Hames hints at staying if Barnett goes
Deputy Premier Kim Hames is at odds with Colin Barnett over the timing of his departure from the ministry, saying he would like to continue serving in the Cabinet right through to the next election in March 2017 if the Premier stands down a year out.
Mr Barnett reignited leadership discussions this week with a speech to the 500 Club in which he stated that all future leadership considerations - including his own position and that of the make-up of the Cabinet - should be settled a year out from the election to put the Government on a poll footing as it attempted to win a third term.
Mr Barnett wants ministers who plan to retire at the next election to stand down from Cabinet in March 2016.
Dr Hames has announced his intention to retire at the next election but did not guarantee yesterday that he would stand down in 2016.
He told Channel 7 he would "fairly certainly" retire as a minister in March 2016 if Mr Barnett decided to fight on, but if there were a change at the top, he would like to continue.
"If there's a new premier, and the current premier decides to stand down, then I will rely on whoever is the new premier to make that decision," Dr Hames said. "I have to say, I would like to stay there for that last year as a minister.
"So I will talk to whoever is the new (premier). I hope my experience has a lot to offer to a new, younger premier coming in."
Shadow treasurer Ben Wyatt said Dr Hames - and any other minister who was intending to step down in 2017 - should go to the backbench now.
"If ministers are going to retire, their minds aren't on the job," he said.
"I think the health portfolio hasn't been handled at all. It's managed between cocktail functions. It's time for him to stand down."
Mr Wyatt also took aim at Mr Barnett's comments that sections of the community were "grumpy" at the Government.
"To flippantly say to seniors you're grumpy over insignificant issues is insulting," he said.
Dr Hames said Mr Barnett's comment was a "throwaway line" and it was not meant to offend anyone.
"I think it was a recognition by him that people out there aren't 100 per cent happy with our Government," he said. "We've got to do a lot of work to make sure we win back the faith of the people of WA."
