Where real power lies

ANALYSIS: It is accepted wisdom that Mark McGowan dominates the state government like few premiers before him.

With two thumping election wins under his belt and continued high ratings in opinion polls, the premier wields enormous influence.

But running a successful state government is never a one-man show – Colin Barnett tried that approach and it didn’t end well.

Around the premier is a small group of ministers and backroom advisers that drive the government’s strategy and policy agenda.

The key ministers are led by experienced campaigners Rita Saffioti and Sue Ellery and two rising stars, Amber-Jade Sanderson and John Carey.

Deputy premier Roger Cook and mines minister Bill Johnston are also key players, though they are on different trajectories, as discussed below.

Behind the scenes, there is a trio of advisers in the premier’s office who wield more influence than most ministers.

Under treasurer Michael Barnes is another key adviser with the ear of the premier.

Business News has refined this list as part of our regular update to our listing of WA’s 50 Most Influential in government and business (see below).

We have consulted a wide group of political operatives, business executives and lobbyists to get a clear picture of where influence lies within the government.

It starts with the premier, whose inherently cautious, and in many ways conservative approach, sets the tone for his government.

That is reflected in the focus on fiscal repair and the resistance to pay increases for public servants, nurses and police officers.

It is also reflected in his hardline stance on youth justice issues.

Like former Liberal prime minister John Howard, the premier is very adept at reading the mood of middle Australia, even if that antagonises Labor’s traditional support base.

Transport minister Rita Saffioti has worked closely with Mr McGowan for more than a decade.

She has had a big role in shaping Labor’s policy agenda, most notably its focus on Metronet but more generally its fiscal strategy, drawing on her experience as a senior economic adviser to former Labor premiers Geoff Gallop and Alan Carpenter.

If and when the premier decides to relinquish the powerful treasury portfolio, she is the logical replacement.

Sue Ellery is in the twilight of her ministerial career but that does nothing to diminish her standing as one of the premier’s closest and most trusted advisers.

Ironically, her influence was evident in this week’s reshuffle.

She wanted a change from the education portfolio and got her wish, being given finance, commerce and women’s interests for two years before her planned retirement at the next election in 2025.

Amber-Jade Sanderson is generally seen as Labor’s next leader and her performance in the very demanding health portfolio has strengthened that perception.

John Carey is another minister on the rise.

Of the cohort that came into the ministry after the 2021 election, he and Ms Sanderson have made the biggest impact.

The premier’s decision to give him the homelessness portfolio – in addition to housing, local government and lands – shows he is held in high regard.

Like health, it’s a portfolio that delivers few easy wins but needs to be carefully managed by a capable minister.

As deputy premier and a senior, experienced minister, Roger Cook remains a key figure in the government but his star has dimmed.

He was given a clutch of industry portfolios last year after losing the health ministry but is yet to make his mark.

Dubbed by some as ‘runway Roger’, his focus seems to be on overseas trade visits and tourism promotions rather than state development.

After the tough grind of being health minister during COVID, its understandable he might be enjoying a slower pace at work.

Mr Cook was given the hydrogen industry portfolio in this week’s reshuffle, giving him a platform to have more impact - if he harnesses the same enthusiasm his predecessor Alannah MacTiernan had for the portfolio.

Bill Johnston has had a tough run in the media in recent weeks yet he remains one of the most experienced and capable ministers in the government.

He is not considered close to the premier but is very well regarded in the mining and energy sector for his deep knowledge and willingness to engage constructively.

Corrective services has been a more difficult portfolio but its worth noting that Mr Johnston’s tough stance on juvenile detention is in lock-step with the premier’s own views.  

The backroom people are led by a trio of long-serving Labor advisers – chief of staff Daniel Pastorelli, special adviser Kieran Murphy and policy director Dave Coggin.

Mr Pastorelli first worked for Mr McGowan more than 15 years ago during the Carpenter government, when Mr McGowan was education minister.

He later had a stint with Ms Saffioti, when she was shadow planning minister, before rejoining Mr McGowan in 2013.

Mr Pastorelli held various senior roles including director of communications, prior to being promoted to chief of staff in March 2021, cementing his status as the premier’s number one adviser.

His promotion to chief of staff was one of several big changes in the premier’s office after the 2021 election.

Former chief of staff Guy Houston joined Kerry Stokes’ private company Australian Capital Equity and deputy chief of staff Jo Gaines became a consultant and professional director.

Ms Gaines was replaced by Veronica Jeffery – like others in the premier’s office, she has a long Labor pedigree, having worked for former minister Sheila McHale in the Carpenter government and for Rita Saffioti.

Ms Jeffery is an important player but many observers say Messrs Coggin and Murphy have greater sway over policy and strategy.

They worked together in senior advisory roles for former Labor premier Alan Carpenter, with Mr Murphy also working for former Labor premier Geoff Gallop.

Its their career choices when Labor was in opposition that are more revealing.

Rather than work for a union or a Labor-aligned community group, Mr Murphy worked for the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association.

Similarly, Mr Coggin joined mining company First Quantum Minerals though he also had a stint in the bureaucracy as deputy director general at the department of state development.

He joined the premier soon after Labor was elected in 2017, giving up his role as deputy mayor at City of Fremantle to do so.

Mr Coggin was promoted to policy director early last year, meaning all key policy decisions go through him.

“If you want something to happen on the policy front, Dave is the person you need to sway,” is a common remark from people who work with the government.

A notable recent example of his work was the Resources Community Investment Initiative.

Mr Coggin led the development of this initiative, through which major resources companies have agreed to contribute $750 million to infrastructure projects across the state.

As well as working closely with industry, Mr Coggin understands the inner workings of the bureaucracy and how to get things done.

Mr Murphy’s role is harder to pin down.

As special adviser to the premier, he has a wide brief, often focusing internally on contentious issues as well as developing strategy.

Another key adviser is Under Treasurer Michael Barnes, widely considered the most influential public servant in the state.

The premier established a good working relationship with Mr Barnes even when Ben Wyatt was treasurer and their relationship has grown stronger over the past two years.

It is helped by the premier’s focus on fiscal repair aligning with the Department of Treasury’s preferred world view.

To see our updated listing of WA’s 50 Most Influential, click on the graphic below.

Our annual Most Influential feature will be published in March, where we will write at length about the notable movers, such as recently appointed Tattarang chief executive John Hartmann, Hesperia co-founder Ben Lisle and UnionsWA boss Owen Whittle.

That will be followed mid-year by our second annual Power 500 publication.