Premier defends candidate over podcast comments

Western Australian Premier Roger Cook staunchly defended Labor candidate Georgia Tree following the resurfacing of old comments she made about her party's culture of silence on sexual harassment five years ago. Tree, who is running for the Secret Harbour by-election, described her party's actions as erring on the side of caution to avoid drawing attention to their own faults.

Cook described Tree as someone who "doesn't take bull crap" and said he is sure she doesn't still hold the same views about the ALP. Tree has released a statement standing by her comments, adding that politics and the party have changed in the past five years. Both the federal and WA Caucus are now made up of more than 50 percent women, which has motivated Tree to run for office and fight for change.