Dinner with Xi and duels with Stokes: how Colin Barnett led the mining state
by Tom Rabe · Australian Financial ReviewTom RabePolitical correspondent
Jul 3, 2026 – 12.00pm
In 2014, Colin Barnett was standing, waiting in the bowels of Beijing’s Great Hall of the People when he was tapped on the shoulder by a Chinese official.
The West Australian premier had assumed his usual place behind the leaders of several more populous Australian states as they lined up to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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- Lunch with the AFR
- Colin Barnett
- AFR Weekend
- Weekend Fin
- Xi Jinping
- Perth
- Kerry Stokes
- Mark McGowan
- Gina Rinehart
- Liberal Party
- Mining
Tom RabePolitical correspondentTom Rabe is the Western Australia political correspondent, based in Perth. Connect with Tom on Twitter. Email Tom at tom.rabe@nine.com.au
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