- Cook Labor Government focused on delivering priorities, including jobs, health, housing and safe communities
- New portfolio arrangements to redouble government efforts to diversify the Western Australian economy and create jobs
- Ministers to be sworn in from Monday before first meeting of the new Cabinet
Premier Roger Cook has revealed the new portfolio allocations following the retirement of former Minister Paul Papalia.
As part of the new Cabinet arrangements, the Premier will assume responsibility for Defence Industries, to lead the development of Western Australia as the largest naval maintenance and ship building hub in the southern hemisphere.
Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson will support the Premier as Assistant Minister for Defence Industries, with Deputy Premier Rita Saffiofi incorporating the development of new common user infrastructure to support the defence industry in an expanded Transport and Major Infrastructure portfolio. Minister John Carey will become Assistant Minister for Transport and Major Infrastructure.
The Premier will also take on a new Tourism, Trade and Investment portfolio, to promote Western Australia as the best place to work, do business and visit on the international stage.
Other key economic changes will see Minister David Michael take on State Development, with new Minister Daniel Pastorelli picking up the portfolios of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, as well as Water.
Additional changes will see Attorney General Tony Buti appointed Corrective Services Minister, with Reece Whitby taking on responsibility for Emergency Services.
Minister Jessica Stojkovski will assume responsibility for Road Safety and Multicultural Interests.
Health and Mental Health Minister Meredith Hammat will take on the additional portfolio of Preventative Health, leading the key targets of immunisations across the State.
Minister Don Punch will become Racing and Gaming Minister, while Minister Matthew Swinbourn will add Climate Resilience to his responsibilities.
New Ministerial arrangements will be transitioned with an initial swearing-in ceremony at Government House on Monday morning. Further swearing-in ceremonies, including Parliamentary Secretary arrangements, will be held in coming weeks.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
“My WA Labor Government is laser focused on the delivery of our priorities in jobs, health and housing.
“Underscoring those priorities is diversifying the WA economy so that it remains the strongest in the nation, and the best place in the world to get a quality job.
“In times like these, we need steady and experienced leadership and my government is the safe pair of hands who will always put WA first.
“The portfolios I’ve announced today deliver a strong economic team that will ensure we can seize the many opportunities in front of us, and withstand current and future global challenges.”
Cook Government Cabinet:
Hon Roger Cook MLA | Premier; Minister for Defence Industries; Tourism, Trade and Investment; Economic Diversification |
Hon Rita Saffioti MLA | Deputy Premier; Treasurer; Minister for Transport and Major Infrastructure; Sport and Recreation |
Hon Stephen Dawson MLC | Minister for Regional Development; Ports; Science and Innovation; Medical Research; Kimberley |
Hon Jackie Jarvis MLC | Minister for Agriculture and Food; Fisheries; Forestry; Small Business; Mid West |
Hon Dr Tony Buti MLA | Attorney General; Minister for Corrective Services; Commerce; Tertiary and International Education |
Hon Simone McGurk MLA | Minister for Creative Industries; Heritage; Industrial Relations; Aged Care and Seniors; Women |
Hon Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA | Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation; Manufacturing; Skills and TAFE; Pilbara; Assisting the Minister for Defence Industries |
Hon John Carey MLA | Minister for Planning and Lands; Housing and Works; Health Infrastructure; Assisting the Minister for Transport and Major Infrastructure |
Hon Don Punch MLA | Minister for Aboriginal Affairs; Racing and Gaming; South West |
Hon Reece Whitby MLA | Minister for Police; Emergency Services; Great Southern |
Hon Sabine Winton MLA | Minister for Education; Early Childhood; Wheatbelt |
Hon David Michael MLA | Minister for State Development; Finance; Electoral Affairs; Goldfields-Esperance; Leader of the House |
Hon Hannah Beazley MLA | Minister for Local Government; Disability Services; Veterans; Volunteering; Youth; Gascoyne |
Hon Jessica Stojkovski MLA | Minister for Child Protection; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Road Safety; Multicultural Interests; Peel |
Hon Matthew Swinbourn MLC | Minister for the Environment; Climate Resilience; Community Services; Homelessness |
Hon Meredith Hammat MLA | Minister for Health; Mental Health; Preventative Health |
Daniel Pastorelli MLA | Minister for Mines, Petroleum and Exploration; Water |
Divina D’Anna MLA | Cabinet Secretary |
