Image
Camera IconImage Credit: Supplied/Supplied

WA Election: Margaret Quirk “dissapointed” at cabinet exclusion

Mark DonaldsonWanneroo Times

GIRRAWHEEN MLA Margaret Quirk has admitted her disappointment at not being named in the State Government ministry today.

Ms Quirk was one of the most experienced members of Labor’s front bench having held ministerial and opposition spokeswoman positions for the past 11-and-a-half years.

Most recently, she was spokeswoman for emergency services; bushfire preparedness; citizenship and multicultural interests; and seniors and ageing.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

She was a minister in the Geoff Gallop and Alan Carpenter Labor Governments.

“I was disappointed, but Mark’s got an incredible mandate and I think he’s earned the right to have a captain’s pick or two,” she said.

“So that leaves me more time to focus on my electorate.”

Ms Quirk was not aware of the reason she was excluded from Labor’s cabinet, saying we would have to ask Mr McGowan.

Earlier today, she tweeted “good luck” to her front bench-bound colleagues.

She was “very pleased” with her election result on Saturday, particularly given she had some niggling doubts.

“With all this talk about fresh approach, I was hoping they weren’t going to take a fresh approach with me,” she said.

Ms Quirk has been the Member for Girrawheen for 16 years.

With 82 per cent of votes counted, she has increased her hold on the seat by 14 per cent.

She previously held a tight 2.8 per cent margin.