Former Mail editor takes on role as Kirkup's new chief of staff

The award-winning political journalist has resigned from his post at WAtoday, and will now look to spur his new boss to the seat of Premier at the upcoming state election.

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"It's been a whirlwind week," Mr Hondros told the Mail on Wednesday.

"It's obviously a really different job to what I've been doing for the past few years, but I can see Zak has some really good ideas and really cares about making a difference.

"For me, I just thought this was a worthwhile opportunity to help someone who has a real energy and a real eagerness to do some good for the people of Dawesville, Mandurah and now Western Australia."

A former staffer with the WA Labor party, Mr Hondros' appointment to Mr Kirkup's team comes a decade after he was cleared of allegations he disclosed official information to former WA Premier Brian Burke and fellow lobbyist Julian Grill in 2006.

After departing the Labor party Mr Hondros took up the position as senior journalist at the Mandurah Mail, where he later carried out a brief stint as the paper's editor before moving to WAtoday.

Just 101 days lie between now and polling day, leaving plenty of work to be done for the new opposition leader.

But Mr Hondros was optimistic his new team would take the challenge in their stride.

"It's a lot like footy - you always wish there was a bit more time left in the fourth quarter," he said.

"But anyone who knows Zak knows he is as energetic and tireless as they come, and he will get more than 101 days worth of work done between now and then.

"This is a really good opportunity to put some of his great ideas forward and to work with the people of WA."