“Labor backbenchers are in uproar over the decision by Geoff Gallop to give a plum parliamentary secretary post to Albany MLA Peter Watson, in what is the first clear sign of internal party fallout from the Bob Kucera shares affair,” The West Australianreports this morning. “Backbenchers say Mr Watson’s appointment was foisted on them by the Premier who announced the decision in caucus on Tuesday without giving MPs the chance to nominate.”

And there’s been more on the Alinta row. Last night the WA Government used its numbers to defeat a censure motion against the premier and his deputy, Eric Ripper, for allegedly covering up the conflict of interest that lead to Kucera’s resignation.

The ABC reportsthat the opposition is continuing to demand the resignation of Planning Minister Alannah MacTiernan after revelations that her husband had shares in Alinta when Cabinet made a multi-million dollar decision involving the company.

MacTiernan says she should have made herself aware of her husband’s shareholdings, but her failure to do so is not serious enough to warrant her resignation.