Premier Colin Barnett is resisting calls for Mr Nalder to be sacked after a government report found on Thursday he repeatedly breached the ministerial code of conduct by mixing his public duties with his extensive business interests.

The damning report found that two of Mr Nalder’s key ministerial staffers, acting chief of staff Richard Newton and senior policy adviser Sarah Boska, should divest their interest in Metier Asia, in which they invested with Mr Nalder.

A spokeswoman for Mr Nalder said yesterday Ms Boska had “chosen to seek opportunities elsewhere” and had ceased employment in the minister’s office.

She said Mr Newton was no longer serving as chief of staff but remained in the office as a policy adviser. He has been replaced in the role by a senior public servant.

Labor’s spokeswoman for government accountability, Rita Saffioti, said: “It’s beyond belief that these two staff members have been asked to go and the minister has kept his job.”

The damning report by Department of Premier and Cabinet head Peter Conran found Mr Nalder’s numerous shareholdings and business links — which he had failed to fully declare after becoming a minister in March — had created several conflicts of interest.

Mr Nalder was this week stripped of the finance portfolio but retained transport.