LANDSDALE MLA Daniel Pastorelli has been given the Mines, Petroleum and Exploration portfolio along with Water following a Cook Government re-shuffle today.
Mr Pastorelli was elected to the seat of Landsdale in March 2025 following the retirement of Margaret Quirk.
The electorate takes in the suburbs of Darch, Gnangara, Hocking, Jandabup, Landsdale, Madeley, Marangaroo, Pearsall, Wangara and Wanneroo in the City of Wanneroo.
Premier Roger Cook announced new portfolio allocations today following the Mr Pastorelli’s promotion to Cabinet due to the resignation of Secret Harbour MLA Paul Papalia earlier in the week.
After Mark McGowan became premier at the March 2017 election Mr Pastorelli worked in his office – prior to that he had worked in Rita Saffioti’s office in the electorate of West Swan.
When Mr McGowan retired in May 2023 Mr Pastorelli stayed in the premier’s office working for the new Premier Roger Cook.
Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna replaces Mr Pastorelli as Cabinet Secretary.
As part of the new Cabinet arrangements Mr Cook has taken responsibility for Defence Industries.
Mr Cook said this was to lead the development of Western Australia as the biggest naval maintenance and ship building hub in the southern hemisphere.
Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson will support the premier in the portfolio as assistant minister with deputy premier Rita Saffiofi incorporating the development of new common user infrastructure to support the defence industry in an expanded Transport and Major Infrastructure portfolio.
Minister John Carey will become assistant minister for Transport and Major Infrastructure.
Mr Cook said as well as Defence Industries he would also take on a new Tourism, Trade and Investment portfolio to promote WA as the best place to work, do business and visit on the international stage.
State Development, which was previously the premier’s responsibility, will be picked up by Leader of the House David Michael, who loses the Mines and Petroleum portfolio while keeping Finance, Electoral Affairs and Goldfields-Esperance.
Attorney General Tony Buti has been appointed Corrective Services Minister, with Reece Whitby taking on responsibility for Emergency Services.
Minister Jessica Stojkovski will add responsibility for Road Safety and Multicultural Interests to her Child Protection, Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence and Peel portfolios.
Health and Mental Health Minister Meredith Hammat will take on the additional portfolio of Preventative Health, leading the key targets of immunisations across the state.
Minister Don Punch will become Racing and Gaming Minister, while Minister Matthew Swinbourn will add Climate Resilience to his responsibilities.
Mr Cook said the portfolios announced today delivered a strong economic team that would ensure they could seize the many opportunities available and withstand current and future global challenges.
“My WA Labor Government is laser focused on the delivery of our priorities in jobs, health and housing,’’ he said.
“Underscoring those priorities is diversifying the WA economy so that it remains the strongest in the nation, and the best place in the world to get a quality job.
“In times like these, we need steady and experienced leadership and my government is the safe pair of hands who will always put WA first.’’
