With a federal election due in the first half of the year amid the Morrison Government’s perilously weak grip on Parliament, even the most devout WA politics watchers will be focused on matters beyond the state’s borders in the coming months.
But even though federal affairs are set to dominate any political dinner table discussion in the near future, it still shapes as an interesting year in State Parliament, as the McGowan Government approaches the halfway mark of its first term and the Liberals seek to gear up to try to topple Labor in 2021.
Here is a look at some of the big questions and issues looming in WA politics in 2019.
Will euthanasia be legalised?
The euthanasia debate looks to be the big political issue of 2019, with both sides of the argument gearing up for a debate sure to be both lengthy and divisive.
Parliament will vote on a bill, expected to propose legalising voluntary assisted dying for terminally ill patients, in the second half of 2019.
Extra sitting weeks have been allocated and, if the debate in Victoria is any indication, expect plenty of late night sessions of Parliament and heated exchanges before the matter comes to a close.
Number counters expect the bill will make it through the Legislative Assembly comfortably and while those advocating for voluntary euthanasia to be legalised are cautiously optimistic they will get enough votes in the Upper House, it remains far too close to definitively call and the decision could go down to the wire.
What will happen with the Liberal leadership?
In some ways Mike Nahan could view 2018 as a relatively successful year, with his WA Liberal Party easily holding the seat of Cottesloe at a by-election, and then winning Darling Range back from Labor after the Barry Urban saga.
But nearly two years after he took on the top job, Dr Nahan has struggled to shake a perception among some colleagues and other sections of the community that he is only keeping the leader’s chair warm.
Muffled leadership chatter has been constant during his time in the role and it flared up at moments in 2018. At one point he accused colleagues of “white-anting” him, while a tense war with the state’s daily newspaper led to a brief period of heightened speculation.
The key question remains who would take over if Dr Nahan were toppled.
Liza Harvey, Dean Nalder and Sean L’Estrange are potential alternatives, yet none have yet been willing to put their hand up for the job, while Cottesloe MP David Honey is a possible left field candidate.
Liberals will undoubtedly be doing plenty of thinking this year about who is the best candidate to lead them to the election.
Will there be any more prison problems?
Probably the Labor Government’s biggest headache in 2018 was the state’s prison system, highlighted by chaotic scenes in the Mid-West when 10 prisoners escaped amid a riot that caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage.
A review painted a damning picture, finding that systemic failures led to the riot and that warning signs were not heeded.
Then the early release of three prisoners through bureaucratic bungles caused further embarrassment for the Government.
There were loud calls for Corrective Services Minister Fran Logan to be axed, but Premier Mark McGowan came to the experienced MP’s defence and kept him in his job following a minor cabinet reshuffle in December.
The Government is hoping investment in new jail units and a prison officer recruiting drive will ease problems in the system, but any more major incidents are likely to lead to heavy pressure on Mr Logan.
Will there be a jobs turnaround?
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