Western Australia’s new-look Cabinet has placed a renewed focus on economic diversification and manufacturing, with two new portfolios led by senior government ministers to be created.
Amber-Jade Sanderson, the state’s former Minister for Health, has been appointed Minister for Manufacturing, a new role she takes alongside the portfolios of Energy and Decarbonisation and Skills and TAFE.
A separate Economic Diversification portfolio will be led by Premier Roger Cook, who picks up the new duties as he sets the government’s sights on a “future that is made in Western Australia”.
“The portfolios allocated to my new Cabinet align with that vision, and they align with further changes to the operation of government that we will announce in the weeks ahead,” he said on Tuesday.
“It is a vision that will deliver a strong, diversified economy by training highly skilled workers to make more things here, build more homes and provide the services every Western Australian should have access to…”
Ms Sanderson steps into the role of Minister for Manufacturing and Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation after more than three years as Minister for Health and Minister for Mental Health.
She was first elected to the state’s parliament in 2013, having spent a decade working at United Voice, the trade union that merged with the National Union of Workers in 2019 to create the United Workers Union.
Announcing her new role on Facebook on Tuesday, Ms Sanderson said it is a “huge opportunity to secure our Clean Energy Future, and secure jobs for today and tomorrow”.
First-time minster Meredith Hammat will assume Ms Sanderson’s health portfolio responsibilities. She was previously a parliamentary secretary to the Deputy Premier, Transport minister and Education minister.
As Minister for Economic Diversification, Mr Cook is expected to work side-by-side with Ms Sanderson to boost economic complexity and continue the shift to clean energy.
Mr Cook, who also takes the role as Minister for State Development, Trade and Investment, said that establishing the state as a “renewable energy powerhouse” was a key “priority” to make the economy more resilient.
The pair are joined in the new Cabinet by more than a dozen other ministers, including Stephen Dawson, who will continue as Minister for Science and Innovation and Minister for Medical Research.
Mr Dawson will, however, no longer serve as assistant minister in the State and Industry Development portfolio, which has been dropped by Mr Cook in favour of the new Economic Diversification portfolio.
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