The departure from politics of one of WA's longest-serving parliamentarians, Labor stalwart and Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan, has guaranteed an impending reshuffle of the McGowan government's cabinet.
As Art and Sports Minister David Templeman told parliament during his annual lyrical address on the final sitting day of the year, the rumour mill is indeed running hot in state politics.
"Nothing causes a kerfuffle quite like rumours of a cabinet reshuffle," he sang.
Ms MacTiernan's portfolios of regional development, agriculture and food, and hydrogen industry will need to be filled.
It is also expected a number of portfolios will change hands, and speculation is running rife over which ministers could be dumped from cabinet altogether and who is in line for promotion.
For months the state opposition has been suggesting Attorney-General John Quigley faces the chopping block.
Mr Quigley's critics seized on his performance in March when he gave evidence during a defamation case brought by Queensland businessman Clive Palmer.
The state's chief law officer later apologised to parliament after he returned to the federal court in April to correct his evidence, a move that ultimately saw a Federal Court Judge label him as a "confused witness".
Quigley 'not worried' about future
Liberal and National MPs allege that in the time since the defamation hearing, Mr Quigley has been "ordered into hiding" by Premier Mark McGowan.
The attorney-general has by no means been unreachable, regularly speaking in parliament, providing media interviews and comments, and occasionally answering questions from reporters when approached outside parliament or at public appearances.
But unlike in years past, Mr Quigley has not been available to field questions at scheduled media conferences, the likes of which his cabinet colleagues hold almost weekly if not more regularly.
Yesterday afternoon, he held his first official press conference of that sort for the year as he announced his latest bill to ban gay conversion therapy.
Asked whether he had been avoiding the public eye, Mr Quigley dismissed the suggestion as "nonsense" and a "beat-up".
He said he had been busy working hard for the state, having introduced more than 70 bills into parliament since 2017.
"When I've got a big announcement to make I'll come out and make it, like I've made it today, here I am," he said.
"The opposition are pathetic, I don't listen to what the opposition have got to say. What questions do you want to ask me? Here I am, it's open season. Ask me a question."
That was met with a query about whether he intended to continue as the state's attorney-general next year.
"I intend to work hard prosecuting my law reform agenda, I don't worry about the next term of government," he said.
"I'm not going to comment on what the premier wants and all of that, that's nonsense.
"Why would I be out here today underneath the premier's office giving an open-season press conference if he had asked me to keep out of the public eye?"
Premier declines to 'speculate' on changes
Mr McGowan also denied the attorney-general had been asked to lay low.
"Not at all … he's actually introducing a bill as we speak," he said yesterday morning.
"I find that very hard to believe he hasn't done a press conference this year, very hard to believe. I'll go and have a look at that and we'll give you the figures."
The attorney-general and the premier's office are yet to provide those figures.
The premier would also not be drawn further on the upcoming reshuffle.
"Obviously, there is going to be a replacement for Minister MacTiernan, and that's something we'll resolve later this month," he said.
"Any further speculation I won't go into, because you'll ask me about one person, then another person, then another person, and then you'll play a game of whack-a-mole, and I'm not going to go into that."
Quigley not alone in opposition sights
Earlier this week, Opposition Leader Mia Davies was happy to provide speculation and suggestions for the premier's 2023 cabinet, with Mr Quigley among her wish list of ministers to go.
"After his shambolic performance in court with the Clive Palmer case, where he had to have a do-over, I think he really was done at that point," she said.
"You have to have confidence in your chief law officer, and quite clearly the attorney-general in Western Australia no longer enjoys that from the premier."
Ms Davies said Bill Johnston had also failed to manage his responsibilities in the portfolios of mines and petroleum, energy, corrective services, and industrial relations.
In recent weeks Mr Johnston's portfolios have been in the spotlight as issues persist with WA's power supply, youth detention, and public sector bargaining agreements.
Liberal leader David Honey echoed Ms Davies's criticism of Mr Johnston and took further aim at Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson and the attorney-general.
"The attorney-general is clearly in the exit lounge, I think he's clearly been told he's not going to be there," he said.
"We all hear that Tony Buti is going to step up to the mark, we all hear that he's got a spring in his step, so let's see what happens."
Buti diplomatic about any change
With that "spring in his step" or perhaps some 'PEP' in his step after unveiling his Protected Entertainment Precincts (PEP) legislation, some have been referring to Tony Buti as the attorney-general in waiting.
Dr Buti, who is currently the minister for finance, Aboriginal affairs, racing and gaming, citizenship and multicultural interests, remained diplomatic.
"I don't engage in that sort of commentary, but I will make a couple of points," he said.
"I'm loving the portfolios that I have. And John Quigley is the most reformist attorney-general that we've had in modern history."
Upper House MP Jackie Jarvis and Cabinet Secretary David Michael are among others rumoured to be in contention for promotion.
Minister for Water, Forestry, and Youth, Dave Kelly, is considered by some to be at risk of demotion.
The last cabinet reshuffle, revealed in December 2021, saw no ministers forced out, but the key health portfolio changed hands, going from Deputy Premier Roger Cook to Ms Sanderson.
