Cabinet shuffle and splits loom

Veteran Liberal MP Norman Moore has emerged as a frontrunner to become WA's next Agent-General in London in a Cabinet reshuffle that could make Rob Johnson the Speaker after the next election.

Premier Colin Barnett is working on changes as he fends off a backbench revolt over the Liberal-Nationals Government's perceived failure to look after small business.

It is understood Mr Moore, the Minister for Mines, Petroleum and Fisheries, is in line to replace Kerry Sanderson in the plum job as WA's voice in Europe.

Mr Johnson, the Police and Fire and Emergency Services Minister, is understood to be aware his days in Cabinet are numbered and is negotiating to become Speaker if he retains his seat of Hillarys in 2013.

Former environment minister Donna Faragher is set to return to Cabinet almost a year after she resigned because of her pregnancy and became Mr Barnett's parliamentary secretary.

Last night, Mr Barnett also narrowly avoided an embarrassing defeat on legislation designed to protect franchisees being victimised by multinationals which own their brands.

Liberal MLA Peter Abetz, who defied his party to introduce the Franchising Bill 2010, came close to getting it through the Lower House when two Government-aligned MPs - independent Kalgoorlie MLA John Bowler and the Liberal member for Eyre, Graham Jacobs - voted with him and the Opposition.

The count was 24-all, forcing Nationals Speaker Grant Woodhams to us his casting vote to kill the Bill.

The Government opposed the move on advice from the Commerce Department that the laws would be ineffective.

Mr Abetz brought on the vote last night after deciding an alternative of targeting predatory franchisors with amendments to existing laws would take too long.

He will continue pushing for changes to stop practices such as the inclusion of buyback clauses in contracts, which can allow the franchisor to buy the franchise back at a fraction of its value and onsell the business at a substantial profit.