The former WA Labor campaign director and Mineral Resources executive died on January 19 after more than three weeks in hospital following an alleged early morning attack in Perth’s entertainment district.
According to a statement released that morning, Tim Picton, 36, passed away on Monday while surrounded by family.
The family described him as a devoted father and loving husband and asked for space as they mourn.
Police were called to reports of a disturbance outside a licensed venue near the intersection of James Street and Mountain Terrace in Northbridge at about 5.35am on Saturday, December 27, 2025.
It was said a 36 year old man had been assaulted, fell and struck his head on the pavement, losing consciousness before being taken to Royal Perth Hospital with life threatening injuries.
A 20 year old man, Brodie Jake Dewar has been charged with grievous bodily harm over the alleged assault and police are now expecting the charge to be upgraded following Picton’s death.
Dewar was initially granted bail in late December under strict conditions including not drinking alcohol, not leaving Western Australia and not contacting Picton or his associates.
He was taken back into custody last week after appearing in court on a separate allegation that he struck another man in Kalamunda on Christmas Day with bail refused and a further appearance listed for February 6.
Picton was a behind the scenes figure in Labor politics, credited with helping drive the party’s historic WA landslide in 2021.
He had previously worked for former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews before moving west and later became WA Labor’s state secretary and campaign director.
He worked as director of strategy for Mineral Resources, one of Western Australia’s biggest mining companies, a role that placed him at the intersection of the state’s resources economy and policy debates over jobs, royalties, energy and approvals.
The alleged assault and subsequent bail decisions have sharpened attention on late night violence in entertainment precincts and the risks faced by emergency responders and hospitals dealing with catastrophic head injuries with the matter now before the courts.
Police have urged witnesses or anyone with footage from the area at the time to contact Crime Stoppers as investigations continue.
