Meet the Author - Colin Barnett

In his book Out West: Big State, Small Town, the longest serving Premier of WA’s modern era, Hon Colin Barnett AC, reflects on leadership, power and economic development in Australia’s big state, small town.

Join Colin in discussion with The West Australian’s Chief Reporter Ben Harvey as they dive into politics, place and the pages of Out West.

About the book Out West

Vast in scale and physically isolated, Western Australia has evolved into an export powerhouse with a distinct identity defined by courageous thinking and small-town roots.

In Out West: Big State, Small Town, Colin Barnett AC traces the modern story of Western Australia through the lens of his life and career in politics and beyond.

Born and educated in Western Australia, Barnett’s political career began in 1990, a time of critical economic change. In Out West, Barnett reflects on the forces that have shaped the state’s development, growing from an agricultural base into an economy responsible for around half of the nation’s exports. A key player in this transformation, he held portfolios including Treasury, Education and Tourism.

Serving as Premier from 2008 to 2017, he writes candidly about leadership at the state and national level, the relationships he sustained with Japan and developed with China, his dealings with four Australian Prime Ministers, and his role in international trade and investment, from London to Houston. Barnett’s legacy also includes the environmental protection of the Kimberley, the settlement of native title claims, and landmark infrastructure projects that reshaped Perth.

Out West is grounded in a deep sense of place, a story of a vast state with small-town roots, and the challenges and responsibilities that come with governing at the edge of the nation.

About the author Colin Barnett

Hon Colin Barnett AC was the longest-serving Western Australian Premier in over 50 years, serving from 2008 to 2017.

Born and educated in Western Australia, Colin was elected in 1990 as the Member for Cottesloe in the Western Australian Parliament and served as Leader or Deputy Leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party for every election from 1993 to 2017. As a minister in the 1990s, he handled the deregulation and privatisation of the energy sector. He was involved in major new projects including the Goldfields Gas Pipeline, and, in the education portfolio, he introduced a universal kindergarten and pre-primary year for all children.

As Premier, Colin further developed the relationship with China which saw a doubling of iron-ore production and trebling of liquefied natural gas (LNG) production. Other landmark events include the settlement of native title over Perth and the southwest and the creation of major land and marine parks in the remote Kimberley. Major projects under his leadership included Elizabeth Quay, Perth Stadium, the sinking of the rail line, Yagan Square and the Perth Children’s Hospital, all of which transformed the city of Perth.

He is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Business School at the University of Western Australia. Out West is his first book.

About the interviewer Ben Harvey

Ben Harvey has worked as a journalist since 1999. His early career at The West Australian included stretches of crime reporting and political journalism. He worked in London for regional and national titles before returning to WA in 2006. Since then he has held the positions of The West Australian's news editor, chief of staff, state political editor and group business editor. In his current role as Chief Reporter he is focusing on crime reporting but will often write about finance and politics.

Ticketing

Ticket Only $15, or Ticket with Book $40.
Book and pay online.

This event is in partnership with Dymocks Karrinup.
At the event, Dymocks will be selling Colin's book Out West for $34.95, and Colin will be available for book signing.

Please note, the presentation will run for approximately one hour, followed by book signing and refreshments.

For further information on this event please call the City on 9400 4751

Cancellations and refunds:

A program will only be cancelled if there are insufficient enrolments received one day prior to the event or due to factors beyond the City’s control. No individual refunds or credits will be given for general non-attendance.