THERE'S a clear irony that Australia's longest-serving Liberal premier, Colin Barnett, seems set to stay in politics for the long haul after planning to retire in 2004.
The development-minded economist recently told reporters he'd consider another term if he won the March 9 poll, as expected, to secure another four years in the boom state's top job.
When asked if a replacement leader would "surely" need to be named thereafter, his reply was "why?".
The opposition would say he's here to stay because of a lack of talent in the party following the shift of young-gun Christian Porter into federal politics.
Mr Barnett denies that claim, but what is certain is he's not averse to digging his heels in, exemplified by the battle over the Browse gas hub, which recently saw the 62-year-old heckled in Broome - much to his chagrin - and is one of the reasons he has earned the tag "Emperor".
There's no doubt he's pit-bull fierce in advocating for the state's interest, but his push for a greater share of the GST recently saw him slapped down by federal Liberal supremo Tony Abbott, who said his job was to be a national leader, "not just a parochial one".
More enjoyable moments in Mr Barnett's premiership included November last year when he bonded with then-US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during the AUSMIN defence meetings in Perth over their shared love of space.
Mr Barnett had joked that as a child he wanted to be American and insisted on being called Sputnik, prompting a jovial Mrs Clinton to call him "Premier Sputnik".
Another moment that left him grinning was meeting the Queen of England during the CHOGM event in 2011, but his subsequent naming of Perth's new Elizabeth Quay inlet development on the Swan River after her majesty - without consultation - cemented his Emperor tag.
It's not easy being the boss.
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