Amber-Jade Sanderson pledges fealty amid WA union fractures

Amber-Jade Sanderson had appeared to be in the box seat to replace Mark McGowan, before Roger Cook broke ranks with his own factional allies.

Amber-Jade Sanderson makes a statement to the media. Picture: AAP

Spurned as the likely new premier, West Australian Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson says she will not let the factional battles of this week escalate into an all-out war, pledging premier-in-waiting Roger Cook her “100 per cent support”.

Speaking to reporters for the first time since the extraordinary series of events that led to her at one point seeming to be Mark McGowan’s successor – only to have the rug pulled out after Mr Cook broke ranks with his own factional allies – Ms Sanderson insisted there were no hard feelings.

“I’ve been around for a long time and I’ve seen the damage that can be done from disunity, and I will not be party to that at all,” she said. “I will be a loyal and dedicated cabinet minister in this government.”

Ms Sanderson had long been seen as the heir apparent to Mr McGowan, but his earlier-than-expected retirement sparked concerns among some Labor MPs that she did not have the ministerial experience to make the leap.

She appeared to be in the box seat to become the next premier after winning the support of the highly influential United Workers Union, or Missos, at a meeting on Tuesday morning. Mr Cook, also backed by the Missos, did not withdraw from the race and instead won support from MPs aligned with the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and the Labor Party’s Right faction.

Asked if Mr Cook had betrayed the Missos by pushing ahead after Tuesday morning’s vote, Ms Sanderson said the question was “irrelevant”. “The fact that this was all resolved in just over 24 hours of the Premier resigning I think is testament to the fact that everyone is committed to maintaining unity and stability in this party,” she said.

With the leadership issue resolved, speculation is now turning to the cabinet reshuffle expected to follow Mr Cook’s formal swearing-in.

His deputy-in-waiting, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti, has long held an interest in the Treasury portfolio now held by Mr McGowan and is expected to step into that role.

Environment Minister Reece Whitby and Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson have been touted as potential replacements in the transport portfolio, responsible for delivering the government’s multi-billion-dollar Metronet rail project.

Backbencher David Michael, who hails from the party’s Right faction, is also tipped to be elevated into cabinet.

Mr Cook has stressed there will be continuity and stability under his leadership, indicating reshuffling will be kept to a minimum.

On Wednesday, Mr Cook said Ms Sanderson would remain in a senior ministerial role. On Thursday, Ms Sanderson said she would work in whatever role the new premier decided.

“I’m very committed to the health portfolio and very committed to the reforms that we’ve started in the health portfolio,” she said.

“But ultimately, the premier determines the portfolios and I will serve in whichever capacity he chooses.”

Ms Sanderson herself was elevated to health as a replacement for Mr Cook, whose time in the role had been marred by a series of issues across the health system including surging ambulance ramping, staffing shortages and surgery cancellations. He was also minister when seven-year-old Aishwarya Aswath died of sepsis after a protracted wait inside Perth Children’s Hospital.