Carpenter should stay, says Nats leader

West Australian Premier Alan Carpenter's hold on the Labor leadership could decide the state's election, with the Nationals saying he would have to remain leader to guarantee the party's support.
Mr Carpenter has accepted responsibility for losing Labor's 17-seat majority at
Saturday's election, with Labor figures now reportedly manoeuvring to oust him.
Labor and the Liberals will present written submissions to the Nationals on Friday
outlining their plan for the regions as they compete for the party's support to form
a minority government.
The Nationals' State Council will make its choice on Sunday after receiving the
recommendation of National Party leader Brendon Grylls and the party's other likely
parliamentary members.
Betting agency Sportingbet Australia and political analysts are tipping the
Nationals to side with their traditional allies, the Liberals.
But Mr Grylls, who says his party has now moved to the "middle ground" and could go
either way, on Thursday told reporters he had a "very strong message" for the Labor
Party.
"My negotiations are with Alan Carpenter and I would expect Alan Carpenter to remain
the leader," Mr Grylls said.
He said any potential alliance with Labor hinged on Mr Carpenter staying in the top
job.
"For me to have any confidence that that was a possible scenario for the Nationals
going forward, I'd need to be confident that Alan Carpenter's going to remain as the
leader," he said.
Education Minister Mark McGowan, named as a possible replacement leader, said the
premier had his full and "unwavering" support.
Police Minister John Kobelke said there was no basis to "destabilising" media
speculation.
Mr Carpenter has called a meeting of caucus members on Friday to brief them on the
latest negotiations with the Nationals.
"I've spoken to all the caucus members over the course of the week, and of course
there's disappointment," Mr Carpenter told reporters.
But he said there was also optimism that Labor could come to an arrangement with the
Nationals.
"If we can (reach an arrangement and maximise our seats) then my support will be
strong."
Opposition leader Colin Barnett said a Labor government would be vulnerable, with
corruption reports into disgraced former premier Brian Burke's lobbying activities
expected soon.
"They will be, in my view, a very unstable party in government," Mr Barnett said.
Three Labor ministers have been sacked or forced to resign over their links to Mr
Burke.
One of those, the newly-elected independent MP for Kalgoorlie John Bowler announced
on Thursday he would vote with the Nationals in parliament but remain independent.
Mr Grylls said it would give his party more leverage in their negotiations with the
major parties.
He also rejected criticism from the Treasury department of his "royalties for
regions" plan, the National's non-negotiable starting point for its support to
either major party.
Under the policy, 25 per cent of the state's mining royalties - $675 million per
year - would be invested in regional infrastructure and services.
Treasury on Wednesday released modelling of the plan, which it said would cost
$2.805 billion over four years and threaten the state's AAA credit rating.
But Mr Grylls said Treasury was wrong.
He said it had assumed the policy would add $675 million to Labor and the Liberals'
election costings, when in fact some of the major parties' commitments would be
included in the "royalties for regions" plan.
Mr Carpenter and Mr Barnett said any agreement with the Nationals would be
financially responsible.