Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has traveled to Perth to attend the funeral of Tim Picton, a prominent Labor strategist who died following an alleged one-punch assault. The 36-year-old political operative was attacked outside a Northbridge nightclub on December 27 and passed away this Monday surrounded by family members.
Mr. Picton played instrumental roles in both Western Australia Labor’s 2021 state election campaign, which resulted in a landslide victory, and subsequently in Prime Minister Albanese’s 2022 federal election strategy that heavily focused on Western Australia.
The Prime Minister revealed he would personally deliver a heartfelt letter to Mr. Picton’s young daughter Charlotte during the funeral service held at Perth’s Optus Stadium. “I have a letter today that I’ll give to Priya, Tim’s wife, for Charlotte so that when she grows up she has what are some of my personal reflections on her dad,” Mr. Albanese stated, adding that “for Tim, Charlotte was the apple of his eye.”
Western Australian Premier Roger Cook expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy, noting that Charlotte would “now be left wondering what happened to her father” while offering condolences to the entire family.
Brodie Jake Dewar, 20, has been charged with grievous bodily harm in connection with the incident. The case continues to develop as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding Mr. Picton’s tragic death.