Career
He was re-elected in the 2001 and 2005 state elections and has held the position of Government Whip in the Legislative Council from May 2001 to present. Dermer was one of the three North Metropolitan Labor MLCs, along with Graham Giffard and Ken Travers, who proved to be critical in the introduction of Daylight saving in 2006 in Western Australia. Initially intending on voting against the motion, they all eventually decided to support the motion in line with the wishes of their electorate and party.
Shortly afterward he was diagnosed with a melanoma on the back of his neck, which was removed and found to be malignant.
