Albanese says Picton could have been a frontbencher as more tributes flow for rising political star

1 month ago 8

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says prominent Labor and WA business figure Tim Picton would have sat on the front bench had his life not been cut short.

Tributes continue to flow for Picton, who died this week after allegedly being coward-punched in Northbridge on December 27.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks on indulgence following the death of former WA Labor figure Tim Picton.

Albanese delivered a further tribute to Picton in the chamber on Tuesday, highlighting his efforts as WA Labor state secretary during the party’s best-ever election results in the west.

“He led the campaign in 2021 that saw Mark McGowan win almost every seat in that state, and he was the campaign director for me in 2022 in Western Australia that saw Labor win four additional seats in Western Australia and three Senate spots for the first time in a very, very long period of time,” he said.

“Tim Picton was not only very effective as a political operator, as a human being, he was remarkable.”

The prime minister suggested Picton, who left the party in 2022 to take up an executive role at WA miner Mineral Resources, would have been a rising political star if his life hadn’t been cut short.

“He was respected right across the state, right across the political spectrum, and he also, due to his background, working in three states, as well as in Canberra, he was very well known,” Albanese said.

“I have no doubt that he would have, one day, sat on at least this front bench had his life not been cut so short by that act of violence on December 27.”

Picton will be remembered at a memorial service for friends and family on Saturday in the Riverview Room at Optus Stadium, which is where Albanese and Labor launched their successful 2022 election campaign four years ago.

Late on Monday, Picton’s brother, South Australian Health Minister Chris Picton, published a heart-wrenching tribute to his son’s godfather and the best man at his wedding on his Facebook page, describing it as the “hardest thing he’d ever had to write”.

“Whether it was running an election campaign, securing a mining deal, travelling the world, building magnetic tile castles or breeding fish, Tim never did things by halves – he always gave 200 per cent,” he said.

“His razor-sharp strategic mind and natural charisma meant he was always two steps ahead of everyone else.

“But above all, the most important thing to Tim was being a dad.

“The happiest I ever saw him was when he was with Charlotte.

“Joy overflowed from them both. From fairy dancing to swimming lessons to story time, they shared a magical bond.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and former WA Labor state secretary Tim Picton.

“In the years ahead we will make sure Charlotte knows just how much Tim adored her, and share with her all the precious memories we have of them together.”

Chris said the past three weeks had been the worst of their lives.

“Holding his hand for the past three weeks I have struggled to comprehend that we won’t go together to another Crows game, we won’t debate another election ad, we won’t share another Christmas pudding and we won’t watch our kids playing together again. It’s a feeling of overwhelming sadness,” he said.

Police will upgrade the charges against Picton’s alleged attacker, Brodie Jake Dewar, 20, to manslaughter at his next court appearance next month.

Dewar appeared in court last week, where CCTV footage of the incident was played, showing Picton standing and talking calmly to a man police allege was Dewar, who then raised his right arm and punched Picton in the face.

The altercation happened about 5.35am outside a club in the Perth entertainment precinct of Northbridge.

Picton was placed in an induced coma and underwent surgery for a serious brain bleed and fractured skull.

Dewar had his bail revoked last week after being charged over another incident, which allegedly occurred on Christmas Day, with the magistrate describing both attacks as “coward punches”.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.