"After nearly six years as a member of the Cabinet and at the request of the Premier, I have agreed to step down as a Minister in the McGowan Government.
"The Premier has indicated that his key motivation behind his request is the opportunity it will provide for Cabinet renewal - in particular, greater female representation within the Cabinet.
"While I will be personally disappointed to no longer be a Cabinet Minister, I have no complaints about the opportunity I have been given. There are 2.6 million people in WA and only 17 at any one time can be a Cabinet Minister. To have held that role for six years is an immense privilege.
"I would also welcome more women in Cabinet. I have always been a supporter of rules that required WA Labor to achieve 50 per cent female representation in the Parliament. I look forward to WA Labor reaching 50 per cent female representation in Cabinet.
"I am proud to have been a Minister in a successful Labor Government - one that led the State through the COVID-19 pandemic, delivering health and economic outcomes that are the envy of almost any jurisdiction in the world.
"At the same time, the McGowan Government has delivered key reforms in areas such as voluntary assisted dying, domestic violence law reform, electoral reform, and METRONET - with more on the way, including abortion reform and modernising the Equal Opportunity Act to provide protection against discrimination on all grounds.
"In my own portfolios of Water, Forestry, Fisheries, Science, Innovation & ICT, and Youth, I have been a consistent advocate for action on climate change, ending the privatisation of public services, protecting those in lower paid employment, and ending discrimination based on race, sexuality, and gender or gender identity - along with protecting our native forests and investing in WA's water security.
"While I will no longer be a Minister, I intend to continue to be active in the State Parliamentary Labor Party and the labour movement and will contest the seat of Bassendean at the next election.
"So far in my career, I have successfully led WA's largest union representing some of our lowest paid workers - many of whom starred during the pandemic. Along with other community members, I started the Bayswater Community Bank. I spent 17 years as a director as it grew to be WA's most successful Bendigo Community Bank.
"Now, I will complete almost six years as a Cabinet Minister. There will be much more to come.
"I wish the new Ministers, the Premier, and the rest of the Cabinet well as they face the challenges ahead - and continue to deliver for the people of Western Australia."
