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Self-styled ‘Dad from Kwinana’ Premier Roger Cook is moving away from his electorate because of the lengthy commute from his home to the CBD.
In a message to Kwinana Labor branch members on Saturday afternoon, Cook said he was moving from his Wellard home with his wife Carly Lane closer to Parliament House in West Perth, blaming the time spent in the car on the Kwinana Freeway.
“As you know I have committed to the role as Premier beyond the next election. I think it’s important for Labor. I think it’s important for the state,” he said.
“To do the job with the level of energy and commitment I believe it deserves, I need to spend more time in the community and less time travelling in the car.
“Carly and I have made the difficult decision to move to the city...so we can apply ourselves 100 per cent to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”
Kwinana Freeway is one of the most congested stretches of road in the state during peak hour, particularly south of Russell Road, where it drops to two lanes.
Construction is expected to start on a $700 million widening of the freeway later this year.
The upgrade will include a new lane in each direction between Russell Road and Mortimer Road as well as new ramp signals on the northbound side of the freeway between Safety Bay Road and Roe Highway, to “smooth the flow of traffic on the freeway at busy times.”
Cook said Wellard was still their home, and they would rent out their house.
“I look forward to continuing to work with you to provide the people of Kwinana with the best possible representation,” he said.
“In the meantime, my [electorate officer] team and I will maintain our profile and work hard to keep delivering for our community.”
State MPs don’t have to live in their electorates in Western Australia.
Cook leaned heavily on his roots in Kwinana during the 2025 election campaign, often referring to himself as “a dad from Kwinana” at public events and on social media.
Cook’s predecessor Mark McGowan created headlines when he moved from his beachfront home in Rockingham.
McGowan was told by authorities to leave his well-known home due to safety concerns that arose throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
