Environment Minister Donna Faragher has resigned from cabinet ahead of the birth of her first baby, increasing speculation about the imminent return of disgraced former Treasurer Troy Buswell to the front bench.
Premier Colin Barnett praised Mrs Faragher, who was the youngest woman to be appointed to Cabinet in the state's history at 33.
"I am personally very proud of Mrs Faragher's work delivering conservation strategies for unique environmental areas of the State, most notably her work to establish the Kimberley Wilderness Parks and the Great Western Woodlands," he said.
He said he hoped that Mrs Faragher would return to cabinet in the not too distant future.
A teary Mrs Faragher told journalists that as a first time Mum to be she had taken the view that it was important for her family to establish a routine with her baby without the additional requirements that come with being a minister.
Mrs Faragher said, "This is not to say that I will not continue to work. I will continue to be a very hard working member of the East Metropolitan area."
She thanked her staff and the Premier for the opportunity to serve as a Minister.
"I hope that in the future I will again have another opportunity to serve the people of Western Australia as I've been able to do in the past two or three years."
Mrs Faragher said she was not pushed out of cabinet to make way for Mr Buswell.
Mr Barnett refused to be drawn on whether Mrs Faragher's departure paved the way for Mr Buswell's return.
"There are a lot of factors that will come into play. Part of that is the balance between the two houses of parliament. Part of that is the balance between male and female members of cabinet as well," he said.
When asked about a weekend opinion poll which suggested the general public do not support Mr Buswell being elevated to the front bench again Mr Barnett said front bench appointments were made on merit.
"I have always said that any changed to the cabinet will be made late in the year, by that I meant after parliament has risen," he said.
"I'm not going to speculate on cabinet, I've been saying for some time that that decision is two or three weeks away."
Mr Barnett said it would be a minimalist reshuffle.
John Day has been appointed as the Minister for Environment and Youth on an interim basis.
