LABOR HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHTS FOR LIFE: Tim Picton, 36, Left in Critical Condition After Alleged Assault in Perth’s Party District
- Tim Picton, a key figure in WA Labor’s 2021 landslide victory, was allegedly assaulted in Northbridge and left with life-threatening injuries.
- A 20-year-old man from Lesmurdie has been charged with grievous bodily harm and is set to appear in court on Sunday.
- Mr Picton, a prominent member of Perth’s political and mining communities, was found unconscious on the ground outside a licensed premises.
- The incident has sent shockwaves through the Labor Party, with Mr Picton’s colleagues and friends rallying around him as he fights for his life.
Tim Picton, the 36-year-old mastermind behind WA Labor’s 2021 election triumph, is fighting for his life in hospital after an alleged assault in Perth’s party district.
According to police, Mr Picton was found unconscious on the ground outside a licensed premises in Northbridge, near the intersection of James Street and Mountain Terrace, about 5:30am on Saturday.
“He was just lying there, unresponsive,” a witness, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed. “It was like something out of a nightmare.”
Mr Picton, who is the brother of South Australian minister Chris Picton, was taken to Royal Perth Hospital with life-threatening injuries. His condition remains critical, with friends and family holding a vigil by his bedside.
A 20-year-old man from Lesmurdie has been charged with one count of grievous bodily harm over the incident. He was remanded in custody and is set to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on Sunday.
“This is a devastating blow to our community,” said a Labor Party spokesperson. “Tim is a well-respected and dedicated member of our team, and we are all deeply concerned for his welfare.”
Mr Picton, who worked for former Victorian premier Dan Andrews before moving to WA, was appointed WA Labor’s state secretary and campaign director in 2020. He played a crucial role in getting Mark McGowan re-elected in 2021 and now works as director of strategy for mining giant MinRes.
Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident, or has CCTV or dash cam footage of the area at that time, to contact Crime Stoppers.
“We need the public’s help to piece together what happened,” said a police spokesperson. “If you saw or heard anything, please come forward and help us bring those responsible to justice.”