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| WA Parliament | |
|---|---|
| Name | Parliament of Western Australia |
| Legislature | 42nd Parliament |
| House type | Bicameral |
| Foundation | 1890 |
| Preceeded by | Legislative Council of Western Australia (colonial) |
| Leader1 type | Monarch |
| Leader1 | Charles III |
| Leader2 type | Governor |
| Leader2 | Chris Dawson (governor) |
| Leader3 type | President of the Legislative Council |
| Leader3 | Alanna Clohesy |
| Leader4 type | Speaker of the Legislative Assembly |
| Leader4 | Rita Saffioti |
| Members | 59 (Legislative Assembly: 59; Legislative Council: 36) |
| Meeting place | Parliament House, Perth, Western Australia |
WA Parliament is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of Western Australia, established under the Constitution Act 1889 and operating within the constitutional framework of the Commonwealth of Australia. It comprises a lower chamber, the Legislative Assembly, and an upper chamber, the Legislative Council, seated at Parliament House in Perth. The institution functions alongside the Monarch of Australia and the Governor of Western Australia in the state's parliamentary system and interacts with federal entities such as the Parliament of Australia and the High Court of Australia.
The legislature traces origins to the 19th-century colonial period, following milestones like the granting of responsible government in 1890 under the Constitution Act 1889. Early political life featured prominent figures such as John Forrest and debates during events like the federation referendums leading to the formation of the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. Twentieth-century developments included electoral reforms influenced by episodes such as the Australian Labor Party ascendancy, the impact of World Wars I and II on state politics, and constitutional challenges taken to the High Court of Australia. Landmark legislative changes, including redistributions and franchise extensions, were shaped by actors like Dame Dorothy Tangney and institutions including the Electoral Distribution Commissioners of Western Australia. Contemporary history reflects tensions over resource policy exemplified in disputes involving corporations like BHP and statutory instruments such as the Mining Act 1978 (WA).
The legislature is bicameral, composed of the Legislative Assembly (lower house) and the Legislative Council (upper house). The Assembly comprises representatives from single-member districts across regions including Kimberley, Pilbara, Swan Hills, and Perth suburbs; the Council is elected from multi-member regions such as South West, Agricultural Region, and Metropolitan Region. The Crown is represented by the Governor, who acts on advice from the Premier and Executive Council, which commonly includes ministers drawn from members associated with parties like the Australian Labor Party (Western Australian Branch) and the Liberal Party of Australia (Western Australian Division). Parliamentary officers include the Speaker, President, Clerks, and Serjeant-at-Arms; procedural precedents derive from Westminster practices observed also in bodies such as the United Kingdom Parliament and the Parliament of New South Wales.
The legislature enacts state statutes under authorities delineated by the Constitution Act 1889 and interacts with federal powers allocated by the Constitution of Australia. It scrutinises executive action through question time, estimates, and select inquiries, holding ministers accountable, including those from administrations led by premiers like Colin Barnett and Mark McGowan. Budgetary control is exercised via appropriation bills, supply resolutions, and oversight by committees comparable to those in the Legislative Council of Victoria and the Senate (Australia). Judicial review by the High Court of Australia and doctrines from cases such as the Engineers' Case limit and clarify state legislative competence.
Members of the Legislative Assembly are elected from single-member electorates using full-preference optional preferential voting, while the Legislative Council uses proportional representation via the single transferable vote within multi-member regions. The state's electoral administration is conducted by the Western Australian Electoral Commission, with redistributions managed by bodies like the Electoral Boundaries Commission (Western Australia). Voting eligibility mirrors Australian standards, involving enrollment obligations similar to those under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and interactions with Indigenous representation concerns addressed in forums such as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (historical) and advocacy by figures like Noel Pearson.
Standing orders and conventions guide proceedings, influenced historically by practices from the House of Commons of the United Kingdom and adaptations present in the Parliament of Tasmania. Committees—standing, select, and joint—cover subjects including public accounts, estimates, public administration, and legislation review; notable examples mirror functions seen in the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (Australia). Procedural tools include petitions, motions, bills, and royal assent processes involving the Governor and records managed by officers analogous to the Parliamentary Library of Australia. Privileges and contempt processes are enforced as in other Westminster-derived legislatures, with case law informing limits to parliamentary immunities.
The state legislature operates within the federal system established by the Constitution of Australia, negotiating responsibilities with the Commonwealth in areas such as health funding, infrastructure, and resource management. Intergovernmental forums like the Council of Australian Governments facilitate coordination between state executives and the Prime Ministerial office represented by figures like Anthony Albanese. Local government relations involve statutory frameworks governing entities such as the Local Government Act 1995 (Western Australia) and interactions with local councils including the City of Perth and regional shires. Disputes over powers have been resolved through institutions like the High Court of Australia and intergovernmental agreements covering projects with corporations such as Woodside Petroleum.
Parliament convenes at Parliament House in Perth, Western Australia, a complex featuring chambers, committee rooms, and heritage precincts near landmarks like the Swan River (Western Australia), Kings Park, and the State Library of Western Australia. The precinct includes office accommodation for members, the Parliamentary Library, and public galleries; conservation and adaptation works have involved architects and heritage bodies comparable to those that oversaw projects at the Old Parliament House, Canberra. Security, public access, and ceremonial events connect to state occasions involving the Governor and visits by dignitaries such as members of the British Royal Family.