WA and health in spotlight for Labor team

Federal Labor is expanding its parliamentary executive to focus on Western Australia and the "GP tax" in the lead up to the new WA Senate election.

Former state MP and now federal Member for Perth Alannah MacTiernan will be Labor's spokeswoman on Western Australia and regional development and infrastructure.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says she will ensure WA has a strong voice within the federal Labor party and fight the coalition on health, education and jobs.

Member for Throsby Stephen Jones becomes a new junior spokesman on health, assisting Catherine King.

He will focus on the proposal put to the commission of audit for $6 co-payments on GP visits, cuts to public health bodies and Assistant Health Minister Fiona Nash's decision to pull down a healthy food rating website.

Ms MacTiernan said her elevation was "a great opportunity to plug away for WA".

"I want to call out policies that are eastern states-centric and develop a positive WA agenda," she wrote on Facebook.

"I will be in there fighting for the rail investment needed for our cities to continue to be productive and liveable and for the smart infrastructure development."