Roger Cook commits to full term as WA Premier as Labor eyes off political dynasty

Roger Cook says he will serve a full term as Premier if he wins the State election, as Labor eyes off a new political dynasty that could include a historic appointment to its post-election Cabinet.

With Labor seeming certain to win the March 8 State election, Mr Cook says he will also contest the 2029 poll as Premier — if elected in 97 days. Labor holds 53 of 59 seats in the Lower House, with the Liberal-National alliance needing to win an unlikely 24 seats to form government.

“I’m not taking anything for granted, and my focus is on continuing to do what’s right for WA ahead of next year’s election,” Mr Cook told The Sunday Times.

“If I do have the privilege of being re-elected as Premier in March, I’m in it for the long haul — including the full next term of government.”

The Sunday Times can reveal that Kimberley MP Divina D’Anna is firming as favourite to become Labor’s next Aboriginal affairs minister in what would be a historic political moment for WA.

Mr Cook’s vow to serve a full term as Premier, if elected in March, seemingly puts an end to the immediate premiership aspirations of Labor ministers and bitter rivals Rita Saffioti and Amber-Jade Sanderson, who are front runners to take over as ALP leader when Mr Cook retires.

Both Ms Saffioti and Ms Sanderson unsuccessfully sought the premiership when Mark McGowan sensationally quit politics last year.

Sources say Ms Saffioti and Ms Sanderson are likely to each be part of significant changes to Cabinet if, as expected, Labor wins the election.

Sources say Ms Sanderson is likely to shed health, with Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson her likely replacement.

“I serve at the pleasure of the Premier. I take whatever job I’m given,” Mr Dawson recently said when asked about a possible portfolio switch to health.

It is understood that Ms Sanderson is seeking a change after what’s been a tough three years in the job.

Ms Sanderson’s request for a change in portfolios would likely get a good hearing from Premier Cook, who in 2021 asked Mark McGowan if he could leave the position of health minister after a torrid period dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finance, held by the retiring Sue Ellery, could be part of Ms Sanderson’s new ministerial responsibilities, sources said.

Meanwhile, Ms Saffioti is said to be open to shedding her beloved Transport portfolio and take over David Templeman’s job as Sports Minister as well as holding on to Treasury and Tourism as part of a new look Cabinet.

But in a twist, sources say Ms Saffioti might still keep responsibility for outstanding Metronet projects.

Ms Saffioti is due to open the long-awaited Ellenbrook line next Sunday, but sources say she wants to also complete other Metronet projects — the Thornlie-Cockburn Link and the Byford rail extension.

“There is no way Rita will want anyone else cutting the ribbon on projects she started,” a source said.

Sources say Ms D’Anna is likely to take over the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio from minister Tony Buti, who also holds Education. Mr Buti would become the State’s new Attorney-General following Mr Quigley’s retirement from politics, and is likely to shed Education.

Ms D’Anna would be the first Indigenous woman to be a WA minister, and the first Indigenous woman to be Aboriginal affairs minister if she is elevated to a new Labor ministry.

Ben Wyatt was appointed Aboriginal affairs minister when Labor won government in 2017, retiring from politics in 2021 to work in the private sector.

Asked earlier this year by The Sunday Times, whether she would like to be a minister, Ms D’Anna replied: “If Premier Cook, who may be my favourite Premier, gives me that honour, of course.”

Sources said Mirabooka MLA Meredith Hammat, Upper House MP Samantha Rowe, Kingsley MP Jessica Stojkovski and Nedlands MP and soon-to-be Upper House candidate Katrina Stratton are leading contenders for ministerial jobs if they win their respective election contests.

Sources said tough-talking Paul Papalia was expected to hang on to Police and Corrective Services in the Cabinet reshuffle, with John Carey also expected to retain Housing.

The retirement of ministers John Quigley, David Templeman and Sue Ellery opens the door for at least three backbenchers to come into a new post-election Cabinet.