Updated ,first published
Member for Landsdale Daniel Pastorelli is understood to have been named as the state government’s new cabinet member, despite the relative newcomer only being elected to parliament less than 18 months ago.
The elevation of the former chief of staff to popular previous premier Mark McGowan marks a swift rise through the ranks for Pastorelli, who has also worked for current Labor leader Roger Cook and Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti.
The decision, made by the Labor caucus this afternoon, means Member for Kimberley Divina D’Anna is expected to accept the position of Cabinet secretary, previously held by Pastorelli.
Several senior Labor sources have confirmed to this masthead that Pastorelli is set to be endorsed to the role.
While the Premier is yet to announce new portfolios, a decision is expected to take place over the weekend following the resignation of former Member for Secret Harbour Paul Papalia.
Papalia held several ministerial roles, including emergency services, racing and gaming, veterans and defence industries.
However, one of the major questions for Cook will be who steps into the corrective services role, a position that has plagued the state government over recent years.
The portfolio had come under fire from the state opposition in recent months following a damning report highlighting a “systemic failure across multiple prisons” in WA.
The report, released last month by Inspector of Custodial Services Eamon Ryan, revealed deteriorating conditions at Hakea, Casuarina and Melaleuca prisons, and led to Ryan issuing a show cause notice.
Is a Tree-change on the cards for Secret Harbour?
Meanwhile, WA Labor hopes a long-time Warnbro local who has worked with the federal government and oil and gas giant Woodside will be the key to retaining Paul Papalia’s seat of Secret Harbour in a looming byelection.
Premier Roger Cook announced Georgia Tree – who has been part of the Labor Party since 2013, and spent time working in the office of federal Resources Minister Madeleine King – as the new candidate on Thursday morning.
Tree, who has also worked for Woodside as a government relations staffer, said she put her hand up for the seat because of her belief in Labor’s policies and how they had created opportunities for the community.
“I’m putting up my hand because Labor built the Mandurah line. I couldn’t have got to uni without it, and now Labor is capping transport fares at $2.80 no matter where you live,” she said.
“Labor built Medicare – my mom’s chemo would have bankrupted our family without it – and now Labor’s building a brand-new hospital in Mandurah.
“Dad’s apprenticeship helped him turn his life around, and now Labor’s made TAFE free. That’s what Labor governments can do.”
Tree gave a direct answer to a pointed question when asked if she was pro-gas, given her work history, simply replying: “Yes”.
While the admission may rankle some further on the left of politics, the battle for Secret Harbour is shaping as a contest between Labor, the Liberals and One Nation – and the latter have no qualms about admitting they are also “pro-gas”.
Tree said she had met Papalia before – in her politics class in year 11.
“Apart from the fact that she’s just made me feel really, really old, she’s a representative of everything that’s good about this seat,” Papalia told the press conference.
“I’m feeling old, but also grateful for having had the opportunity that I had, and I look forward to Georgia commencing a long and successful career in my place.
“The best of Western Australia is represented in this electorate.”
Cook said the community knew Tree would “fight for working West Australians every day”.
“We don’t take any seat for granted. We work hard, we fight hard for the trust of the people we represent,” he said.
“We know that this is going to be a tough fight. Every byelection is a tough fight, every election is a tough fight. We know the people of this community expect us to deliver.”
One Nation has previously made it clear Secret Harbour was a seat in its sights.
Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas has also acknowledged the threat of One Nation as his party chased victory in Secret Harbour, but added that the majority of the pressure sat with the premier.
“We expect that One Nation will play a significant part in this byelection, and that doesn’t change anything for us,” Zempilas said.
Papalia said he was looking forward to “equal levels of interrogation of candidates from other candidates when they step up to run for this election”.
“When you’re talking about other people who might be running in this byelection, remember that what they’ll be saying to you is how terrible everything is, and how Western Australia is a bad place, and you need to punish people in government or in authority as a result,” he said.
“We are the best place in the country, if not the world, and I just asked people to remember that when they’re considering their votes.”
Holly Thompson is a journalist with WAtoday, specialising in education and the environment.Connect via X or email.
