Mark McGowan has expanded the number of members serving as parliamentary secretaries, possibly foreshadowing future ministerial appointments.
Mark McGowan has expanded the number of members serving as parliamentary secretaries, possibly foreshadowing future ministerial appointments.
Of the eight parliamentarians promoted, two are allied with the United Workers Union, two with the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union, two with the Construction Forestry Maritime Mining and Energy Union, and one is allied with the Maritime Union of Australia.
That means more than half of the promotions have gone to members allied with the party’s left faction, which has argued it has a right to greater representation in cabinet given the party’s landslide win at the state election on Saturday.
Consequently, Labor’s right faction is now down a member in cabinet because of the demotion of Peter Tinley and the appointment of Michelle Roberts as speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
Bill Johnston and Tony Buti are now the only remaining cabinet members allied with the party’s right faction.
With WA Labor likely to claim 52 or 53 seats once counting is completed, Mr McGowan has decided to have 10 members serve in the role of parliamentary secretary compared to just seven during his first term as premier.
Mr McGowan revived the role after his first election win in 2017, and the job is largely seen as proving ground for future ministers, with John Carey, Amber-Jade Sanderson and Reece Whitby all having served in the role before their recent promotions to the cabinet.
Alanna Clohesy also served as a parliamentary secretary before being made president of the Legislative Council earlier this month.
Chris Tallentire, a former director of the Conservation Council of WA allied with the left, has been dropped as a secretary, while Samantha Rowe, an executive of the Labor Business Roundtable allied with the Transport Workers Union, and Darren West, a former chair of the Wheatbelt Development Commission, will return as parliamentary secretaries during Mr McGowan’s second term as premier.
Joining them are Terry Healy, Jessica Shaw and Sabine Winton, who are allied with the United Workers Union.
Mr Healy was formerly a councillor for City of Gosnells, Ms Shaw served as chair of the economics and industry standing committee and Ms Winton served as acting speaker during Mr McGowan’s first term in office.
Jessica Stojkovski, who represents the electorate of Kingsley and sat on the joint standing committee on the commissioner for children and young people, and Yaz Mubarakai, who represents Jandakot and was a member of the economics and industry standing committee, were also made parliamentary secretaries.
Both are allied to the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union.
The remaining three promotions were for: Simon Millman, who is allied with the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union; Matthew Swinbourn, who was a lawyer for that same union; and Kyle McGinn, who is aligned to the Maritime Union of Australia.
Mr McGinn, who represents the Mining and Pastoral region and served as campaign manager for Ali Kent’s campaign in Kalgoorlie, is one of a small number of members allied with that union.
The union’s branch secretary, Christy Cain, has openly feuded with Mr McGowan during his first term, in part due to opposition towards the dominance of Labor’s left faction as well as the premier’s support for developing a new port in Kwinana.
Prior to last weekend's poll, however, Mr Cain nevertheless said he would be voting for Labor.
David Michael, meanwhile, was made cabinet secretary, after serving as a government whip during his first term in office.
He is allied with Labor’s right faction.
All members promoted to secretary positions were first elected in 2017.
Who are the parliamentary secretaries?
- Samantha Rowe – Right (Transport Workers Union of Australia)
- Darren West – Unaligned
- Terry Healy – Left (United Workers Union)
- Simon Millman – Right (Construction Forestry Maritime Mining and Energy Union)
- Yaz Mubarakai – Left (Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union)
- Jessica Shaw – Left (United Workers Union)
- Jessica Stojkovski – Left (Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union)
- Sabine Winton – Left (United Workers Union)
- Kyle McGinn – Right (Maritime Union of Australia)
- Matthew Swinbourn – Right (Construction Forestry Maritime Mining and Energy Union)
