Daniel Pastorelli is an Australian politician who has been the member for Landsdale in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for the Labor Party since the March 2025 state election. Prior to that, he worked as a political advisor for state MPs Mark McGowan, Rita Saffioti, and Roger Cook, including as the chief of staff to McGowan and Cook during their times as the premier of Western Australia.

Early life

Pastorelli was born around 1987 to a family of Italian descent.[1]

Career

Pastorelli first worked in politics for Labor state MP and Education Minister Mark McGowan during the Carpenter government in the mid-2000s. Following Labor's 2008 state election loss, Pastorelli worked for Rita Saffioti. After McGowan became Opposition Leader in 2012, Pastorelli worked as one of McGowan's lead media advisors, and following Labor's victory in the 2017 state election and McGowan's ascension to the role of premier, Pastorelli became his director of communications. In 2021, Pastorelli was promoted to McGowan's chief of staff, and after McGowan's resignation in 2023 and replacement with Roger Cook, Pastorelli became Cook's chief of staff.[2]

Previously factionally unaligned, Pastorelli joined Labor's Right faction in early 2024. WA Labor president Lorna Clarke was speculated as the most likely candidate to replace Landsdale MP Margaret Quirk, who was expected to retire, until Pastorelli joined the Right faction, the same faction as Quirk and Clarke, which in addition to him living with the electoral district and being close to Cook and Deputy Premier Saffioti, made him Quirk's most likely replacement.[2] In April 2024, Quirk announced that she would not contest the 2025 state election.[3][4] Later that month, Pastorelli was preselected to be the Labor Party's candidate for Landsdale.[5][6]

From the end of January 2025, Pastorelli took extended leave from his job as chief of staff to campaign for Landsdale.[7][8] Liberal candidate for Churchlands and Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas demanded that Pastorelli's leave forms be made public, which Cook declined, instead showing them to the media.[9][10] During the election campaign, one of Pastorelli's posts on Twitter in 2011 resurfaced, in which he said "Who the f... is this old hag on sunrise throwing dirt on our PM!??". When asked about the post, Pastorelli apologised.[11] Pastorelli was elected with a majority on first preferences, beating City of Wanneroo councillor and Liberal candidate Marizane Moore.[12]

Personal life

Pastorelli is married and has one son.[2]

References

  1. ^ Spagnolo, Joe (19 January 2025). "The Sunday Interview: Landsdale Labor candidate Daniel Pastorelli on a potential switch from staffer to MP". The West Australian. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Zimmerman, Josh (3 February 2024). "Daniel Pastorelli, chief of staff to both Premier Cook and McGowan, joins WA Labor's Right faction". The West Australian. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  3. ^ Zimmerman, Josh (2 April 2024). "Landsdale MP Margaret Quirk confirms retirement at 2025 election, opening door to Daniel Pastorelli". The West Australian. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  4. ^ Brookes, Sarah (3 April 2024). "Labor stalwart's retirement opens door for WA Premier's right-hand man to enter politics". WAtoday. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  5. ^ Zimmerman, Josh; Caporn, Dylan (8 April 2024). "2025 Labor preselections: Roger Cook's chief of staff Daniel Pastorelli locked in to contest Landsdale". The West Australian. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  6. ^ McGinn, Jack (15 April 2024). "Pastorelli among WA Labor endorsements". Business News. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  7. ^ Page, Jessica (21 January 2025). "Roger Cook's chief of staff Daniel Pastorelli to take extended leave to campaign as candidate for Landsdale". The West Australian. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  8. ^ Page, Jessica (30 January 2025). "Premier Roger Cook's chief of staff Daniel Pastorelli hits campaign trail full-time". The West Australian. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  9. ^ Hastie, Hamish (23 January 2025). "Zempilas takes aim at Cook's chief of staff as election campaign fires up". WAtoday. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  10. ^ "Basil Zempilas targets Premier Cook's chief of staff as WA election campaign heats up". The Greek Herald. 27 January 2025. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  11. ^ Page, Jessica (4 March 2025). "WA election: Labor candidate Daniel Pastorelli the latest to face social media check". The West Australian. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  12. ^ Sadler, Claire (8 March 2025). "WA State election 2025: McGowan, Cook's right-hand man Daniel Pastorelli wins Landsdale". The West Australian. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
Allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Pastorelli
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