The upcoming Secret Harbour by-election has been thrust into the spotlight after WA Labor candidate Georgia Tree firmly stood by past comments in which she criticized her own party’s historical handling of workplace harassment and compared its internal culture to that of the Catholic Church.

The remarks, made during a 2021 political podcast, resurfaced this week as campaigning intensifies for the crucial southern-suburbs seat. In the original recording, Ms. Tree discussed the federal party’s response to the national reckoning surrounding women's safety in Parliament House, suggesting some members preferred to deal with issues "in-house" rather than risk damaging the party's brand.

"You would have people offhand say, 'Oh God, like we probably shouldn't go too hard on X because what about like, the skeletons in our closet?'" Ms. Tree said at the time. "It's like the Catholic Church, right, like we don't want to taint the brand, so let's deal with everything in-house, and everyone just shut up."

Premier Backs Candidate’s 'Straight-Talking' Style

Addressing the resurfaced comments, Western Australian Premier Roger Cook offered a staunch defense of Ms. Tree, praising her integrity and willingness to speak her mind.

"What it shows is that Georgia Tree stands up for her community," Premier Cook said. "She doesn't take bull crap, she calls it out when she sees it."

While the Premier maintained that WA Labor does not have any "skeletons" in its closet, he argued the political landscape had shifted dramatically since the comments were made three years ago. "The context in which she was speaking was years ago, in the context of broader national conversations. Things have changed significantly over the last decade in relation to the way people conduct politics," he added.

No Regrets for Advocacy

Despite the potential political pressure, Ms. Tree has refused to distance herself from her past statements, confirming she "absolutely" stands by what she said.

"Any workplace in this country, in the world, will absolutely not be perfect. We can always do better," Ms. Tree said.

She highlighted her active role in advocating for parliamentary staffers, including pushing for the landmark Jenkins Review—which exposed systemic issues in Commonwealth parliamentary workplaces—and organizing a staffer sit-in in 2021 to demand safer work environments.

"I'm really proud of the work that I did alongside other staffers that led to change," she said, pointing to tangible reforms such as dedicated HR support, compulsory training, and confidential helplines now available to political staff.

A Crucial By-Election Litmus Test

The debate over party culture comes at a critical time for WA Labor. The Secret Harbour by-election, triggered by the retirement of long-serving minister Paul Papalia, is expected to serve as a key battleground for major parties and a test of minor party influence in Perth's outer southern suburbs.

While historically considered a safe seat for Labor, the by-election will be closely watched as a measure of current voter sentiment ahead of the next state election.