Editor’s Desk: 23 predictions of what might be in store for us in 2023

My list of 22 predictions for 2022 was a hit-and-miss affair. But I’m back for another crack at crystal ball gazing (otherwise known as educated guesswork) and have come up with 23 predictions of what we might see develop on the local, national and global stage in 2023.

I promise my list won’t be as bleak as Nostradamus’ predictions for 2023 — apparently he envisioned a third world war, a failed Mars mission, a new pope, a royal palace burning and that chronic food shortages and the failing economy would turn us into cannibals.

1. I am more than willing to accept I could very well be wrong on this one, but at least I’m not sitting on the fence. I reckon we will FINALLY see the Batavia Motor Inne demolished in 2023. There, I said it. The developers have promised so, seemingly saying the right things. But we’ve been at this junction before. Let’s hope the owners have enough respect for the community to finally get this done.

2. I fear we could see more delays to the Geraldton Health Campus redevelopment. Expressions of interests for the project’s tender close on January 20. But we are still experiencing an overheated construction market, with labour and supply shortages, so whether we see any quick action on the ground this year is already at a handicap. Likewise, the outlook doesn’t look promising for Geraldton’s oncology unit and the Mullewa hospital upgrade.

3. Council elections are on again this October. This time the mayoral position is up for grabs in Geraldton. Shane Van Styn has confirmed he’s running again. Is it a fait accompli that Geraldton’s outspoken mayor will win a third term in the top job (extending his tenure to 12 years) or could a decent challenger or two enter the race to make it interesting? Still on councils, local government reform will see the size of many local governments, including Greater Geraldton, shrink. For a council of Geraldton’s size, the new regime will require between four and eight councillors, excluding the mayor. My bet is somewhere closer to the upper limit. I just can’t imagine a regional city of Geraldton’s size being represented by just four councillors and a mayor.

4. I think we could see retired West Coast champion Josh Kennedy return to Northampton for a hometown hero match. Wouldn’t it be great to see JK playing alongside other Northampton greats such as Harry Taylor and Paul Hasleby? Perhaps the second anniversary of cyclone Seroja in April would be a fit time for a fundraiser match for the ages. Also, I reckon it’s a fair bet that JK could be added to the Mid West Sports Hall of Fame this year.

5. If the Geraldton Buccaneers can keep the same talented roster as last year, then 2022’s runners-up have a decent shot of going one better in 2023. Geraldton will also usher in a new basketball era when the redeveloped stadium is set to be finished and opened to the public.

6. Purple scooters will be here to stay. The 15-month trial for Beam’s scooters is due to end in late 2023 but unless there’s a complete 180 I think the trial will become permanent.

7. Mark McGowan’s standing as premier will continue to come back to earth. The cost-of-living crisis and overstretched public sector will continue to throw up challenges for his government. Barring any unforeseen scandals, his Labor government is still sitting pretty ahead of the 2025 election against a threadbare opposition.

8. I reckon 2023 will be the year that the travel bug spreads big time. Many people’s COVID concerns will have been abated and hopefully airlines will have got their act together a bit more by then. My guess is that it will seem like every second person is going off on a big trip they’ve been putting off for three years.

9. How will the Dockers and Eagles fare in 2023? If I was a betting person, I’d mark Freo down for a top-four finish. And as for the Eagles? I reckon they could finish anywhere between eighth and 12th. Here’s hoping they just put up a better fight than the insipid one we saw last season.

10. One of the more contentious debates set to be heard in State Parliament this year will undoubtedly be Labor’s proposed abortion reforms. MPs are allowed a conscience vote. Community feedback is currently being sought. Let’s hope the end result is a system that allows women safer and easier access to choose what’s right for them.

11. Likewise out of Canberra, expect to hear a lot more about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, enshrining our First Nations people into the Constitution. Get set for a referendum in the second half of the year. Our pollies seem split already — the Nats have opposed it, causing one MP to quit, while the Libs have yet to reveal their position. Referendums typically come back in favour of the “no” argument (only eight out of Australia’s 44 referendums have been passed) but I am hoping this one will be a change for the books.

12. Cate Blanchett will win her third Oscar. I haven’t seen her performance in Tar, but I just have a feeling. If Cate wins, it puts her in rare company, with Meryl Streep, Frances McDormand and Ingrid Bergman the only actresses to have won three Oscars, one behind screen legend Katherine Hepburn’s record of four. Can you believe Beyonce has never won Album of the Year at the Grammys? Expect that travesty to be rectified this year, with her sublime Renaissance album set to beat Adele, Harry, Lizzo and co. And while I’m not sure what flick will win Best Film this year, I don’t reckon it will be Top Gun: Maverick. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I just can’t see it happening.

13. It’s still very much on shaky ground, but it would be good to see a thaw in Australian-Chinese relations. Hopefully that will see tariffs ease, which will mean good news for our export markets. At the same time, the importance of India to our economy will only continue to rise.

14. I think everyone wishes to see an end to Russia’s war against the Ukraine. The ideal scenario is Russia will finally concede, Putin will get what’s coming to him, Ukraine can start to rebuild (a process likely to take decades) and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

15. Here’s hoping Donald Trump’s chances of Republican selection are once and for all crushed in 2023 and that he receives a fitting comeuppance for his part in sparking the Capitol attack. And for the record, I reckon Joe Biden will run again in 2024, but perhaps he shouldn’t, given he’ll be almost 82 if he wins and 86 at the end of a second term.

16. I am far from being a fan, but I have a feeling Nick Kyrgios might actually win a grand slam this year. If I’m wrong on this one, I won’t be that upset.

17. I’m afraid cost-of-living and interest rates will continue to rise in 2023. Prepare for more hip pocket pain and crises will deepen, although hopefully at some stage in 2023 the Reserve Bank will put the brakes on interest rate rises.

18. One of the world’s biggest events will take place on May 6, 2023 — the coronation of King Charles III. Chances are it will be a boring, stuffy affair (unless Princess Charlotte or Prince Louis steal the show). Safest bet is Harry and Meghan won’t be there. But I kind of hope they are. We don’t have to wait long to see how many grenades Harry will throw in his new memoir. After a Netflix docuseries devoid of any new scandalous allegations or even (gasp) tangible proof, can we expect more of the same from Harry’s book or will we all be shocked with its explosive contents? Surely there’s got to be some dynamite in 90,000-odd words.

19. There could be some nervous power players in the lead up to June 2023. That’s how long Ghislaine Maxwell has been given to name any names in order to lighten her 20-year sex-trafficking sentence. This whole sordid saga could be far from over.

20. On the sporting calendar, Australia has got a good shot at the one-day cricket world cup in India in October-November, while Australia will share hosting duties with New Zealand for one of the year’s biggest sporting events in July-August — the women’s soccer world cup. And don’t rule out Sam Kerr and the Matildas winning on home soil.

21. Is it just me or are you sick of reading lists of must-watch movies and most of them are Marvel flicks? There’s loads more superhero fodder on offer in 2023. But for me, the two most eagerly awaited movies of 2023 have my inner eight-year-old doing cartwheels and handstands on repeat — bring on Barbie and The Little Mermaid.

22. Kiwis are set to hit the polls this year and although she is one of the world’s most popular leaders from an outsider’s perspective, pundits say Jacinda Ardern faces an uphill battle to win a third term. Has NZ fallen out of love with Jacinda? Could it be her time? It happens to all pollies eventually.

23. Lastly, COVID. A lot can happen in a year, given this time last year we were still living in a hermit state under myriad rules and restrictions. My (hopeful) prognosis for COVID in 2023 is that we continue to live with it, no dangerous variants spread, it becomes something akin to getting a bad case of the flu and life basically goes on. On a personal account, I’m hoping my three-year run of avoiding returning a positive COVID test enters a fourth. How many of us are left?