In an emotional farewell to politics, Bill Johnston, the Member for Cannington, delivered his valedictory speech to Parliament late last month, closing the chapter on his decades-long career as one of WA Labor’s top figures.
Johnston first joined the Australian Labor Party in 1983, and by 1988, he was the president of the ACT Young Labor branch.
Before entering Parliament, Johnston spent nine years at the SDA union, three years as the assistant state secretary of the Australian Labor Party WA, followed by seven years as state secretary, a role in which he had a major influence on the party’s direction and strategy.
In a 31-minute long speech, Johnston spoke about the highlights and challenges of his career with the Labor Party, both within its inner workings and as a politician in Parliament.
After acknowledging his wife and three children, and speaking about his upbringing as the eighth of eight children raised by a widowed mother, Johnston reflected on his political career with a light-hearted jab at his own expense.
“It is said that politics is “Show business for ugly people”, which is probably why I have fit in so well,” Johnston joked.
“I have had a charmed career, and I am always grateful for the opportunities that have come my way.”
In 2008, Johnston was elected to the newly created electorate of Cannington and has since secured three further terms, making him the only member to have represented the electorate throughout its history.
In opposition from 2008 to 2017, Johnston held various roles, including Shadow Minister for State Development, Energy, Mines and Petroleum, and Ports.
Reflecting on his earlier years in Parliament as an opposition member, Johnston expressed pride in the work he was able to achieve.
“The period of opposition between 2008 and 2017 was very tough. Time in opposition is never fun, never fun at all, but it is the time of opportunity,” he said.
“It was a rare privilege to work with a talented group of people to hold the Barnett government to account.”
When Labor was elected to government in March 2017, Johnston was appointed Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Energy, a portfolio he held in various forms until December 2023, when he announced he would not seek re-election and moved to the backbench.
From March 2021 to June 2023, he was also the Minister for Corrective Services, a role that was marked by controversy.
With an estimated 51 per cent of Cannington residents born overseas, according to the 2021 Census, Johnston said the continued growth of diversity is a testament to the strength of multiculturalism in the electorate.
“If you want a taste of the “real” Australia, do not go to the beach or to a farm—come out to Westfield Carousel. Multiculturalism is Australia’s superpower,” he said.
“It allows us to be strong and vibrant. Yes, we need to manage the challenges of growth, but managing growth is a much better problem to have than managing economic and social stagnation.”
Johnston said he believes his legacy in the Cannington community will be the Metronet project, which, in his view, will continue to benefit the area for the next 100 years.
“I am very proud of the work I have done on behalf of the Cannington community. I am not going to list everything that I have helped with, but the current Metronet project to remove level crossings is clearly the highlight.”
“My job as the member for Cannington has been to work for our community and help local people to find solutions to the problems in their lives.
“There is always more to be done, but that is the real work of politics.”
Johnston believes that politics is under attack from many quarters and that the breakdown of discussion and debate presents a serious challenge to public policy.
However, he remains hopeful that a return to respectful dialogue can help restore public faith in the system.
“Once upon a time, we agreed on the facts, then argued about the consequences,” he said.
“Now, we live in a post-truth world. How can complex policy issues be progressed if conspiracies and innuendo are given the same value as facts and analysis.”
“What is the point of election policies if costings and timelines are considered just boring details? We can all do better.”
Johnston is being succeeded by his former chief of staff, Ron Sao, who is the WA Labor candidate for the seat of Cannington.
Sao will face off against WA Liberal Bruce Henderson in the 2025 Western Australian state election, which is scheduled for Saturday, 8 March.
