One of the leading contenders to become Western Australia's new Premier, attorney general Jim McGinty, says he hopes the state's Labor party will ensure a bloodless succession.
As the state continued to absorb Monday's shock resignation by former Premier Geoff Gallop, to battle depression, the main candidates were on Tuesday gauging potential support from parliamentary colleagues.
Mr McGinty, state development minister Alan Carpenter, acting Premier and treasurer Eric Ripper, and police minister Michelle Roberts are the most likely contenders.
A decision on the next premier seems likely to be brought forward from a scheduled caucus meeting of February 2.
Mr McGinty, who stepped down as opposition leader in 1996 to allow Dr Gallop to take over, said he hoped the process would be done by consensus and not internal conflict.
"I sincerely hope this will be a very genteel exercise with people honestly sitting down and analysing who would do the job best," Mr McGinty said.
"Yes (I have received calls of support), and I am sure each of the potential candidates have received those calls.
"It becomes a matter of mature judgment to decide ... who would make the best candidate, and who would make the best Premier of the state.
"I would very happily throw my weight behind either Michelle Roberts or Alan Carpenter if the consensus is they would make the best Premier."
Mr McGinty said he expected party consensus would be reached by the end of the week, with a decision taken by caucus next week.
But tellingly, he said if a consensus on a new premier could not be reached within ALP walls, he was unlikely to stand in a ballot.
"I think we should have a consensus here, and if the consensus is that a particular person should be supported for premier then I'll certainly be throwing my weight behind them," he said.
"We all owe it to each other to talk about who has got the best credentials to be the premier of this state in the interests of all of the people."
Mr Ripper, who is considered an outsider at best, refused to speculate on potential successors on Tuesday, instead concentrating on running the state.
He and Ms Roberts toured areas around the state stricken by floods in the wake of Cyclone Clare before the acting premier declared such areas a natural disaster zone, allowing access to aid monies for local residents.
Avoiding questions on whether to throw his hat into the ring, Mr Ripper admitted finding a replacement for Dr Gallop would be hard.
"Geoff Gallop has been an exceptional leader so it will be difficult to find someone who will do it exactly as Geoff Gallop has done it," WA's treasurer told ABC radio.
"I don't think we can find someone just like Dr Gallop, every leader is unique in the way in which they carry out their task."
Meanwhile, acting Prime Minister Mark Vaile said he admired Dr Gallop for his decision to go public with his illness.
"That's a big call for a public individual to say that I'm suffering from this and I need to go and be treated. I think we should respect and recognise Geoff Gallop for that," Mr Vaile told Macquarie radio.
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