WA parliament chooses new Speaker MICHAEL Sutherland has been nominated as the new Speaker of the West Australian parliament - but only after veteran Liberal MP Rob Johnson surprisingly nominated himself. Mr Johnson, who is still unhappy about being dumped as police minister by premier Colin Barnett during the last term of government, had wanted to be nominated by the government as Speaker and had said so publicly. But he was snubbed by Mr Barnett, who instead put forward Mr Sutherland, who had been deputy speaker of the Legislative Assembly since 2008. In a slice of political theatre on the first parliamentary day since the March 9 poll, Mr Johnson put himself forward and was seconded by MP Mick Murray, who scraped back into his seat in Collie-Preston by 56 votes. After a ballot of members, Mr Sutherland won 33 votes to 26 - which meant at least four Liberal or National members voted against party lines and the Premier's chosen candidate. I am honoured to be elected, and that members have placed their faith in me. I ask for the cooperation of all members over this term of parliament," Mr Sutherland said. After being removed from cabinet, Mr Johnson had been openly critical of the premier, and now seems set to be a thorn in his side after defying the Liberal leader on the first day of the new parliamentary season. A truncated question time is due to be held later today as WA MPs get back to work following the Liberal/National triumph at the polls.