Mining Minister Norman Moore has turned down the opportunity to become WA's next Agent-General in London, a likely disruption to Premier Colin Barnett's plans to bring new blood into the cabinet well ahead of the next state election.
Mr Moore is understood to have made a brief statement this afternoon that he planned remain as a minister and intended to retain his key portfolios. He is currently WA's Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Fisheries; Electoral Affairs
The 64-year-old Liberal member of Legislative Assembly who is leader in the upper house has served in parliament since the mid 1970s.
The current agent-general in London, former Fremantle Ports chief executive Kerry Sanderson finishes her term at the end of the year.