Victoria Park MP Hannah Beazley to replace Bill Johnston in WA cabinet reshuffle

It took Hannah Beazley four attempts and eight years to follow her family's well-worn path into politics, but her rise through the ranks since has been far quicker, with the first-term MP on Thursday promoted to state cabinet. Despite Labor's internal workings effectively giving the cabinet seat to Ms Beazley after the right faction met on Monday afternoon, it had to be made official. Ms Beazley was notably absent from the premier's press conference, but Mr Cook said he knew she would "commit herself 110 per cent" and was looking forward to working with her. He said Mr Whitby's dual responsibility for climate action and energy would create both "a genuine tension and a great opportunity" as the state's electricity grid transitions to become more renewable. Last Thursday, Bill Johnston – who's currently responsible for Mines and Petroleum, Energy, Hydrogen Industry and Industrial Relations – announced he'd be leaving cabinet this week before quitting politics at the next election.