Australia's political week: WA premier's insults spark backlash as inflation disappoints

Australia's political week has surfaced a recurring tension at the heart of democratic governance: the gap between how power is exercised and how it is explained to those it serves. From a premier's contempt for independent advice, to a hidden levy on commuters, to a lawmaker stepping aside under criminal charges, the week's events collectively ask whether accountability remains a living principle or a ceremonial one. Amid inflation figures that defied expectations and a quiet memorial for two officers killed in the line of duty, the country's institutions found themselves measured not only by