Updated
West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has unveiled his new Cabinet in a bid to reinvigorate his Government's push for a third term in office, with 11 portfolios changing hands and Mr Barnett himself letting go of the key State Development Ministry.
Kim Hames, Helen Morton and Ken Baston have all been dumped from Cabinet, with Donna Faragher, Andrea Mitchell and Sean L'Estrange all promoted to the Barnett Government's frontbench.
Just three years since being elected as the Member for Churchlands, Mr L'Estrange will take on the Mining and Petroleum and Small Business portfolios.
Andrea Mitchell will become Minister for Mental Health and Child Protection, replacing Helen Morton, for whom she served as parliamentary secretary for the past three years.
Former environment minister Donna Faragher will return to the frontbench, this time as Planning Minister.
Meanwhile political veteran John Day has been given the Health portfolio in place of Kim Hames, who plans to retire at the next state election.
Mr Barnett also revealed he was taking control of the Tourism portfolio, with State Development being handed to Bill Marmion.
The Premier said the Government's chances of re-election rested on his new ministerial team.
"That's up to the performance of ministers," he said.
"It is a resetting and I think it pretty clearly sets us towards the election in 12 months time ... we'll have the debate with the Labor Opposition. It's a two-horse race and it's going to be a pretty close race."
Mr Day had been Minister for Planning and Culture and the Arts since the Barnett Government was elected in 2008.
Dr Hames served as deputy premier and Health minister from 2008, and was replaced last month by Liza Harvey as Deputy Premier.
Meanwhile Ken Baston's portfolio of Agriculture has been shifted to Dean Nalder.
Mr Nalder will retain the Transport Ministry, after earlier speculation that he may have been stripped of the key portfolio.
The three Nationals ministers, Terry Redman (Lands), Mia Davies (Water, Sport) and Colin Holt (Racing and Gaming), have retained their existing portfolios.
Topics: state-parliament, states-and-territories, perth-6000, wa
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