# Premier of Western Australia

The premier of Western Australia is the head of government of the state of Western Australia. The role of premier at a state level is similar to the role of the prime minister of Australia at a federal level. The premier leads the executive branch of the Government of Western Australia and is accountable to the Parliament of Western Australia. The premier is appointed by the governor of Western Australia. By convention, the governor appoints as premier whoever has the support of the majority of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, the lower house of the Parliament of Western Australia. In practice, this means that the premier is the leader of the political party or group of parties with a majority of seats in the Legislative Assembly. Since Western Australia achieved self-governance in 1890, there have been 31 premiers. Roger Cook is the current premier, having been appointed to the position on 8 June 2023.

## History

The position of premier is not mentioned in the constitution of Western Australia. From 1890 to 1917, the premier was not an official position, rather, it was the title unofficially given, but widely used to refer, to the head of the government. When Western Australia became a self-governing colony in 1890, Governor William Robinson initially indicated he would use the title prime minister to refer to the head of the government. However, after he appointed John Forrest, the title premier was used for consistency with the other Australian colonies. The position was first officially mentioned when the governor appointed Henry Lefroy as premier on 28 June 1917. However, when the governor designated and declared the six executive offices of the government on 2 July 1917, the position of premier was not listed, creating an ambiguity. It was not until 3 April 1947 that the premier became one of the executive offices of the government.
The most common cause for a change of premier is an election. Since the 1990s, elections have occurred roughly every four years. Before then, elections were at most three years apart, except for during World War II. A less common cause for a change of premier is the ruling party changing its leader. This can occur as a result of a resignation, death or leadership spill. In this case, the new premier is whoever the party elects as its new leader. Another cause for a change of premier is a loss of majority support in the Legislative Assembly. This commonly occurred in the first three decades of self-governance, but has not occurred since 1916. If this occurs, the premier must either resign or be dismissed by the governor.

## Powers and function

The powers of the premier are set out by convention and by legislation. By convention, the premier advises the Monarch of Australia as to who to appoint as governor. The premier advises the governor as to who to appoint to cabinet and which portfolios should be given to each cabinet minister. The premier sets out the responsibilities of ministers and the acts that they would administer. The premier leads the cabinet and chairs cabinet meetings. They communicate with the governor, the cabinet, the state government, other state and territory governments, the federal government, and overseas governments. The premier advises the governor on when state elections should be held. They oversee the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. While premier, they stay as a member of parliament and they retain their responsibility for representing their electoral district.

## Characteristics

As of 2023, there have been 31 premiers of Western Australia. Carmen Lawrence, who was appointed on 12 February 1990, is the first and only woman to be premier of Western Australia. She is also the first woman to be premier of an Australian state. By convention, the premier is a member of the Legislative Assembly. However, the premier can be a member of either house of parliament. Hal Colebatch is the only premier to be a member of the Legislative Council (upper house). He served for 30 days in 1919, making him the shortest serving premier of Western Australia. David Brand is the longest serving premier, serving for 11 years and 335 days between 1959 and 1971. The youngest premier is John Scaddan, who was 35 years, 2 months and 3 days old when he was sworn in in 1911. The oldest premier is John Tonkin, who was 69 years, 1 month and 1 day old when he was sworn in in 1971. Newton Moore became premier after two years in parliament, the least time aside from Forrest. Tonkin became premier after almost 38 years in parliament, the most time in parliament before becoming premier. The only father and son pair to have both been premier is Charles Court and his son Richard Court. George Leake, who died of pneumonia on 24 June 1902, is the only premier to have died in office. Moore, Philip Collier, John Willcock and Geoff Gallop are the only premiers to have resigned due to ill health.
Forrest, Colebatch and Lawrence are the only premiers to have served in the Parliament of Australia as well. Forrest and Lawrence are the only premiers to have been ministers in the Government of Australia as well. Moore is the only premier to have served in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. The only premier to subsequently serve as governor is James Mitchell. George Leake, Frank Wilson, Phillip Collier and Mitchell are the only people to have been premier more than once. There are currently eight living former premiers. The most recent premier to die is Ray O'Connor, who was premier from 1982 to 1983 and died in 2013.
Two former premiers have been sentenced to jail. In 1994, Brian Burke was sentenced to two years in jail for defrauding the state by $17,000 by making false claims on the parliamentary imprest account. He was released on parole after serving seven months. In 1995, O'Connor served six months in jail for stealing a $25,000 cheque from the Bond Corporation during his time as premier. In 1997, Burke was sentenced to three years jail for stealing $122,585 in Labor Party campaign donations. He served six months before this conviction was quashed upon appeal.

## List of premiers of Western Australia

| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–death) Constituency | Election | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Ministry | Monarch | Governor | Ref. |
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–death) Constituency | Election | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party | Ministry | Monarch | Governor | Ref. |
| 1 | | Sir John Forrest (1847–1918) MLA for Bunbury 1890–1901 | 1890 1894 1897 | 29 December 1890 | 14 February 1901 | 10 years, 48 days | None | Forrest ministry | Victoria | Frederick Broome | |
| 1 | | Sir John Forrest (1847–1918) MLA for Bunbury 1890–1901 | 1890 1894 1897 | 29 December 1890 | 14 February 1901 | 10 years, 48 days | None | Forrest ministry | Victoria | William Robinson | |
| 1 | | Sir John Forrest (1847–1918) MLA for Bunbury 1890–1901 | 1890 1894 1897 | 29 December 1890 | 14 February 1901 | 10 years, 48 days | None | Forrest ministry | Victoria | Gerard Smith | |
| 1 | | Sir John Forrest (1847–1918) MLA for Bunbury 1890–1901 | 1890 1894 1897 | 29 December 1890 | 14 February 1901 | 10 years, 48 days | None | Forrest ministry | Edward VII | Gerard Smith | |
| 2 | | George Throssell (1840–1910) MLA for Northam 1890–1904 MLC for East Province 1907–1910 | 1901 | 14 February 1901 | 27 May 1901 | 101 days | None | Throssell ministry | Edward VII | Gerard Smith | |
| 2 | | George Throssell (1840–1910) MLA for Northam 1890–1904 MLC for East Province 1907–1910 | 1901 | 14 February 1901 | 27 May 1901 | 101 days | None | Throssell ministry | Edward VII | Arthur Lawley | |
| 3 | | George Leake (1856–1902) MLA for Roebourne 1890 MLA for Albany 1894–1900 MLA for West Perth 1901–1902 | — | 27 May 1901 | 21 November 1901 | 178 days | None | First Leake ministry | Edward VII | Arthur Lawley | |
| 4 | | Alf Morgans (1850–1933) MLA for Coolgardie 1897–1904 | — | 21 November 1901 | 23 December 1901 | 32 days | None | Morgans ministry | Edward VII | Arthur Lawley | |
| (3) | | George Leake (1856–1902) MLA for Roebourne 1890 MLA for Albany 1894–1900 MLA for West Perth 1901–1902 | — | 23 December 1901 | 24 June 1902 | 190 days | None | Second Leake ministry | Edward VII | Arthur Lawley | |
| 5 | | Sir Walter James (1863–1943) MLA for East Perth 1894–1904 | — | 1 July 1902 | 10 August 1904 | 2 years, 40 days | None | James ministry | Edward VII | Arthur Lawley | |
| 5 | | Sir Walter James (1863–1943) MLA for East Perth 1894–1904 | — | 1 July 1902 | 10 August 1904 | 2 years, 40 days | None | James ministry | Edward VII | Frederick Bedford | |
| 6 | | Henry Daglish (1866–1920) MLA for Subiaco 1901–1911 | 1904 | 10 August 1904 | 25 August 1905 | 1 year, 15 days | Labor | Daglish ministry | Edward VII | Frederick Bedford | |
| 7 | | Sir Hector Rason (1858–1927) MLC for Swan 1889–1890 MLA for South Murchison 1897–1901 MLA for Guildford 1901–1906 | 1905 | 25 August 1905 | 7 May 1906 | 255 days | None | Rason ministry | Edward VII | Frederick Bedford | |
| 8 | | Sir Newton Moore (1870–1936) MLA for Bunbury 1904–1911 | 1908 | 7 May 1906 | 16 September 1910 | 4 years, 132 days | None | Moore ministry | Edward VII | Frederick Bedford | |
| 8 | | Sir Newton Moore (1870–1936) MLA for Bunbury 1904–1911 | 1908 | 7 May 1906 | 16 September 1910 | 4 years, 132 days | None | Moore ministry | Edward VII | Gerald Strickland | |
| 8 | | Sir Newton Moore (1870–1936) MLA for Bunbury 1904–1911 | 1908 | 7 May 1906 | 16 September 1910 | 4 years, 132 days | None | Moore ministry | George V | Gerald Strickland | |
| 9 | | Frank Wilson (1859–1918) MLA for Canning 1897–1901 MLA for Perth 1901 MLA for Sussex 1904–1917 | — | 16 September 1910 | 7 October 1911 | 1 year, 21 days | None | First Wilson ministry | George V | Gerald Strickland | |
| 10 | | John Scaddan (1876–1934) MLA for Ivanhoe 1904–1911 MLA for Brown Hill-Ivanhoe 1911–1916 1916–1917 MLA for Albany 1919–1924 MLA for Maylands 1930–1933 | 1911 1914 | 7 October 1911 | 27 July 1916 | 4 years, 294 days | Labor | Scaddan ministry | George V | Gerald Strickland | |
| 10 | | John Scaddan (1876–1934) MLA for Ivanhoe 1904–1911 MLA for Brown Hill-Ivanhoe 1911–1916 1916–1917 MLA for Albany 1919–1924 MLA for Maylands 1930–1933 | 1911 1914 | 7 October 1911 | 27 July 1916 | 4 years, 294 days | Labor | Scaddan ministry | George V | Harry Barron | |
| (9) | | Frank Wilson (1859–1918) MLA for Canning 1897–1901 MLA for Perth 1901 MLA for Sussex 1904–1917 | — | 27 July 1916 | 28 June 1917 | 336 days | Liberal | Second Wilson ministry | George V | Harry Barron | |
| (9) | | Frank Wilson (1859–1918) MLA for Canning 1897–1901 MLA for Perth 1901 MLA for Sussex 1904–1917 | — | 27 July 1916 | 28 June 1917 | 336 days | Liberal | Second Wilson ministry | George V | William Ellison-Macartney | |
| 11 | | Sir Henry Lefroy (1854–1930) MLA for Moore 1892–1901 1911–1921 | 1917 | 28 June 1917 | 17 April 1919 | 1 year, 293 days | Nationalist | Lefroy ministry | George V | William Ellison-Macartney | |
| 12 | | Sir Hal Colebatch (1872–1953) MLC for East Province 1912–1923 MLC for Metropolitan Province (1940–1948) | — | 17 April 1919 | 17 May 1919 | 30 days | Nationalist | Colebatch ministry | George V | William Ellison-Macartney | |
| 13 | | Sir James Mitchell (1866–1951) MLA for Northam 1905–1933 | 1921 | 17 May 1919 | 17 April 1924 | 4 years, 335 days | Nationalist | First Mitchell ministry | George V | William Ellison-Macartney | |
| 13 | | Sir James Mitchell (1866–1951) MLA for Northam 1905–1933 | 1921 | 17 May 1919 | 17 April 1924 | 4 years, 335 days | Nationalist | First Mitchell ministry | George V | Francis Newdegate | |
| 14 | | Philip Collier (1873–1948) MLA for Boulder 1905–1948 | 1924 1927 | 17 April 1924 | 24 April 1930 | 6 years, 8 days | Labor | First Collier ministry | George V | Francis Newdegate | |
| 14 | | Philip Collier (1873–1948) MLA for Boulder 1905–1948 | 1924 1927 | 17 April 1924 | 24 April 1930 | 6 years, 8 days | Labor | First Collier ministry | George V | William Campion | |
| (13) | | Sir James Mitchell (1866–1951) MLA for Northam 1905–1933 | 1930 | 24 April 1930 | 26 April 1933 | 3 years | Nationalist | Second Mitchell ministry | George V | William Campion | |
| (13) | | Sir James Mitchell (1866–1951) MLA for Northam 1905–1933 | 1930 | 24 April 1930 | 26 April 1933 | 3 years | Nationalist | Second Mitchell ministry | George V | None | |
| (14) | | Philip Collier (1873–1948) MLA for Boulder 1905–1948 | 1933 1936 | 26 April 1933 | 19 August 1936 | 3 years, 118 days | Labor | Second Collier ministry | George V | None | |
| (14) | | Philip Collier (1873–1948) MLA for Boulder 1905–1948 | 1933 1936 | 26 April 1933 | 19 August 1936 | 3 years, 118 days | Labor | Second Collier ministry | Edward VIII | None | |
| 15 | | John Willcock (1879–1947) MLA for Geraldton 1917–1947 | 1939 1943 | 19 August 1936 | 31 July 1945 | 8 years, 345 days | Labor | Willcock ministry | Edward VIII | None | |
| 15 | | John Willcock (1879–1947) MLA for Geraldton 1917–1947 | 1939 1943 | 19 August 1936 | 31 July 1945 | 8 years, 345 days | Labor | Willcock ministry | George VI | None | |
| 16 | | Frank Wise (1897–1986) MLA for Gascoyne 1933–1951 | — | 31 July 1945 | 1 April 1947 | 1 year, 244 days | Labor | Wise ministry | George VI | None | |
| 17 | | Sir Ross McLarty (1891–1962) MLA for Murray-Wellington 1930–1962 | 1947 1950 | 1 April 1947 | 23 February 1953 | 5 years, 328 days | Liberal | McLarty–Watts ministry | George VI | None | |
| 17 | | Sir Ross McLarty (1891–1962) MLA for Murray-Wellington 1930–1962 | 1947 1950 | 1 April 1947 | 23 February 1953 | 5 years, 328 days | Liberal | McLarty–Watts ministry | George VI | James Mitchell | |
| 17 | | Sir Ross McLarty (1891–1962) MLA for Murray-Wellington 1930–1962 | 1947 1950 | 1 April 1947 | 23 February 1953 | 5 years, 328 days | Liberal | McLarty–Watts ministry | George VI | Charles Gairdner | |
| 17 | | Sir Ross McLarty (1891–1962) MLA for Murray-Wellington 1930–1962 | 1947 1950 | 1 April 1947 | 23 February 1953 | 5 years, 328 days | Liberal | McLarty–Watts ministry | Elizabeth II | Charles Gairdner | |
| 18 | | Bert Hawke (1900–1986) MLA for Northam 1933–1968 | 1953 1956 | 23 February 1953 | 2 April 1959 | 6 years, 37 days | Labor | Hawke ministry | Elizabeth II | Charles Gairdner | |
| 19 | | Sir David Brand (1912–1979) MLA for Greenough 1945–1975 | 1959 1962 1965 1968 | 2 April 1959 | 3 March 1971 | 11 years, 335 days | Liberal | Brand–Watts ministry | Elizabeth II | Charles Gairdner | |
| 19 | | Sir David Brand (1912–1979) MLA for Greenough 1945–1975 | 1959 1962 1965 1968 | 2 April 1959 | 3 March 1971 | 11 years, 335 days | Liberal | Brand–Nalder ministry | Elizabeth II | Charles Gairdner | |
| 19 | | Sir David Brand (1912–1979) MLA for Greenough 1945–1975 | 1959 1962 1965 1968 | 2 April 1959 | 3 March 1971 | 11 years, 335 days | Liberal | Brand–Nalder ministry | Elizabeth II | Douglas Kendrew | |
| 20 | | John Tonkin (1902–1995) MLA for North-East Fremantle 1933–1950 MLA for Melville 1950–1977 | 1971 | 3 March 1971 | 8 April 1974 | 3 years, 66 days | Labor | Tonkin ministry | Elizabeth II | Douglas Kendrew | |
| 20 | | John Tonkin (1902–1995) MLA for North-East Fremantle 1933–1950 MLA for Melville 1950–1977 | 1971 | 3 March 1971 | 8 April 1974 | 3 years, 66 days | Labor | Tonkin ministry | Elizabeth II | Hughie Edwards | |
| 21 | | Sir Charles Court (1911–2007) MLA for Nedlands 1953–1982 | 1974 1977 1980 | 8 April 1974 | 25 January 1982 | 7 years, 292 days | Liberal | Court–McPharlin ministry | Elizabeth II | Hughie Edwards | |
| 21 | | Sir Charles Court (1911–2007) MLA for Nedlands 1953–1982 | 1974 1977 1980 | 8 April 1974 | 25 January 1982 | 7 years, 292 days | Liberal | Court ministry | Elizabeth II | Hughie Edwards | |
| 21 | | Sir Charles Court (1911–2007) MLA for Nedlands 1953–1982 | 1974 1977 1980 | 8 April 1974 | 25 January 1982 | 7 years, 292 days | Liberal | Court ministry | Elizabeth II | Wallace Kyle | |
| 21 | | Sir Charles Court (1911–2007) MLA for Nedlands 1953–1982 | 1974 1977 1980 | 8 April 1974 | 25 January 1982 | 7 years, 292 days | Liberal | Court ministry | Elizabeth II | Richard Trowbridge | |
| 22 | | Ray O'Connor (1926–2013) MLA for North Perth 1959–1962 MLA for Mount Lawley 1962–1984 | — | 25 January 1982 | 25 February 1983 | 1 year, 31 days | Liberal | O'Connor ministry | Elizabeth II | Richard Trowbridge | |
| 23 | | Brian Burke (born 1947) MLA for Balcatta 1973–1974 1977–1983 MLA for Balga 1974–1977 1983–1988 | 1983 1986 | 25 February 1983 | 25 February 1988 | 5 years | Labor | Burke ministry | Elizabeth II | Richard Trowbridge | |
| 23 | | Brian Burke (born 1947) MLA for Balcatta 1973–1974 1977–1983 MLA for Balga 1974–1977 1983–1988 | 1983 1986 | 25 February 1983 | 25 February 1988 | 5 years | Labor | Burke ministry | Elizabeth II | Gordon Reid | |
| 24 | | Peter Dowding (born 1943) MLC for North Province 1979–1986 MLA for Maylands 1986–1990 | 1989 | 25 February 1988 | 12 February 1990 | 1 year, 352 days | Labor | Dowding ministry | Elizabeth II | Gordon Reid | |
| 24 | | Peter Dowding (born 1943) MLC for North Province 1979–1986 MLA for Maylands 1986–1990 | 1989 | 25 February 1988 | 12 February 1990 | 1 year, 352 days | Labor | Dowding ministry | Elizabeth II | None | |
| 25 | | Carmen Lawrence (born 1948) MLA for Subiaco 1986–1989 MLA for Glendalough 1989–1994 | — | 12 February 1990 | 16 February 1993 | 3 years, 4 days | Labor | Lawrence ministry | Elizabeth II | None | |
| 25 | | Carmen Lawrence (born 1948) MLA for Subiaco 1986–1989 MLA for Glendalough 1989–1994 | — | 12 February 1990 | 16 February 1993 | 3 years, 4 days | Labor | Lawrence ministry | Elizabeth II | Francis Burt | |
| 26 | | Richard Court (born 1947) MLA for Nedlands 1982–2001 | 1993 1996 | 16 February 1993 | 16 February 2001 | 7 years, 360 days | Liberal | Court–Cowan ministry | Elizabeth II | Francis Burt | |
| 26 | | Richard Court (born 1947) MLA for Nedlands 1982–2001 | 1993 1996 | 16 February 1993 | 16 February 2001 | 7 years, 360 days | Liberal | Court–Cowan ministry | Elizabeth II | Michael Jeffery | |
| 26 | | Richard Court (born 1947) MLA for Nedlands 1982–2001 | 1993 1996 | 16 February 1993 | 16 February 2001 | 7 years, 360 days | Liberal | Court–Cowan ministry | Elizabeth II | John Sanderson | |
| 27 | | Geoff Gallop (born 1951) MLA for Victoria Park 1986–2006 | 2001 2005 | 16 February 2001 | 25 January 2006 | 4 years, 343 days | Labor | Gallop ministry | Elizabeth II | John Sanderson | |
| 27 | | Geoff Gallop (born 1951) MLA for Victoria Park 1986–2006 | 2001 2005 | 16 February 2001 | 25 January 2006 | 4 years, 343 days | Labor | Gallop ministry | Elizabeth II | Ken Michael | |
| 28 | | Alan Carpenter (born 1951) MLA for Willagee 1996–2009 | — | 25 January 2006 | 23 September 2008 | 2 years, 242 days | Labor | Carpenter ministry | Elizabeth II | Ken Michael | |
| 29 | | Colin Barnett (born 1950) MLA for Cottesloe 1990 – 2018 | 2008 2013 | 23 September 2008 | 17 March 2017 | 8 years, 175 days | Liberal | Barnett ministry | Elizabeth II | Ken Michael | |
| 29 | | Colin Barnett (born 1950) MLA for Cottesloe 1990 – 2018 | 2008 2013 | 23 September 2008 | 17 March 2017 | 8 years, 175 days | Liberal | Barnett ministry | Elizabeth II | Malcolm McCusker | |
| 29 | | Colin Barnett (born 1950) MLA for Cottesloe 1990 – 2018 | 2008 2013 | 23 September 2008 | 17 March 2017 | 8 years, 175 days | Liberal | Barnett ministry | Elizabeth II | Kerry Sanderson | |
| 30 | | Mark McGowan (born 1967) MLA for Rockingham 1996–2023 | 2017 2021 | 17 March 2017 | 8 June 2023 | 6 years, 83 days | Labor | First McGowan ministry | Elizabeth II | Kerry Sanderson | |
| 30 | | Mark McGowan (born 1967) MLA for Rockingham 1996–2023 | 2017 2021 | 17 March 2017 | 8 June 2023 | 6 years, 83 days | Labor | First McGowan ministry | Elizabeth II | Kim Beazley | |
| 30 | | Mark McGowan (born 1967) MLA for Rockingham 1996–2023 | 2017 2021 | 17 March 2017 | 8 June 2023 | 6 years, 83 days | Labor | Second McGowan ministry | Elizabeth II | Kim Beazley | |
| 30 | | Mark McGowan (born 1967) MLA for Rockingham 1996–2023 | 2017 2021 | 17 March 2017 | 8 June 2023 | 6 years, 83 days | Labor | Second McGowan ministry | Elizabeth II | Chris Dawson | |
| 30 | | Mark McGowan (born 1967) MLA for Rockingham 1996–2023 | 2017 2021 | 17 March 2017 | 8 June 2023 | 6 years, 83 days | Labor | Second McGowan ministry | Charles III | Chris Dawson | |
| 31 | | Roger Cook (born 1965) MLA for Kwinana 2008–present | — | 8 June 2023 | incumbent | 1 year, 274 days | Labor | Cook ministry | Charles III | Chris Dawson | |