Government of Western Australia
The Government of Western Australia, formally referred to as His Majesty's Government of Western Australia, is the Australian state democratic administrative authority of Western Australia. It is also commonly referred to as the WA Government or the Western Australian Government. The Government of Western Australia, a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, was formed in 1890 as prescribed in its Constitution, as amended from time to time. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, Western Australia has been a state of the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Constitution of Australia regulates its relationship with the Commonwealth. Under the Australian Constitution, Western Australia ceded legislative and judicial supremacy to the Commonwealth, but retained powers in all matters not in conflict with the Commonwealth.
State Government | |
Formation |
|
---|---|
Founding document | Constitution of Western Australia |
State | Western Australia |
Country | Australia |
Website | wa |
Crown | |
Head of state (sovereign) | Charles III |
Vice-regal representative | Governor Chris Dawson |
Seat | Government House |
Legislative branch | |
Legislature | Parliament of Western Australia |
Meeting place | Parliament House |
Executive branch | |
Head of Government | Premier Roger Cook |
Main body | Western Australian Ministry |
Appointed by | Governor on behalf of the King of Australia in right of the State of Western Australia. |
Headquarters | Dumas House |
Main organ | Executive Council |
Departments | 18 departments |
Judicial branch | |
Court | Supreme Court |
Seat | Supreme Court building, Perth |
History
Executive and judicial powers
Western Australia is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system, a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom. Legislative power rests with the Parliament of Western Australia, which consists of Charles III, King of Australia, represented by the Governor of Western Australia, and the two Houses, the Western Australian Legislative Council (the upper house) and the Western Australian Legislative Assembly (the lower house). Executive power rests formally with the Executive Council, which consists of all ministers and is presided over by the governor.[1]
The Governor, as representative of the Crown, is the formal repository of power, which is exercised by him or her on the advice of the Premier of Western Australia and the Cabinet. The Premier and Ministers are appointed by the Governor, and hold office by virtue of their ability to command the support of a majority of members of the Legislative Assembly. Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of Western Australia and a system of subordinate courts, but the High Court of Australia and other federal courts have overriding jurisdiction on matters which fall under the ambit of the Australian Constitution.
Ministries
As of 1 June 2021, the following individuals serve as government ministers, at the pleasure of the King, represented by the Governor of Western Australia. The government cabinet and ministers are listed in order of seniority,[2] while their opposition counterparts are listed to correspond with the government ministers.[3] All ministers and shadow ministers are members of the Parliament of Western Australia.
Minister | Office | Portrait | Party | Opposition counterpart |
Office | Portrait | Party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mark McGowan MLA | Premier Minister for Public Sector Management Minister for Federal-State Relations |
Labor | Mia Davies MLA | Leader of the Opposition Shadow Minister for Public Sector Management Shadow Minister for Federal-State Relations |
National | ||||
Treasurer | Steve Thomas MLC | Shadow Treasurer | Liberal | ||||||
Roger Cook MLA | Deputy Premier | Labor | Shane Love MLA | Deputy Leader of the Opposition | National | ||||
Minister for Health Minister for Medical Research |
Libby Mettam MLA | Leader of the Liberal Party Shadow Minister for Health |
Liberal | ||||||
Martin Aldridge MLC | Shadow Minister for Regional Health | National | |||||||
Minister for State Development Minister for Science |
David Honey MLA | Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Shadow Minister for State Development Shadow Minister for Science |
Liberal | ||||||
Minister for Jobs and Trade | Mia Davies MLA | Shadow Minister for Jobs and Trade | National | ||||||
Sue Ellery MLC | Minister for Education and Training | Labor | Peter Rundle MLA | Shadow Minister for Education and Training | National | ||||
Leader of the Legislative Council | Steve Thomas MLC | Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council | Liberal | ||||||
Stephen Dawson MLC | Minister for Mental Health | Labor | Libby Mettam MLA | Shadow Minister for Mental Health | Liberal | ||||
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs | Vince Catania MLA | Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs | National | ||||||
Minister for Industrial Relations | Nick Goiran MLC | Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations | Liberal | ||||||
Deputy Leader in the Legislative Council | Colin de Grussa MLC | Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council | National | ||||||
Alannah MacTiernan MLC | Minister for Agriculture and Food | Labor | Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food | ||||||
Minister for Regional Development | Mia Davies MLA | Shadow Minister for Regional Development | National | ||||||
Minister for Hydrogen Industry | David Honey MLA | Shadow Minister for Hydrogen | Liberal | ||||||
David Templeman MLA | Minister for Tourism | Labor | Vince Catania MLA | Shadow Minister for Tourism | National | ||||
Minister for Culture and The Arts | Peter Collier MLC | Shadow Minister for Culture and the Arts | Liberal | ||||||
Minister for Heritage | Neil Thomson MLC | Shadow Minister for Heritage | Liberal | ||||||
Leader of the House | Shane Love MLA | Manager of Opposition Business | National | ||||||
John Quigley MLA | Attorney General | Labor | Nick Goiran MLC | Shadow Attorney General | Liberal | ||||
Minister for Electoral Affairs | Mia Davies MLA | Shadow Minister for Electoral Affairs | National | ||||||
Paul Papalia MLA | Minister for Road Safety | Labor | Martin Aldridge MLC | Shadow Minister for Road Safety | National | ||||
Minister for Defence Industry | Tjorn Sibma MLC | Shadow Minister for Defence Industry | Liberal | ||||||
Minister for Veterans Issues | Colin de Grussa MLC | Shadow Minister for Veterans Affairs | National | ||||||
Minister for Police | Peter Collier MLC | Shadow Minister for Police | Liberal | ||||||
Bill Johnston MLA | Minister for Corrective Services | Labor | Shadow Minister for Corrective Services | ||||||
Minister for Energy | David Honey MLA | Shadow Minister for Energy | Liberal | ||||||
Minister for Mines and Petroleum | Shane Love MLA | Shadow Minister for Mines and Petroleum | National | ||||||
Rita Saffioti MLA | Minister for Transport | Labor | Shadow Minister for Transport | ||||||
Minister for Ports | Colin de Grussa MLC | Shadow Minister for Ports | National | ||||||
Minister for Planning | Neil Thomson MLC | Shadow Minister for Planning | Liberal | ||||||
Tony Buti MLA | Minister for Lands | Labor | Shadow Minister for Lands | ||||||
Minister for Sport and Recreation | Peter Rundle MLA | Shadow Minister for Sports and Recreation | National | ||||||
Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests | Tjorn Sibma MLC | Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs | Liberal | ||||||
Minister for Finance | Mia Davies MLA | Shadow Minister for Finance | National | ||||||
Simone McGurk MLA | Minister for Women's Interests | Labor | Shadow Minister for Women's Interests | ||||||
Minister for Child Protection | Nick Goiran MLC | Shadow Minister for Child Protection | Liberal | ||||||
Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence | Libby Mettam MLA | Shadow Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence | Liberal | ||||||
Minister for Community Services | Donna Faragher MLC | Shadow Minister for Community Services Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Learning |
Liberal | ||||||
Dave Kelly MLA | Minister for Youth | Labor | Shadow Minister for Youth | ||||||
Minister for Water | James Hayward MLC | Shadow Minister for Water | National | ||||||
Minister for Forestry | Steven Martin MLC | Shadow Minister for Forestry | Liberal | ||||||
Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA | Minister for the Environment | Labor | Tjorn Sibma MLC | Shadow Minister for Environment | Liberal | ||||
Minister for Commerce | Vince Catania MLA | Shadow Minister for Commerce Shadow Minister for Government Accountability |
National | ||||||
Minister for Climate Action | Shane Love MLA | Shadow Minister for Climate Action | National | ||||||
John Carey MLA | Minister for Housing | Labor | Steven Martin MLC | Shadow Minister for Housing | Liberal | ||||
Minister for Local Government | James Hayward MLC | Shadow Minister for Local Government Shadow Minister for Regional Cities |
National | ||||||
Don Punch MLA | Minister for Disability Services | Labor | Libby Mettam MLA | Shadow Minister for Disability Services | Liberal | ||||
Minister for Fisheries | Colin de Grussa MLC | Shadow Minister for Fisheries | National | ||||||
Minister for Innovation and ICT | David Honey MLA | Shadow Minister for Innovation and ICT | Liberal | ||||||
Minister for Seniors and Ageing | Donna Faragher MLC | Shadow Minister for Seniors and Ageing | Liberal | ||||||
Reece Whitby MLA | Minister for Emergency Services Minister for Volunteering |
Labor | Martin Aldridge MLC | Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Shadow Minister for Volunteering Shadow Minister for Regional Communications |
National | ||||
Minister for Racing and Gaming | Peter Rundle MLA | Shadow Minister for Racing and Gaming | National | ||||||
Minister for Small Business | Steve Thomas MLC | Shadow Minister for Small Business | Liberal |
References
- FINAL – Executive Council Guidelines – Feb 2022 (PDF) (2 ed.). Government of Western Australia. 4 February 2021. p. 4. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- "The Western Australian Government Ministry". Premier of Western Australia & Cabinet Ministers. Government of Western Australia. 20 December 2019. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
- "Member List". Parliament of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 18 March 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
External links
- Government of Western Australia website
- Constitution ACT 1889 (WA)
- The Parliament of Western Australia website
- The Premier of Western Australia website