Defence Minister Stephen Smith says he is not concerned that incoming Western Australian Labor leader Mark McGowan could battle the federal government on infrastructure funding from the mining tax.
Mr McGowan will officially take over the WA leadership on Monday, following Eric Ripper's resignation on Wednesday, after poor polling and a lack of support from the Labor caucus.
The leader-in-waiting said this week that he would not shy away from fighting to get the best deal for WA from the federal government, which he believed should be 60 per cent of the infrastructure fund.
But Mr Smith told reporters in Perth today that he was not concerned about Mr McGowan's comments.
"He's made it crystal clear that his obligation as the state parliamentary leader is to put the interests of Western Australia first. That is how it should be," he said.
"He's made the point that he wants to see Western Australia get what he would regard as an appropriate share of Commonwealth revenue and infrastructure. That's entirely appropriate."
Mr Smith said he had known Mr McGowan since his preselection and had worked closely with him when they were both working with education portfolios.
"He's got off, in my view, to a very good start," Mr Smith said.
"He will be a most effective leader of the opposition and he will present himself as a very attractive alternative premier."
Mr Smith also took the opportunity to praise Mr Ripper, who he has known since the 1970s, for his service to Labor and the community.
"Eric took on a very difficult job, which is becoming leader of the opposition after you've been in government for a relatively long period, some seven to eight years," he said.
Mr Smith said Mr Ripper was civilised and dignified in the manner he handled his demise.
"He put the party interests and the parliamentary party interests ahead of his own interests and stood aside," he said.
