The former SAS soldier was previously the shadow minister for Asian Engagement, Trade, Lands and Science.

He was elected as a member of the Order of Australia in 2003 for his 24 years of service to the Australian Army.

Tinley was elected as the Member for Willagee in 2009 and joined the shadow cabinet in 2012.

The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies CEO Simon Bennison congratulated Tinley and said AMEC was looking forward to working with him.

“The Minister must urgently repeal Mining Regulation 28A, a discriminatory regulation that provides the state with a mechanism to charge a ‘rental’ of A25c per tonne of iron ore obtained from a mining lease after 15 years of operation,” he said.

“The Minister must reinvigorate the reform of environmental regulation and clarify WA Labor’s policy approach to approved uranium projects in WA to provide certainty to the sector’s investors.

“The new Cabinet has a full agenda ahead of them to reduce the cost of doing business in Western Australia and lift investment and promote growth in mineral exploration to discover the mines of tomorrow.”
 
 As well as Mines and Petroleum, Tinley will also take care of the Veterans Affairs and Youth portfolios.

It was widely expected that shadow mines spokesman Bill Johnston would get the Mines and Petroleum portfolio, but he instead got Asian Engagement, Housing, Electoral Affairs, Commerce and Industrial Relations.

Premier Mark McGowan’s government will be sworn in tomorrow.