Cook’s Cabinet - Winners, Losers & The Freo Angle

Incoming Premier Roger Cook has today announced the refreshed Cabinet team and allocation of portfolios.

The Premier said the ‘energised, united, stable and experienced Cabinet team’ will take the State forward on issues that matter to Western Australians.

In addition to his responsibilities as Premier, Roger Cook will also hold the roles of Minister for State and Industry Development, Jobs and Trade, Public Sector Management and Federal-State Relations.

Of particular interest to Shipping News subscribers, Freo MP, Simone McGurk, retains her Ministerial portfolios of Training, Water and Youth.

Significantly, Planning will be added to John Carey‘s responsibilities which will strengthen the wide-ranging reforms he has already undertaken in the Housing, Lands and Homelessness portfolios.

Perhaps John Carey will now, at long last, be officially appointed , in place of Bill Johnston, as head of the unofficial sub-Ministry of Derelict, Heritage Listed Power Stations, including the South Fremantle Power Station.

Amd perhaps even more importantly for Freo folk, the new face in the new Premier’s Cabinet is incoming Minister, Balcatta MLA David Michael. The former Cabinet Secretary in the McGowan Government and long serving local councillor David Michael will be the Minister responsible for Ports; Local Government; Road Safety and Minister assisting the Minister for Transport.

This means a total of eight new Ministers have been added to Cabinet since the 2021 State election.

In addition to the new Minister, there are a number of reshuffled portfolios and a new Minister in the Cook Cabinet.

In no surprise to anyone, incoming Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti will add the portfolios of Treasurer and Tourism to her Transport responsibilities, utilising her skills and experience in those areas, as she continues to deliver the State Government’s transformational METRONET program.

Stephen Dawson will take on the Science portfolio and will become the Minister assisting the Minister for State and Industry Development, Jobs and Trade.

With eight years’ experience in the Corrective Services portfolio as shadow Minister, Paul Papalia will add Corrective Services to his portfolios of Police; Defence Industry and Veterans Issues.

Bill Johnston will add the portfolio of Hydrogen Industry, which will complement his existing responsibilities in Mines and Petroleum as well as Energy and Industrial Relations.

Don Punch adds the Volunteering portfolio to Regional Development, Disability Services, Fisheries and Seniors and Ageing. A busy guy.

Kingsley MLA Jessica Stojkovski will take on the role as new Cabinet Secretary and Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier; Minister for State and Industry Development, Jobs and Trade, Public Sector Management and Federal-State Relations. Phew!

The new Parliamentary Secretary will be Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna, who will be working closely with the new Deputy Premier.

The incoming Premier, Deputy Premier, new Minister and Parliamentary Secretary, along with Cabinet Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries with portfolio changes, will be officially sworn in at a ceremony at Government House tomorrow.

By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News

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