Logan to leave parliament

Fran Logan has become the second state government minister to announce his retirement ahead of next year's election.

Mr Logan, who has held the emergency and corrective services portfolio since 2017, was first elected to the seat of Cockburn in 2001, winning re-election in 2005, 2008 and 2013.

He was first appointed a minister after the 2005 election, when he held the housing and works portfolio under Premier Geoff Gallop.

He later served as a minister under Premier Alan Carpenter.

During his current tenure, Mr Logan was notable for overseeing the return of Wandoo Reintegration Facility and Melaleuca Remand and Reintegration Facility to state government ownership.

He was also a key figure in managing Western Australia’s emergency COVID-19 response, serving as a member of the state's disaster council.

Mr Logan will continue to serve as a minister until March.

Announcing the news this afternoon, Premier Mark McGowan paid tribute to Mr Logan, calling him a good friend and lauding his achievements while in parliament.

“I’ve always thought his story of achievement was remarkable, arriving here in 1980 from London and rising up to become a successful government minister,” Mr McGowan said,

“Fran has done it all, as a mechanic, to working in the mining industry and on to university.

“Fran’s unwavering commitment to working people was always on display through his time in the union movement and parliament.

“He has delivered across his ministerial portfolios and as the local Member of Parliament for Cockburn.

"[H]e can be very proud of his contribution to Western Australia.”

Mr Logan now joins Sports and Recreation Minister Mick Murray in retiring ahead of the 2021 election.

Mr Murray, who holds the seat of Collie-Preston, announced his retirement in February after having first won election in 2001.

He was widely seen as one of few candidates who could hold the seat for Australian Labor Party WA, with the largely-exurban seat now considered marginal by opposition parties and political handicappers.

Labor has already nominated former Shire of Collie councillor Jodie Hanns to contest the seat at next year’s election, while former shire president Wayne Sanford will contest the seat for The Nationals WA.

Elsewhere, The Nationals today announced local businesswoman Delma Baesjou had been preselected to contest the seat of Albany, which is being vacated by Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Peter Watson.

The City of Albany councillor Rebecca Stephens will contest that seat for Labor.

While the state government is likely to face a stiff challenge retaining both seats at next year’s election, Labor is likely to retain Cockburn given Mr Logan holds the seat on a double-digit margin.

Eureka Lawyers director David Scaife is reportedly considered the frontrunner to win nomination and contest the seat for Labor.

The retirement of two government ministers will also mean room for new talent on the frontbench, with John Carey and Amber-Jade Sanderson considered among the most likely candidates to become ministers should Labor be re-elected.

Previously, Treasurer Ben Wyatt had said he would retire ahead of the 2021 election, however he later decided to stay on and recontest the seat of Victoria Park in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Next year’s state election will be held on March 13.