Premier of Western Australia

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Premier of Western Australia
Coat of arms of Western Australia.svg
Western Australian Coat of Arms
Flag of Western Australia.svg
Flag of Western Australia
Mark McGowan headshot.jpg
Incumbent
Mark McGowan
since 17 March 2017
Department of the Premier and Cabinet
Style
StatusHead of Government
Member of
Reports toParliament
SeatDumas House, Perth
AppointerGovernor of Western Australia
by convention, based on appointee's ability to command confidence in the Legislative Assembly
Term lengthAt the Governor's pleasure
contingent on the premier's ability to command confidence in the lower house of Parliament
Constituting instrumentNone (constitutional convention)
Formation29 December 1890
First holderJohn Forrest
DeputyDeputy Premier of Western Australia
SalaryA$355,681[1][2]
Websitewww.premier.wa.gov.au

The premier of Western Australia is the head of government of the state of Western Australia.[3] The role of premier at a state level is similar to the role of the prime minister of Australia at a federal level. The premier leads the executive branch of the Government of Western Australia and is accountable to the Parliament of Western Australia. The premier is appointed by the governor of Western Australia. By convention, the governor appoints as premier whoever has the support of the majority of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. In practice, this means that the premier is the leader of the political party or group of parties with a majority of seats in the Legislative Assembly (lower house). Since Western Australia achieved self-governance in 1890, there have been 31 premiers.[3] Mark McGowan is the current premier, having been appointed to the position on 17 March 2017.

History

The position of premier is not mentioned in the constitution of Western Australia. From 1890 to 1917, the premier was not an official position, rather, it was the title unofficially given, but widely used to refer, to the head of the government.[3][4] When Western Australia became a self-governing colony in 1890, Governor William Robinson initially indicated he would use the title prime minister to refer to the head of the government. However, after he selected John Forrest, the title premier was used for consistency with the other Australian colonies.[3][5] The position was first officially mentioned when the governor appointed Henry Lefroy as premier on 28 June 1917. However, when the governor designated and declared the six executive offices of the government on 2 July 1917, the position of premier was not listed, creating an ambiguity.[3][4][6] It was not until 3 April 1947 that the premier became one of the executive offices of the government.[3][4][7]

The most common cause for a change of premier is an election. Since the 1990s, elections have occurred roughly every four years. Before then, elections were at most three years apart, except for during World War II. A less common cause for a change of premier is the ruling party changing its leader. This can occur as a result of a resignation, death or leadership spill. In this case, the new premier is whoever the party elects as its new leader. Another cause for a change of premier is a loss of majority support in the Legislative Assembly. This commonly occurred in the first three decades of self-governance, but has not occurred since 1916. If this occurs, the premier must either resign or be dismissed by the governor.[8]

Powers and function

The powers of the premier are set out by convention and by legislation. By convention, the premier advises the Monarch of Australia as to who to appoint as governor. The premier advises the governor as to who to appoint to cabinet and which portfolios should be given to each cabinet minister, and the governor follows this advice by convention. The premier sets out the responsibilities of ministers and the acts that they would administer. The premier leads the cabinet and chairs cabinet meetings. They communicate with the governor, the cabinet, the state government, other state and territory governments, the federal government, and overseas governments. The premier advises the governor on when state elections should be held. They oversee the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Whilst premier, they stay as a member of parliament, and they retain their responsibility for representing their electorate.[3]

Characteristics

As of 2022, there have been 31 premiers of Western Australia. Carmen Lawrence, who was appointed on 12 February 1990, is the first and only woman to be premier of Western Australia. She is also the first woman to be premier of an Australian state.[3][9] By convention, the premier is a member of the Legislative Assembly. However, the premier can be a member of either house of parliament. Hal Colebatch is the only premier to be a member of the Legislative Council (upper house). He served for 30 days in 1919, making him the shortest serving premier of Western Australia.[3][10] David Brand is the longest serving premier, serving for 11 years and 335 days between 1959 and 1971.[3][11] The youngest premier is John Scaddan, who was 35 years, 2 months and 3 days old when he was sworn in in 1911.[3][12] The oldest premier is John Tonkin, who was 69 years, 1 month and 1 day old when he was sworn in in 1971.[3][13] Newton Moore became premier after two years in parliament, the least time aside from John Forrest. John Tonkin became premier after almost 38 years in parliament, the most time in parliament before becoming premier.[14] The only father and son pair to have both been premier is Charles Court and his son Richard Court. George Leake, who died of pneumonia on 24 June 1902, is the only premier to have died in office.[3][14] Newton Moore, Philip Collier, John Willcock and Geoff Gallop are the only premiers to have resigned due to ill health.[10][15] The only premier to subsequently serve as governor is James Mitchell.[3]

Two former premiers have been sentenced to jail. In 1994, Brian Burke was sentenced to two years in jail for defrauding the state by $17,000 by making false claims on the parliamentary imprest account.[16] He was released on parole after serving seven months.[17] In 1995, Ray O'Connor was sentenced to six months in jail for stealing a $25,000 cheque from the Bond Corporation during his time as premier.[18] In 1997, Burke was sentenced to three years jail for stealing $122,585 in Labor Party campaign donations. He served six months before this conviction was quashed upon appeal.[17][19]

List of premiers of Western Australia

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)
Constituency 		Election Term of office Political party/alignment Ministry Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
1 John Forrest.jpg Sir John Forrest
(1847–1918)
MLA for Bunbury
1890–1901 		1890
1894
1897 		29 December 1890 14 February 1901 10 years,

48 days

Ministerialist Forrest Ministry [20][21]
2 George Throssell (1840-1910).jpg George Throssell
(1840–1910)
MLA for Northam
1890–1904
MLC for East Province
1907–1910 		1901 14 February 1901 27 May 1901 101 days Ministerialist Throssell Ministry [20][22]
3 George Leake.jpg George Leake
(1856–1902)
MLA for Roebourne
1890
MLA for Albany
1894–1900
MLA for West Perth
1901–1902 		— 27 May 1901 21 November 1901 178 days Oppositionist First Leake Ministry [20][23]
4 Alf Morgans (1850-1933).jpg Alf Morgans
(1850–1933)
MLA for Coolgardie
1897–1904 		— 21 November 1901 23 December 1901 32 days Ministerialist Morgans Ministry [20][24]
(3) George Leake.jpg George Leake
(1856–1902)
MLA for Roebourne
1890
MLA for Albany
1894–1900
MLA for West Perth
1901–1902 		— 23 December 1901 1 July 1902 190 days Oppositionist Second Leake Ministry [20]
5 Walter James.jpg Sir Walter James
(1863–1943)
MLA for East Perth
1894–1904 		— 1 July 1902 10 August 1904 2 years,

40 days

Oppositionist James Ministry [20][25]
6 HenryDaglish.jpeg Henry Daglish
(1866–1920)
MLA for Subiaco
1901–1911 		1904 10 August 1904 25 August 1905 1 year,

15 days

Labor Daglish Ministry [20][26]
7 Cornthwaite Rason (1858-1927).jpg Sir Hector Rason
(1858–1927)
MLC for Swan
1889–1890
MLA for South Murchison
1897–1901
MLA for Guildford
1901–1906 		1905 25 August 1905 7 May 1906 255 days Ministerialist Rason Ministry [20][27]
8 Newton Moore (1870-1936).jpeg Sir Newton Moore
(1870–1936)
MLA for Bunbury
1904–1911 		1908 7 May 1906 16 September 1910 1 year,

21 days

Ministerialist Moore Ministry [20][28]
9 Frank Wilson (1859-1918).jpeg Frank Wilson
(1859–1918)
MLA for Canning
1895–1901
MLA for Perth
1901
MLA for Sussex
1904–1917 		— 16 September 1910 7 October 1911 1 year,

21 days

Ministerialist First Wilson Ministry [20][29]
10 John Scaddan.jpg John Scaddan
(1876–1934)
MLA for Ivanhoe
1904–1911
MLA for Brown Hill-Ivanhoe
1911–1916
1916–1917
MLA for Albany
1919–1924
MLA for Maylands
1930–1933 		1911
1914 		7 October 1911 27 July 1916 4 years,

294 days

Labor Scaddan Ministry [20][30]
(9) Frank Wilson (1859-1918).jpeg Frank Wilson
(1859–1918)
MLA for Canning
1895–1901
MLA for Perth
1901
MLA for Sussex
1904–1917 		— 27 July 1916 28 June 1917 336 days Liberal Second Wilson Ministry [20][29]
11 Henry Lefroy.jpg Sir Henry Lefroy
(1854–1930)
MLA for Moore
1892–1901
1911–1921 		1917 28 June 1917 17 April 1919 1 year,

293 days

Nationalist Lefroy Ministry [20][31]
12 Hal Colebatch.jpg Sir Hal Colebatch
(1872–1953)
MLC for East Province
1912–1923 		— 17 April 1919 17 May 1919 30 days Nationalist Colebatch Ministry [20][32]
13 Sir James Mitchell.jpg Sir James Mitchell
(1866–1951)
MLA for Northam
1905–1933 		1921 17 May 1919 15 April 1924 4 years,

335 days

Nationalist First Mitchell Ministry [20][33]
14 Philip Collier.jpg Philip Collier
(1873–1948)
MLA for Boulder
1905–1948 		1924
1927 		15 April 1924 23 April 1930 6 years,

8 days

Labor First Collier Ministry [20][34]
(13) Sir James Mitchell.jpg Sir James Mitchell
(1866–1951)
MLA for Northam
1905–1933 		1930 23 April 1930 24 April 1933 3 years Nationalist Second Mitchell Ministry [20][33]
(14) Philip Collier.jpg Philip Collier
(1873–1948)
MLA for Boulder
1905–1948 		1933
1936 		24 April 1933 19 August 1936 3 years,

118 days

Labor Second Collier Ministry [20][34]
15 John Willcock.jpg John Willcock
(1879–1947)
MLA for Geraldton
1917–1947 		1939
1943 		19 August 1936 31 July 1945 8 years,

345 days

Labor Willcock Ministry [20][35]
16 Honfrankjosephwise.jpg Frank Wise
(1897–1986)
MLA for Gascoyne
1933–1951 		— 31 July 1945 1 April 1947 1 year,

244 days

Labor Wise Ministry [20]
17 Ross McLarty.jpg Sir Ross McLarty
(1891–1962)
MLA for Murray-Wellington
1930–1962 		1947
1950 		1 April 1947 23 February 1953 5 years,

328 days

Liberal McLarty–Watts Ministry [20][36]
18 Albert Hawke 1965.jpg Albert Hawke
(1900–1986)
MLA for Northam
1933–1968 		1953
1956 		23 February 1953 2 April 1959 6 years,

37 days

Labor Hawke Ministry [20][37]
19 DavidBrand1963.jpg Sir David Brand
(1912–1979)
MLA for Greenough
1945–1975 		1959
1962
1965
1968 		2 April 1959 3 March 1971 11 years,

335 days

Liberal Brand–Watts Ministry
Brand–Nalder Ministry 		[20][38]
20 JohnTonkin1964crop.jpg John Tonkin
(1902–1995)
MLA for North-East Fremantle
1933–1950
MLA for Melville
1950–1977 		1971 3 March 1971 8 April 1974 3 years,

66 days

Labor Tonkin Ministry [20]
21 Charles Court in 1952 cropped.jpg Sir Charles Court
(1911–2007)
MLA for Nedlands
1953–1982 		1974
1977
1980 		8 April 1974 25 January 1982 7 years,

292 days

Liberal Court–McPharlin Ministry
Court Ministry 		[20]
22 RayO'ConnorPremier.jpg Ray O'Connor
(1926–2013)
MLA for Nedlands
1982–2001 		— 25 January 1982 25 February 1983 1 year,

31 days

Liberal O'Connor Ministry [20]
23 Brian Burke
(born 1947)
MLA for Balcatta
1973–1974
1977–1983
MLA for Balga
1974–1977
1983–1988 		1983
1986 		25 February 1983 25 February 1988 5 years Labor Burke Ministry [20]
24 Peter Dowding.jpg Peter Dowding
(born 1943)
MLC for North Province
1979–1986
MLA for Maylands
1986–1990 		1989 25 February 1988 13 March 1990 1 year,

352 days

Labor Dowding Ministry [20]
25 Carmen Lawrence 1990 (cropped).png Carmen Lawrence
(born 1948)
MLA for Subiaco
1986–1989
MLA for Glendalough
1989–1994 		— 13 March 1990 16 February 1993 3 years,

4 days

Labor Lawrence Ministry [20]
26 Richard Court - Ambassador to Japan.jpg Richard Court
(born 1947)
MLA for Nedlands
1982–2001 		1993
1996 		16 February 1993 16 February 2001 7 years,

360 days

Liberal Court–Cowan Ministry [20]
27 Geoffrey Gallop Midland (cropped).jpg Geoff Gallop
(born 1951)
MLA for Victoria Park
1986–2006 		2001
2005 		16 February 2001 3 February 2006 4 years,

343 days

Labor Gallop Ministry [20]
28 Alan Carpenter (cropped).jpg Alan Carpenter
(born 1951)
MLA for Willagee
1996–2009 		— 3 February 2006 23 September 2008 2 years,

242 days

Labor Carpenter Ministry [20]
29 Colin Barnett (formal) crop.jpg Colin Barnett
(born 1950)
MLA for Cottesloe
1990 – 2018 		2008
2013 		23 September 2008 17 March 2017 8 years,

175 days

Liberal Barnett Ministry [20]
30 Mark McGowan headshot.jpg Mark McGowan
(born 1967)
MLA for Rockingham
1996–present 		2017
2021 		17 March 2017 incumbent 6 years, 75 days Labor First McGowan Ministry
Second McGowan Ministry

Graphical timeline

Mark McGowanColin BarnettAlan CarpenterGeoff GallopRichard CourtCarmen LawrencePeter DowdingBrian Burke (Australian politician)Ray O'ConnorCharles CourtJohn TonkinDavid BrandAlbert HawkeRoss McLartyFrank WiseJohn WillcockPhilip CollierJames Mitchell (Australian politician)Hal ColebatchHenry LefroyJohn ScaddanFrank Wilson (politician)Newton MooreHector RasonHenry DaglishWalter James (Australian politician)Alf MorgansGeorge LeakeGeorge ThrossellJohn Forrest

References

  1. ^ "Members of Parliament Tribunal Determination No 1 of 2020". WA.gov.au. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  2. ^ Tyeson, Cam (1 June 2021). "Here's How Much Every State Premier Gets Paid If You Wanna Get Boomer-Tier Mad About Yr Taxes". Pedestrian. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Premiers of WA Factsheet" (PDF). Parliament of Western Australia. May 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Reid & Oliver 1982, p. 1.
  5. ^ Reid & Oliver 1982, p. 2.
  6. ^ "Government Gazette Extraordinary of Western Australia" (PDF). Parliamentary Counsel's Office. 2 July 1917. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Government Gazette of Western Australia" (PDF). Parliamentary Counsel's Office. 3 April 1947. p. 555. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  8. ^ Reid & Oliver 1982, p. 3.
  9. ^ "Carmen Mary Lawrence". Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  10. ^ a b Reid & Oliver 1982, p. 5.
  11. ^ Black 2014, p. 260.
  12. ^ Black 2014, p. 240.
  13. ^ Black 2014, p. 242.
  14. ^ a b Reid & Oliver 1982, p. 6.
  15. ^ "WA Premier Geoff Gallop resigns". ABC News. 16 January 2006. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  16. ^ Milliken, Robert (15 July 1994). "W Australia ex-premier jailed for two years". Independent. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  17. ^ a b "Brian Burke". Business News. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  18. ^ "Former WA premier Ray O'Connor dies, aged 86". WAtoday. Australian Associated Press. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  19. ^ Barry, Paul (June 2010). "Life of Brian". The Monthly. pp. 38–44.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag Black 2014, p. 240, 260.
  21. ^ Crowley, F. K. Forrest, Sir John (1847–1918). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  22. ^ Garden, Donald S. Throssell, George (1840–1910). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  23. ^ De Garis, B. K. Leake, George (1856–1902). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  24. ^ Bolton, G. C. Morgans, Alfred Edward (1850–1933). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  25. ^ Hunt, Lyall. James, Sir Walter Hartwell (1863–1943). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  26. ^ Gibbney, H. J. Daglish, Henry (1866–1920). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  27. ^ Bolton, G. C. "Rason, Sir Cornthwaite Hector (1858–1927)". Rason, Sir Cornthwaite Hector William James (1858–1927). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  28. ^ Adams, David. Moore, Sir Newton James (1870–1936). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  29. ^ a b Black, David. Wilson, Frank (1859–1918). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  30. ^ Robertson, J. R. Scaddan, John (1876–1934). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  31. ^ Cameron, Catherine. Lefroy, Sir Henry Bruce (1853–1930). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  32. ^ De Garis, B. K. Colebatch, Sir Harry Pateshall (Hal) (1872–1953). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  33. ^ a b Bolton, G. C. Mitchell, Sir James (1866–1951). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  34. ^ a b Black, David. Collier, Philip (1873–1948). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  35. ^ Doohan, Noelene. Willcock, John Collings (1879–1956). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  36. ^ Layman, Lenore. McLarty, Sir Duncan Ross (1891–1962). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  37. ^ Pendal, Phillip. "Hawke, Albert Redvers (Bert) (1900–1986)". Hawke, Albert Redvers George (Bert) (1900–1986). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 30 January 2012.
  38. ^ Black, David. Brand, Sir David (1912–1979). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 30 January 2012.

Bibliography

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