Behind the scenes players

1. Bill Johnston

2. Brian Burke

3. Noel Crichton-Browne

4. Kevin Reynolds

5. Gary Gray

6. Helen Creed

7. Kim Keogh

8. Stephanie Mayman

BARELY a year into the job and Labor state secretary Bill Johnston is being highly rated for his ability to open doors to the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Note his predecessor, John Halden, now ranks highly as an adviser.

Brian Burke and Noel Crichton-Browne seem like names from a bygone era but they still have power in the vital pre-selection battles that go on in the Labor and Liberal parties respectively.

Kevin Reynolds’s political star may be waning but he remains a force in Labor politics.

Gary Gray is a former Labor Federal secretary who has found his feet lobbying for the likes of Woodside.

Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union national president and ACTU vice president Helen Creed is believed to be someone whose opinion counts in the Labor movement, ahead of her union colleague Unions WA secretary Stephanie Mayman.

Kim Keogh is president of the State Liberal branch and very much credited with keeping things together after the 2001 election loss.

He recently beat off a challenge from former Liberal Minister Graham Kierath.