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| Legislative Council of Western Australia | |
|---|---|
| Name | Legislative Council of Western Australia |
| Legislature | Parliament of Western Australia |
| House type | Upper house |
| Established | 1890 |
| Body | Parliament of Western Australia |
| Leader1 type | President |
| Leader1 | __ |
| Members | 36 |
| Voting system | Proportional representation |
| Last election | 2021 Western Australian state election |
| Meeting place | Parliament House, Perth |
Legislative Council of Western Australia is the upper chamber of the Parliament of Western Australia sitting in Parliament House, Perth. It functions within the Constitution of Western Australia framework and interacts with the Legislative Assembly (Western Australia), the Premier of Western Australia, and the Governor of Western Australia in state lawmaking and oversight. Members represent regions originally defined under reforms following debates involving figures such as John Forrest, C. Y. O'Connor, and contemporaries of the late 19th-century colonial era.
The institution emerged from colonial debates in the late 19th century influenced by events such as the Western Australian gold rush, the political career of John Forrest, and constitutional arrangements modelled loosely on the Parliament of the United Kingdom and other Australian colonial legislatures. Early disputes over representation, franchise, and property qualifications involved personalities connected to Responsible government in Australia and to legislative reforms seen in Victoria (1851–1901), New South Wales and South Australia. Significant milestones included reform acts that altered franchise and membership in the 20th century, reforms paralleling the Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902 and later changes echoing debates in the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal Party of Australia. The Council’s evolution intersected with landmark political episodes such as the Lang Government controversies, wartime governance during administrations akin to John Curtin, and postwar realignments tied to figures like Sir Charles Court and Carmen Lawrence.
Under the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899 and subsequent statutory instruments, the chamber exercises review, amendment and delay functions similar to other Australian upper houses like the New South Wales Legislative Council and the Senate (Australia). It scrutinises bills passed by the Legislative Assembly (Western Australia), can initiate non-money bills, and exercises powers related to committees modeled after practices in the House of Lords and the Senate of Canada. Reserve powers involving the Governor of Western Australia and conventions akin to those debated during the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis inform rare constitutional tensions. Judicial and administrative supervision has sometimes involved interactions with the High Court of Australia on separations of power and justiciability issues.
Membership has shifted from property-based electorates to proportional regional representation influenced by models such as the Single Transferable Vote and the Hare-Clark electoral system debates. Today members are elected from multi-member regions via a form of proportional representation similar in intent to reforms seen in Tasmania and adaptations echoing the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 principles. Electoral redistributions, controversies over malapportionment that invoked comparisons with the Playmander in South Australia, and reform campaigns from organisations like the Electoral Commission of Western Australia shaped quotas, thresholds and the balance between metropolitan and rural representation affecting parties including the Australian Labor Party, Liberal Party of Australia, National Party of Australia (WA), and minor parties such as the Australian Greens.
The chamber’s standing orders and committee system reflect practices comparable to committees in the House of Representatives (Australia), House of Commons select committees, and the Senate (Australia) committees. Key committees—estimates, public administration, and legislation—conduct inquiries, call witnesses, and produce reports interacting with statutory officers like the Auditor General of Western Australia and the Corruption and Crime Commission (Western Australia). Procedures for question time, motions, divisions and urgency motions mirror conventions seen in Westminster-derived legislatures and have been shaped by precedents involving parliamentary procedure authorities and cases referring to the Clerk of the Parliaments style advice.
The chamber’s party composition has influenced legislative outcomes through balance-of-power scenarios involving minor parties and independents similar to episodes in the Australian Senate. Coalition dynamics between the Liberal Party of Australia and the National Party of Australia (WA) have at times altered voting blocs, while crossbenchers from the Pauline Hanson’s One Nation movement or the Australian Greens have exercised negotiation leverage. Leadership roles, factionalism tied to unions like the Australian Workers Union and influences from federal party structures such as the Australian Labor Party (ALP) features in internal politics, affecting confidence arrangements and legislative timetables.
Interactions with the Legislative Assembly (Western Australia) involve money bill conventions, government formation through confidence in the lower house, and legislative amendment negotiated between chambers as seen in bicameral systems like the Parliament of New South Wales. The Council’s review function can constrain ministries including those led by premiers such as Geoff Gallop, Colin Barnett, and Mark McGowan, while supply and appropriation mechanics echo federal practices involving the Treasurer of Western Australia and appropriation bills.
Sittings occur in Parliament House, Perth within the Perth parliamentary precinct near landmarks like the King's Park, Supreme Court of Western Australia and the Western Australian Museum. Ceremonial occasions involve the Governor of Western Australia, the use of mace and regalia influenced by Westminster system traditions, and events such as opening addresses comparable to opening ceremonies in other Australian parliaments and state legislatures.
Category:Parliament of Western Australia Category:State upper houses of Australia