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| Treasurer of Western Australia | |
|---|---|
| Post | Treasurer of Western Australia |
| Department | Treasury (Western Australia) |
| Incumbent | Roger Cook |
| Incumbentsince | 8 June 2023 |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Appointer | Governor of Western Australia |
| Reports to | Premier of Western Australia |
| Formation | 1890 |
| Inaugural | Sir John Forrest |
Treasurer of Western Australia is the senior minister responsible for financial management in the State of Western Australia. The officeholder oversees fiscal policy, public revenue and expenditure, and preparation of the annual Budget presented to the Parliament of Western Australia. The Treasurer works closely with the Premier of Western Australia, Governor of Western Australia and the public service agencies including the Department of Treasury and Department of Finance.
The Treasurer administers public finance instruments such as the State Budget, revenue administration and borrowings, liaising with entities like the Australian Treasury, Commonwealth Grants Commission, Australian Securities and Investments Commission and Reserve Bank of Australia. The portfolio interacts with statutory offices including the Auditor General of Western Australia, Public Sector Commission and the Western Australian Treasury Corporation for debt management. The Treasurer is a Cabinet member who coordinates fiscal strategy with ministers from portfolios including Minister for Transport (Western Australia), Minister for Health (Western Australia), Minister for Education and Training (Western Australia), Minister for Regional Development (Western Australia) and Minister for Energy (Western Australia).
The office was established at responsible government in 1890 during the premiership of Sir John Forrest, coinciding with the creation of the Parliament of Western Australia and the Constitution Act 1889 (WA). Early treasurers navigated the Western Australian gold rushes and infrastructure investments tied to the Great Southern Railway and coastal ports like Fremantle Harbour. During the Great Depression in Australia, treasurers engaged with federal relief measures and debates at the Premiers' Conference. Post‑World War II holders managed postwar reconstruction, resource development such as the Pilbara iron ore expansion and agreements with corporations including BHP and Rio Tinto. More recent decades saw treasurers respond to mining booms, the Global financial crisis of 2007–2008, and fiscal adjustments related to the National Disability Insurance Scheme and intergovernmental funding through the Council on Federal Financial Relations.
The list of officeholders includes prominent figures such as Sir John Forrest, Hal Colebatch, Philip Collier, David Brand, Charles Court, Brian Burke, Peter Dowding, Carmen Lawrence, Richard Court, Colin Barnett, Gordon Hill, Eric Ripper, Ben Wyatt, and Roger Cook. Many treasurers later served as Premiers or federal members of parliament, and others transitioned to roles in institutions like the Reserve Bank of Australia or corporate boards such as Fortescue Metals Group and Wesfarmers.
Statutory powers derive from state legislation such as the Financial Management Act 2006 (Western Australia) and budgetary conventions practised in the Parliament of Western Australia and Cabinet. The Treasurer authorises expenditure, issues State debt instruments via the Western Australian Treasury Corporation, and establishes appropriation bills for the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia and Legislative Council of Western Australia. The office oversees taxation measures implemented under acts including the Payroll Tax Assessment Act 2002 (WA) and coordination with the Australian Taxation Office on federal‑state interactions. The Treasurer has ministerial responsibility for agencies such as the Department of Treasury and statutory offices including the Western Australian Treasury Corporation.
The annual Budget is prepared through processes involving the Public Sector Commission, central agencies like the Department of Finance and line ministries such as Department of Health (Western Australia), Department of Education (Western Australia) and Department of Transport (Western Australia). Timetables align with the Financial Management Act 2006 (Western Australia) requirements for appropriation bills and mid‑year reviews, and presentations are made to the Parliament of Western Australia for debate and passage. The Treasurer engages with external stakeholders including credit rating agencies such as Standard & Poor's, Moody's Investors Service and Fitch Ratings as well as infrastructure financiers and superannuation funds like Future Fund and major industry groups including the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia.
The Treasurer collaborates with the Commonwealth of Australia through mechanisms like the Commonwealth Grants Commission and the Council on Federal Financial Relations, and negotiates funding with federal ministers including the Treasurer of Australia and the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development. Within the state, the Treasurer coordinates fiscal policy with the Premier of Western Australia, the Cabinet of Western Australia, the Department of Treasury and agencies such as the Office of the Auditor General (Western Australia). The Treasurer also liaises with local governments represented by entities like the Western Australian Local Government Association and with industry bodies including the Australian Industry Group and Business Council of Australia.
Notable initiatives include fiscal responses to the 2008 global financial crisis orchestrated alongside the Reserve Bank of Australia, resource revenue management during the Pilbara boom, and infrastructure funding for projects such as the Perth Stadium and the Metronet (Perth). Controversies have arisen over privatizations, asset sales and public‑private partnerships with firms like Macmahon Holdings and Transfield Services, debates over royalties to miners like BHP and Rio Tinto, and disputes concerning budget cuts affecting health and education sectors represented by unions such as the Australian Nursing Federation and the Australian Education Union. High‑profile inquiries and commissions including state royal commissions and scrutiny by the Corruption and Crime Commission (Western Australia) have at times implicated fiscal decisions and ministerial conduct.
Category:Western Australian politicians Category:Government of Western Australia