McGowan unveils Labor 'cabinet for the times' with Cook as deputy, Wyatt named treasurer

Written on the 17 March 2017

Incoming West Australian premier Mark McGowan says he has picked a "cabinet for the times", handing heavy responsibility to some of his most trusted MPs in a 17-member ministry, following Labor's emphatic win in Saturday's election.

Ben Wyatt has been handed one of the heaviest workloads in the cabinet, taking on the treasurer's role as well as being made minister for finance, energy and aboriginal affairs.

Mr Wyatt, who is the nephew of federal Liberal MP Ken Wyatt, becomes Australia's first indigenous treasurer.

Deputy premier-elect Roger Cook takes both the health and mental health portfolios, while Alannah MacTiernan has been given responsibility for both agriculture and regional development.

The new ministers were announced as the ABC computer gave Labor the seat of Joondalup, giving it a total of 41 seats in the new parliament.

As expected, much of the ministry has been kept in the key roles they had in opposition, such as Sue Ellery (education), Michelle Roberts (police), John Quigley (Attorney-General), Dave Kelly (water), David Templeman (local government) and Rita Saffioti (transport and planning).

Mr McGowan and his new cabinet would be sworn in on Friday.

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Source: ABC News