{
  "id": 442601,
  "title": "Premier defends candidate after comments on Labor's 'culture of silence'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/premier-defends-candidate-after-comments-on-labors-culture-of-silence",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-10T06:02:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-10/wa-premier-backs-labor-candidate-georgia-tree-over-old-comments/107017412"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "WA Premier Roger Cook backs Labor's candidate in the hotly contested Secret Harbour by-election over comments she made five years ago about the party’s culture of silence on sexual harassment in the workplace.",
  "key_points": [
    "Premier Roger Cook defends Labor candidate Georgia Tree",
    "Tree's old comments on sexual harassment resurface",
    "Cook assures Tree's views have changed since 2019"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Premier Cook's defense of Georgia Tree signals a renewed focus on cultural change within the Labor Party, particularly in addressing its handling of sexual harassment allegations.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Premier defends candidate over podcast comments",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/premier-defends-candidate-over-podcast-comments",
        "published": "2026-08-10T10:47:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Premier defends candidate over podcast comments",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/premier-defends-candidate-over-podcast-comments-461080",
        "published": "2026-08-10T10:47:24.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}