in the recent State election. “On specific projects, you know, we talk things out. “We’re going to have disagreements from time to time but, for the very most part, we agree. And where we do disagree, we try and work through it.” It comes as Labor launches its first WA-specific advertisement on Monday, with Mr Albanese standing on the South Perth foreshore speaking about the Government’s plan to build WA’s future. The advert features a shot of Mr Albanese with Mr Cook and starts with a reference to WA’s fair share of the GST. Campaigning in Scarborough, Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said she believed voters knew the difference between State and Federal politics. “They’re focusing at this Federal election on Anthony Albanese and the fact that he just doesn’t get Western Australia,” she said. “Western Australians work bloody hard. They travel long distances. They give up time with their families. They work hard. They expect a reward for effort. “They look at this Prime Minister when he drifts in and out of Western Australia, and they’re listening for something that actually means something to them here in the West. “Too often, they don’t hear anything . . . they should be hearing a really strong commitment to this State via backing in its resources sector.”