South West Labor MLC Sally Talbot announces end of political career after 20-year stint in Legislative Council

Longstanding South West MLC Sally Talbot has confirmed her retirement from politics, bringing to a close a soon-to-be 20-year career in State Parliament. The Labor MP will leave the Legislative Council in March, making way for one-term Nedlands MLA Katrina Stratton to parachute from her at-risk blue ribbon seat in Perth’s western suburbs to a safer position in the Upper House. In a post on Facebook last week, Dr Talbot said 2025 was the right time to end her career. “I have always believed that politics is a vocation not a career, but given that I will be turning 72 the same month as the next election and will have served 20 years as an MP, it is time for me to announce my retirement from the State Parliament,” she said. “I have spent the last 20 years speaking up to help make life better for people who would not otherwise have had a voice and I look forward to many more years of active involvement with the Labor movement.” Dr Talbot was first elected to the WA Parliament in 2005 and has since be re-elected four times for the South West region. She held a number of shadow ministries during Labor’s time in opposition and is currently chair of the standing committee on legislation. Dr Talbot’s retirement opens the Legislative Council seat for Ms Stratton, with the chances of retaining Nedlands in 2025 considered slim. While the deal was revealed by the West Australian in November, it took both Labor politicians until Friday to make it official. Dr Talbot put her support behind Ms Stratton and said the party was in “safe hands”. “The Labor Government and the WA Labor Party are in very good hands with Roger Cook whose values-driven approach I have always admired in the 30 years we have worked together,” she said. “I note that Katrina Stratton is contesting a seat in the Legislative Council. In my view, Katrina has a long parliamentary career ahead of her. “She will, I know, continue to fight tirelessly for fairness, equality and the core values of what we as Labor people believe in.” Ms Stratton made her intention to run in the Upper House public just after Dr Talbot’s post and said she will work to represent regional WA, especially in the energy transition. “Our State is in a moment of change, particularly in regional WA,” she wrote. “The energy transition is the biggest economic opportunity in generations. I want to continue the strong work of the Cook Government to ensure workers and their families across metropolitan and regional WA benefit from our energy transition.”