Government of Western Australia
The Government of Western Australia, formally referred to as Her 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 on Western Australia |
State | Western Australia |
Country | Australia |
Website | wa |
Legislative branch | |
Legislature | Parliament of Western Australia |
Meeting place | Parliament House |
Executive branch | |
Head of state | Governor |
Main body | Western Australian Ministry |
Head of Government | Premier |
Appointer | Governor on behalf of the Queen of Australia in right of the State of Western Australia. |
Headquarters | Government House[1] |
Main organ | Executive Council |
Judicial branch | |
Court | Supreme Court |
Seat | Supreme Court building, Perth |
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 The Queen, 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 the Governor and senior ministers.
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 27 June 2019, the following individuals serve as government ministers, at the pleasure of the Queen, represented by the Governor of Western Australia. The government cabinet and ministers are listed,[2] while the shadow minister are listed against their opposing portfolio, to the best possible match.[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 | Premier Minister for Public Sector Management Minister for State Development Minister for Jobs and Trade Minister for Federal-State Relations |
Labor | Zak Kirkup[4] | Leader of the Opposition Shadow Minister for Health Shadow Minister for State Development Shadow Minister for Mental Health Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Shadow Minister for New Industries |
Liberal | ||||
Roger Cook | Deputy Premier Minister for Health Minister for Mental Health |
Labor | Libby Mettam | Deputy Leader of the Opposition Shadow Minister for Transport Shadow Minister for Ports Shadow Minister for Fisheries Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader |
Liberal | ||||
Sue Ellery | Minister for Education and Training | Labor | Donna Faragher | Shadow Minister for Education and Training Shadow Minister for Women's Interests |
Liberal | ||||
Stephen Dawson | Minister for the Environment Minister for Disability Services |
Labor | Tjorn Sibma | Shadow Minister for Planning; Environment; Forestry; Government Accountability and Procurement Shadow Minister for Public Sector Integrity and Performance (Assisting the Leader for Public Sector Management) Shadow Minister for Veterans Issues |
Liberal | ||||
Michelle Roberts | Minister for Police Minister for Road Safety |
Labor | Peter Katsambanis | Shadow Minister for Police Shadow Minister for Road Safety Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations |
Liberal | ||||
Alannah MacTiernan | Minister for Regional Development Minister for Agriculture and Food Minister assisting the Minister for State Development Minister for Jobs and Trades |
Labor | David Honey | Shadow Minister for Water Shadow Minister for Shadow Minister for Industrial Development Shadow Minister for Land |
Liberal | ||||
Fran Logan | Minister for Emergency Services Minister for Corrective Services |
Labor | Sean L'Estrange | Shadow Minister for Corrective Services Shadow Minister for Emergency Services Shadow Minister for Defence Issues Shadow Minister for Environment |
Liberal | ||||
David Templeman | Minister for Local Government Minister for Heritage Minister for Culture and The Arts |
Labor | Tony Krsticevic | Shadow Minister for Community Services; Youth; Special Shadow Minister for Homelessness; Cost of Living; Housing Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader in Citizenship & Multicultural Affairs |
Liberal | ||||
John Quigley | Attorney General
Minister for Commerce and Industrial Relations |
Labor | Michael Mischin | Shadow Attorney General Shadow Minister for Heritage Culture and the Arts Shadow Minister for Heritage |
Liberal | ||||
Mick Murray | Minister for Seniors and Ageing Minister for Volunteering Minister for Sport and Recreation |
Labor | Peter Collier | Shadow Minister for Disability Services Shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation Shadow Minister for LC Opposition Policy Co-Ordinator |
Liberal | ||||
Ben Wyatt | Treasurer Minister for Finance Minister for Aboriginal Affairs |
Labor | Dr Steve Thomas | Shadow Minister for Finance Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food; Regional Development Shadow Minister for Royalties for Regions |
Liberal | ||||
Paul Papalia | Minister for Tourism Minister for Racing and Gaming Minister for Small Business Minister for Defence Issues Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests |
Labor | Sean L'Estrange | Shadow Minister for Corrective Services
Shadow Minister for Housing |
Liberal | ||||
Bill Johnston | Minister for Mines and Petroleum Minister for Industrial Relations |
Labor | Mike Nahan | Shadow Minister for Planning
Shadow Minister for Asian Engagement |
Liberal | ||||
Rita Saffioti | Minister for Transport Minister for Planning |
Labor | Libby Mettam | Shadow Minister for Transport Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader |
Liberal | ||||
Peter Tinley | Minister for Housing Minister for Veterans Issues Minister for Youth Minister for Asian Engagement |
Labor | Peter Collier | Shadow Minister for Disability Services | Liberal | ||||
Simone McGurk | Minister for Child Protection Minister for Women's Interests Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister for Community Services |
Labor | Nick Goiran | Shadow Minister for Child Protection Shadow Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Shadow Minister for Commerce |
Liberal | ||||
Dave Kelly | Minister for Water Minister for Fisheries Minister for Forestry Minister for Innovation and ICT Minister for Science |
Labor | Liberal |
References
- "Government house and ground". Government House Western Australia. 29 December 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- "The Western Australian Government Ministry". Premier of Western Australia & Cabinet Ministers. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Parliament/memblist.nsf/ScreenMembersWShadPolOffHold
- https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/library/MPHistoricalData.nsf/(Lookup)/AFE91ED5672B24B6482580E500260184?OpenDocument
External links
- Government of Western Australia website
- Constitution ACT 1889 (WA)
- The Parliament of Western Australia website
- The Premier of Western Australia website