McGowan to be treasurer

Premier Mark McGowan said today he was taking the treasury portfolio to head off a challenge to Western Australia’s GST deal but strongly hinted the role would be temporary.

Announcing the allocation of ministerial portfolios this morning, the premier claimed other states were jointly mobilising against the deal that gives WA a guaranteed minimum share of GST receipts.

“There is a groundswell of effort among the states in the east to unravel the GST deal, and that groundswell is growing,” Mr McGowan said.

“We need to fight that at the highest levels and that is what I will do.”

Mr McGowan added that, as premier, he had a natural interest in treasury matters and had been involved in the portfolio during the past four years.

He said other contenders for the role of treasurer were already busy.

Deputy Premier Roger Cook needed to stay as health minister so he could focus on the COVID-19 response.

“We are still in the pandemic, we are still rolling out vaccines, there are still mass deaths occurring around the world,” Mr McGowan said.

“Changing health minister in that environment I didn’t think was wise.”

Planning and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti – also a contender to be treasurer - was focused on Metronet and other infrastructure projects.

“Her portfolio load is already very large,” the premier said.

Ms Saffioti has also been given responsibility for ports, which will include planning for the new container port at Cockburn Sound.

Mr McGowan openly acknowledged he would review the treasury role.

“If in a year or two’s time, if the time was right to have another reshuffle, then that’s what I’d do," he said.

“Nothing is permanent, things can change.”

Ahead of that review, Mr Cook has been given an opportunity to prove his economic credentials.

As well as retaining the health portfolio, he has been given two economic portfolios previously held by the premier - state development plus jobs and trade.

The last WA premier to hold the treasury portfolio long term was Richard Court.

Colin Barnett held both roles for three periods between 2010 and 2014, but that was out of necessity after Troy Buswell, Christian Porter, and then Troy Buswell again, stepped down as treasurer.

In other changes announced today, Paul Papalia has been promoted to police and road safety, in addition to defence industry.

His other portfolios have been given to two other ministers.

David Templeman adds tourism to the culture and arts portfolio, with the premier saying there was a clear synergy between those areas.

New minister Reece Whitby has been given racing and gaming plus small business.

Bill Johnston will continue in energy and mines, as expected, but loses industrial relations to Stephen Dawson, who has also taken Aboriginal affairs (from Ben Wyatt) and mental health (from Roger Cook).

Newly appointed minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has been given the key portfolio of environment and a newly created role titled climate action, plus commerce.

Another winner is new minister John Carey. The former mayor of Vincent has been given housing and local government.

Tony Buti will take finance, lands, and sport and recreation.

Other ministers will largely retain their existing portfolios.

See below for a full list of ministers.

McGowan Government Cabinet

Parliamentary Secretaries