MARK McGowan's wife Sarah has declared the family is ready for him to become Opposition leader and fight for the premiership.
Mr McGowan introduced his family to the media this morning, on his way to a meeting with Eric Ripper, who is due to hand over the rein early this afternoon.
It was a "big day", he said, but declined to comment further until after Mr Ripper had spoken publicly.
Mark McGowan is expected to take over the WA Labor Party leadership.
His "lovely wife" Sarah said the family was excited and prepared for what could be a hard and brutal road ahead.
"Mark has been minister previously so I think I know what to expect and he has a great balance of family and work," she said, admitting she was proud.
"I don't follow too closely, I don't read everything because sometimes it can be upsetting."
It had been a family decision for the 44-year-old to take up the helm.
Mr McGowan's oldest son Samuel, 8, is already certain his dad can become premier at the next election.
Six-year-old Alexander and Amelia, 2, who Mr McGowan said was the boss of the house, also posed for family photos.
Mr Ripper is expected to confirm that he will not contest the leadership, after realising 25 caucus members had backed Mr McGowan compared to 12 who supported himself, including the right faction.
It is understood he will return just three days into a two-week holiday just outside Perth to announce his decision by lunchtime.
A caucus meeting would then be held on Monday, when members will vote on whether to endorse Mr McGowan.
Neither Mr Ripper nor Mr McGowan would comment last night.
It is understood there will be no contention after wild card and rookie Member for Willagee Peter Tinley, who is from the right faction, made clear yesterday that he would not nominate.
The leadership question resurfaced last week following poor polling that had Mr Ripper 41 percentage points behind Colin Barnett as preferred premier.
His imminent decision to stand down follows a consistent flow of caucus members announcing they no longer support him, with Fran Logan the last to join the group yesterday.
WAtoday.com.au has been told discussions about whether to replace Mr Ripper had been ongoing for up to three weeks, despite Mr Ripper's comment on January 9 that none of his colleagues had raised the issue with him.
Deputy leader Roger Cook would not discuss timing but said discussions had been had over what qualities the party's leader required to win the next election, due on March 9, next year.
"I think Eric was monitoring the situation on pretty much an ongoing basis, forming a view as things developed," Mr Cook said.
"So he's now made that decision [to stand down] on the basis of the information that was made to him.
"Eric has conducted himself with great dignity in making the call that he should step down."
Several MPs who spoke to WAtoday.com.au last night, including some who were among the first to withdraw their support of Mr Ripper, said there was a sense of sorrow throughout the party at his departure.
"I don't think there will be a member of caucus that wouldn't be feeling sadness for Eric this evening," shadow transport spokesman Ken Travers said.
"He's had a bloody tough job and I think he's really done a great job.
"I don't think there's anyone getting pleasure out of what's happened."
Senior members of the party defended the drawn out process, describing comments by non-caucus members such as former Labor MP Alannah MacTiernan and former WA premier Peter Dowding that Mr Ripper needed to step down, as interference.
"I think everyone is of the view that we would have been better off without the contribution of Alannah or Peter Dowding," Mr Cook said.
"It's taken a little while but I don't think given the nature of the decision that had to be made it took an inordinate period of time."
Labor members said Mr Ripper retained great respect from his colleagues, who recognised his hard work since 2008.
However, he had failed to resonate with the public.
Mr McGowan was considered a proven parliamentary performer with experience in several ministerial portfolios, youth on his side (he is 44) and strong debating skills that would make a tougher opponent for the government.
Mr Travers said Mr McGowan, who lives in a lower socio-economic electorate and is the father of three young children, also understood better than probably anyone else in parliament the issue of the rising cost of living - which has been Labor's primary policy platform.
"The collective view is that Mark is the person that has the skills and work experience [needed to lead Labor to victory]," Mr Travers said.
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