Labor trio on the rise in Canberra

Labor's victory in last year's federal election has elevated Western Australians Stephen Smith and Chris Evans to two of the most senior roles in the federal government.

A third WA MP, Gary Gray, will be hoping to join his colleagues in the minstry before too long.

Mr Smith was sworn in as foreign affairs minister last December.

He is a lawyer by training but has spent most of his working life involved in Labor politics.

Before being elected the member for Perth in 1993, his roles included being an adviser to former prime minister Paul Keating, and WA state secretary of the Labor party.

He held a range of senior portfolios while Labor was in opposition, and was also considered one of Labor's key strategists.

Mr Smith has in the past been a major player in Labor's new right faction in WA but his ministerial responsibilities are likely to preclude any significant involvement at that level.

Senator Evans has been given the immigration and citizenship portfolios, which makes him a key player in framing the federal government's response to Australia's labour shortage.

He is also the leader of the government in the Senate, a key strategic role in framing and managing the government's parliamentary agenda and tactics.

Like Mr Smith, Senator Evans' previous roles included being Labor's state secretary in WA. Before that role, he was secretary of the Fire Fighters Union in WA.

Mr Gray was one of several high profile candidates - along with the likes of Bill Shorten, Greg Combet and Maxine McKew - elected for the first time last year.

All four have been made parliamentary secretaries, which is akin to doing an apprenticeship before being considered for a ministry.

Before winning the seat of Brand last year, Mr Gray spent six years working as Woodside Petroleum's head of corporate affairs in Perth.