Newly re-elected Western Australian Premier Roger Cook has announced the portfolio allocations for his new Cabinet with dedicated ministers for each region to focus on local job opportunities, services and infrastructure.
Key leisure portfolios see Deputy Premier and Treasurer Rita Saffioti named Minister for Sport and Recreation; Paul Papalia named Minister for Racing and Gaming along with the Emergency Services, Corrective Services, Defence Industries and Veterans portfolios; Simone McGurk named Minister for Creative Industries and Minister for Heritage along with the Industrial Relations’ Aged Care and Seniors, and Womens portfolios; Reece Whitby named Minister for Tourism along with the Police, Road Safety and Great Southern portfolios and Matthew Swinbourn named Minister for the Environment along with Community Services and Homelessness portfolios.
Announcing the appointments, Premier Cook stated “we have a bold vision for the future our State - a future that is made in WA.
"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.”
Tourism Council welcomes new Tourism Minister
Tourism Council WA (TCWA) has welcomed Minister Whitby’s appointment as the new Tourism Minister.
TCWA Chief Executive Evan Hall said the Minister had a thorough understanding of the tourism industry through his previous role as Minister for Environment, having set up the new nature-based division in the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
Hall also welcomed Minister Swinbourn as the new Minister for Environment, and looked forward to enhancing nature-based tourism, which he said was the driving force for the tourism economy in Western Australia.
NSW Reshuffle
In NSW, Premier Chirs Minns has made changes to portfolios in his administration.
The key change has seen Steve Kamper sworn in as the Minister for Jobs and Tourism, in addition to his current responsibilities as the Minister for Lands and Property, the Minister for Multiculturalism and the Minister for Sport.
Minister Kamper replaces John Graham in the Jobs and Tourism role, with latter confirmed as permanently taking on the role of Minister for Transport in addition to his portfolios as Special Minister of State, Minister for the Arts and Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy.
Premier Minn also named Janelle Saffin as Minister for Recovery, Minister for Small Business, and Minister for the North Coast.
The NSW Tourism Association welcomed the changes, advising that it “looks forward to working” with Minister Kamper, while also expressing gratitude to Minister Graham “for his past support and dedication to the sector.”
Image: Rita Saffioti (left) is Western Australia's new Minister for Sport and Recreation, along with being Deputy Premier and Treasurer, while Reece Whitby has been named Western Australia's new Minister for Tourism along with holding the Police, Road Safety and Great Southern portfolios.
About the author
Nigel Benton
Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management
Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.
With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.
Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.
In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.
He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).
In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.
As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.
His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring a little pug named Stella.
Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.
Read more from this author
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