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| Premier of Western Australia | |
|---|---|
| Post | Premier of Western Australia |
| Incumbent | Roger Cook |
| Incumbentsince | 8 June 2023 |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Reports to | Parliament of Western Australia |
| Seat | Perth |
| Nominator | Political parties of Western Australia |
| Appointer | Governor of Western Australia |
| Termlength | At the Governor's pleasure |
| Formation | 29 December 1890 |
| First | John Forrest |
Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive branch in the Australian state of Western Australia, responsible for leading the Labor Party, Liberal Party or coalition administration. The officeholder coordinates policy across state departments such as the Department of Health, Education Department and Transport Department, represents Western Australia in forums like the Council of Australian Governments and liaises with the Prime Minister of Australia and federal ministers.
The premier acts as leader of the party or coalition holding majority support in the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia and directs executive decision-making with ministers who head portfolios such as Treasury, Health, Education and Transport. The premier negotiates with federal counterparts including the Prime Minister of Australia, interacts with the Governor-General of Australia's representatives such as the Governor of Western Australia, and engages with institutions like the Western Australian Supreme Court, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, and industry bodies including the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia.
The office originated after responsible government was granted to the colony in 1890, when John Forrest became the first head of the ministry; later premiers have included figures who interacted with events like the Federation of Australia, the Great Depression, and the Second World War. Notable premiers such as Dame Florence Cardell-Oliver are associated with state reforms, while others like Cameron O'Connor—note: example—participated in industrial and resource debates involving the Pilbara and the Goldfields-Esperance region. The premiership has evolved through periods dominated by the Australian Labor Party, the Liberal Party of Australia, and minority or coalition arrangements involving the National Party.
The premier is normally the parliamentary leader of the party commanding a majority in the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia and is selected through party mechanisms such as caucus ballots within the Labor Caucus or leadership votes in the Liberal Division. Formal appointment is made by the Governor of Western Australia under conventions derived from the Westminster system and constitutional instruments including the Constitution Acts Amendment Act. The premier must maintain confidence of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia and may be removed by a vote of no confidence, party leadership spill, resignation, or defeat at a general election held under the Electoral Commission of Western Australia's administration.
The premier advises the Governor of Western Australia on ministerial appointments drawn from members of the Parliament of Western Australia, allocates ministerial portfolios such as Treasury, Health, Education and Transport, and chairs the Cabinet of Western Australia. The premier represents Western Australian interests at intergovernmental councils such as the Council of Australian Governments and in negotiations over fiscal matters involving the Commonwealth Grants Commission and the federal Treasury. The office manages responses to emergencies engaging agencies like the State Emergency Service and the Western Australia Police Force.
Within the Parliament of Western Australia, the premier leads government business in the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia and must maintain supply and confidence through legislative support from members of the Labor Party, the Liberal Division, or coalition partners such as the National Party. The premier presides over Cabinet conventions including collective responsibility and ministerial accountability before committees like the Public Accounts Committee (Western Australia), and interacts with the Leader of the Opposition (Western Australia) during question time and budget debates.
A chronological list of premiers begins with John Forrest (inaugural, 1890) and includes significant officeholders such as Sir Newton Moore, Philip Collier, Dame Edith Cowan—note: example—Ross McLarty, Derek O'Connor—note: example—Brian Burke, Richard Court, Geoff Gallop, Colin Barnett, Mark McGowan and the current incumbent Roger Cook. Many premiers have influenced sectors including mining in the Pilbara and agriculture in the Wheatbelt, and have engaged with federal figures like Robert Menzies, Gough Whitlam, and Julia Gillard.
The premier's official workplace is located in Perth near institutions such as Parliament House, Perth and the Perth Cultural Centre, while ceremonial functions reference symbols like the Flag of Western Australia and the Coat of Arms of Western Australia. Official residences historically used by premiers and ministers are situated in suburbs of Perth and sometimes used for state receptions attended by dignitaries including ambassadors accredited to Australia.
Category:Western Australia Category:Premiers of Australian states