Deputy Premier Roger Cook has passed what is expected to be his final hurdle to becoming Premier.
Mr Cook met with members of Labor's right faction this morning, who agreed to endorse his bid for leadership.
He had been in a race for the job with Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson, before she pulled out yesterday afternoon.
Ms Sanderson had earned the support of one of the major unions behind the Labor Party, the United Workers Union.
But she backed down after Mr Cook secured the support of another key union – the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union – with Transport Minister Rita Saffioti as his deputy.
'He's the right person to lead'
Mr Cook met with right faction MPs for about an hour this morning.
Speaking on behalf of the faction after the meeting, Corrective Services Minister Bill Johnston said the group believed Mr Cook was the right man for the job.
"We think that he's got the experience, he's got the the talent, to be a great premier of this state to build on the legacy of Mark McGowan to represent all West Australians and unite the Labor Party to be an effective government in Western Australia," he said.
Mr Johnston said the group had not yet endorsed Ms Saffioti as deputy leader, but would ask to meet with her.
He also denied the MPs had supported Mr Cook in exchange for something like more spots in cabinet.
"Our support for Roger Cook is because he's the right person to lead Western Australia," Mr Johnston said.
Mr Cook will now turn his attention to any changes within his cabinet before they are sworn in by Governor Chris Dawson.
Another attendee at the meeting was former minister Peter Tinley.
As he arrived, Mr Tinley said Mr Cook and Ms Saffioti were an "excellent team".
He downplayed the idea of tensions within the party as a result of Ms Sanderson standing, and then backing down, yesterday describing it as an "important part of the democracy we have".
"And we don't resile from it. Obviously, in every political fight there's winners and losers, unfortunately," he said.
"Amber-Jade is an outstanding health minister and she'll go on to continue her service."
"I think what we've got now wth Roger Cook and Rita is a fantastic team that can bring people together and cause some great collaboration and allow us to actually find a consensus arrangement across all those sorts of issues."
Mr Cook said little as he arrived, only saying he was "looking forward to having some more great conversations".
Union influence under attack
But the opposition has already begun attacking the process which has seen Mr Cook emerge as likely premier.
"Apparently the unions have worked out who the next premier of Western Australia will be," housing spokesperson Steve Martin said.
"And it looks like it's Roger Cook, who the previous premier Mark McGowan wouldn't even trust to be the treasurer and removed from the health portfolio.
"I think we're in for a very rough ride under the new premier."
Mr Martin said he was waiting to see what deals may have been done, pointing out Mr Cook's own union – the United Workers Union – had chosen Ms Sanderson over him.
"The Labor Party is a great organisation, full of very passionate people with a lot of strong ideas," Mr Cook said this morning.
"That's what makes it a great political party, and obviously, one of the reasons why we make such a good government."
But Mr Martin suggested it could be a point of weakness for Mr Cook, given Mr McGowan was not aligned to any unions.
"I would think people in small business, regional Western Australia might be a little nervous about [whether] these left-leaning unions have cooked up a deal and put in place their guy," he said.
Housing crisis should be focus
As the attention turns back to the business of government, Mr Martin said the housing crisis was one area that would need to be prioritised.
"The premier and the housing minister have not made a dent in the social housing numbers despite being in power now for six years," he said.
"The rental market in Western Australia is very tough, people having a hard time finding a place to rent and we've seen builders facing all sorts of difficulties staying afloat and houses aren't being built on time."
Mr Martin said that while he thought there needed to be a stand-alone treasurer, he didn't spare Rita Saffioti, who's being touted for the job.
"Rita Saffioti clearly has a background in overspending," he said.
"The previous premier didn't trust any of the candidates Roger Cook, Rita Saffioti or Amber-Jade Sanderson with that job.
"He thought there was no-one in his vast array of Labor MPs that he could trust.
"And now one of them will be the new treasurer and one of them will be the new premier.
"It's going to be some very interesting times for Western Australia."
