Is it a bit of political theatre, or has the biggest bromance in Australian politics hit a rough patch?

It is well known that Anthony Albanese and Roger Cook are great mates.

The Prime Minister told us so at a press conference at Elizabeth Quay in Perth just before last year’s Federal election.

“Showing our age here a bit. But it’s a fact that we met in 1984 and ever since then we have been friends,” Albanese said of Cook.

“And it’s amazing if we were having a beer there at a conference at UNSW back in 1984, I reckon there would have been pretty good odds that we would have been breath-tested if they had said we’d be here today as Prime Minister and Premier.”

Likewise on that day, Cook was full of praise for his mate.

“Albo gets WA and it’s always great to welcome him back to talk about how we can continue to work together on great plans for Western Australia,” he said.

How sweet.

But Cook’s language lately suggests this touching relationship may have hit some turbulence.

And that turbulence is being played out not just in the WA media, but in stories in national mastheads.

Albanese’s 20 per cent gas reservation policy is as clear as mud in terms of how this will affect WA’s long-standing policy, which mandates 15 per cent of its LNG exports be kept for local use.

Cook just recently put Albo on notice that his reservation policy must not impact WA’s scheme.

“We’ll obviously work with them (the Federal Government) to understand what the opportunities are for Western Australia in relation to a national approach, but we’ve been assured that there would not be any adverse impact on WA,” Cook said.

And Cook is also not happy with the overreach of Albo’s capital gains tax changes, which have junior miners and mum-and-dad investors running scared as the 50 per cent discount disappears next July.

“We do not want to disincentivise exploration in our mining industry, nor do we want to disincentivise foreign investment in our large-scale projects, which are essential for bringing these mega projects to life,” Cook said.

Readers might remember that Cook, straight after the State election in March, made public in The Sunday Times his list of priorities for WA.

Those demands included not tearing up WA’s lucrative GST deal and securing bigger skilled migration quotas.

Albanese made light of the fact Cook’s demands had been made public by posing with Rog for photos in Perth just after the Federal poll, telling reporters: “There’s nothing unusual about premiers putting forward the interests of their States. I expect Roger to continue to do that, as I expect other premiers and chief ministers will.”

And “continue” Cook has — although right now, given how much heat Albanese is copping over his Budget, a WA Labor premier also attacking his policies would be as welcome as Pauline Hanson arriving at the Lodge with an interior decorator.

Sensing a bit of tension, WA Opposition leader Basil Zempilas has taken to social media to further stir the pot.

“We deserve a Premier who will fight for Western Australia,” Zempilas said.

“The Federal Budget’s proposed tax changes have raised serious concerns. This isn’t the time for mixed messages. It’s a question of trust.

“Is Roger Cook backing Anthony Albanese or backing Western Australia?”

What makes the Albo-Cook friendship further complicated is the fact that, unlike in 2025, the next Federal election will take place before the State poll.

If Albanese goes a full term, Aussies will go to the polls in May 2028. The State poll will be held in March the following year.

If Albanese’s popularity continues to dip in the lead-up to the Federal poll, how does Roger Cook handle that scenario?

I’m not sure Cook would be prepared to stand side by his mate at Elizabeth Quay during a Federal election campaign should Albo’s popularity, and that of Federal Labor, continue to plummet.