McGowan retains treasury in new WA cabinet

Western Australia's troubled youth justice system will remain under the same minister in Premier Mark McGowan's reshuffled cabinet.

The premier has backed Bill Johnston to retain the corrective services portfolio as well as energy, mines and petroleum and industrial relations.

It comes after footage emerged of children being forcibly restrained at the Banksia Hill detention centre, which is the subject of a class action recently filed in the Federal Court by current and former detainees.

Simone McGurk has been stripped of her child protection posting and handed responsibility for training, water and youth.

Ms McGurk was sued for defamation earlier this year by prominent psychologist Tracy Westerman, resulting in a settlement. She also faced calls to resign over a police raid against a communities staff member.

The premier on Wednesday insisted it was not a demotion but declined to say whether Ms McGurk had requested the change.

"Training and water are major economic portfolios. The training portfolio drives most of the industry across the state," he told reporters.

"Simone has done an excellent job in difficult portfolios over the course of the last six years.

"One of the criticisms that's often levelled is that women don't get economic portfolios. I wanted to make sure that Simone got the opportunity."

Newly appointed minister Sabine Winton has been loaded up with child protection, community services and prevention of family and domestic violence, in addition to the newly created early childhood education portfolio.

First-term MP Jackie Jarvis takes on agriculture and food, forestry and small business.

The government's upper house leader Sue Ellery will handle finance after passing on her education portfolio to Tony Buti.

Mr Johnston retains one of the biggest workloads in the cabinet despite backlash from community leaders over his handling of youth detention issues.

"Bill's pretty tough and prepared to do difficult things," Mr McGowan said.

"In the portfolios he has, corrections, energy and the like, you've got to have someone who is like that."

The new additions mean there are now six women in cabinet and 11 men.

Mr McGowan, whose personal authority within the party is at an all-time high after Labor claimed a whopping 53 of 59 lower house seats in the 2021 election, said he intended to remain treasurer well into the future.

"The attacks on the GST share for Western Australia by the other states and territories are real," he said.

"It's very important that someone is not just at the treasurers' meeting but also at the national cabinet meeting.

"I can keep an eye on the other treasurers, I can keep an eye on the other premiers, I can make sure our position is fully expressed in those environments."

Ms Ellery has said she will retire at the 2025 election, while intrigue surrounds whether veteran Attorney-General John Quigley will follow suit.