Roger Cook has unveiled sweeping changes to his cabinet - with every Minister either losing or gaining a portfolio. He's also thrown three new Ministers into the deep end, giving them the demanding roles of Health, Child Protection and the Environment.
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00:00Out with the old, and in with...
00:05A new government that will pursue every opportunity with energy and excitement.
00:11The Premier keen to make his mark with wholesale changes to the Cabinet.
00:15The purpose of these changes is to respond to the opportunities and the challenges that
00:19exist in modern day Western Australia.
00:22One of the biggest surprises, the appointment of first time Minister Meredith Hammett to
00:27the health portfolio.
00:29In breathtaking hypocrisy, it's extraordinary that Roger Cook, who campaigned on experience,
00:36has a new health minister who is still on their L-plates.
00:40We know that she's ready for this challenge and we know that we need to continue to bring
00:44a much more team-like approach to the health portfolio.
00:47The former health minister, Amber Jade Sanderson, will take an economic focus with the energy
00:52and decarbonisation portfolios.
00:55Premier Roger Cook picks up the newly created Economic Diversification portfolio.
01:01Ministerial newbies Matthew Swinborne and Jessica Stojkowski have landed the key posts
01:06of Environment and Child Protection and Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence.
01:11As for Labor's veterans, Rita Safioti keeps her key portfolios as Treasurer and Transport
01:16Minister.
01:17Paul Papalia loses Police, which goes to Rhys Whitby, who also gains Road Safety and Tourism.
01:24As part of the new cabinet, WA's regions will each have their own minister, despite
01:29many of them not living in those particular areas.
01:32It's something Roger Cook says has long been his ambition.
01:35It's important to have a senior government minister focused on a particular area, not
01:39just from the point of view of personal experience, but obviously making sure that they're working
01:44with their colleagues to ensure that that region gets the focus it needs.
01:47But the National's leader isn't convinced it'll improve the trust of regional voters
01:52who swung hard against Labor at the election.
01:55It's disappointing too that people unconnected to the regions have been allocated regions
02:01to look after.
02:02The Cook cabinet will be sworn in on Wednesday.