Legislative body of the Australian state of Western Australia
The Parliament of Western Australia is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of Western Australia, which constitutes the legislative branch of the state's political system. The parliament consists of the King (represented by the governor), the Legislative Council (the upper house) and the Legislative Assembly (the lower house).[1] The two houses of parliament sit in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth.
For a bill to become law, it must be passed by both the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly, and receive royal assent from the Governor.
The party or coalition commanding the support of a majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly is invited by the governor to form government. The head of government holds the office of Premier of Western Australia.[2]
Currently, the Legislative Council has 36 members elected for four-year terms from multi-member constituencies by proportional representation, and the Legislative Assembly has 59 members, elected for four-year terms from single-member constituencies, using preferential voting. As with all other Australian states and territories, enrolment to vote and voting for both Houses is compulsory for all resident Australian citizens—and eligible British citizens (i.e., those permanently resident and on the electoral roll prior to the passage of the Australia Act)—who are over the legal voting age of 18.
The Western Australian Legislative Council was created in 1832 as an appointed body. In 1870 the then colony was ruled by a governor and an advisory Legislative Council made up of appointed officials and elected members. The Western Australian Legislative Assembly was created in 1890 when the then colony attained self-government. The first premier was John Forrest, who held office until 1901.
On 3 November 2011, the government introduced fixed four-year terms for Parliament, with elections being held every four years on the second Saturday in March.[3][4] The 2013 state election was the first election under the fixed date system.
Acts of Parliament[edit] Bar chart showing the number of acts of the Parliament of Western Australia by year (1989-2024)The oldest recorded act of Parliament in Western Australia is the Civil Court of Western Australia (1832) act, an act for establishing a Court of Civil Judicature, assented to on 10 February 1832, under the first Governor of Western Australia, James Stirling. It predates the Parliament of Western Australia and was passed by the Western Australian Legislative Council instead.[5] All up, ten acts were passed in 1832.[6]
Since 1832, acts have been passed in every year but 1890, the year the Western Australian Parliament was formed.[5] The last act to be passed prior to the establishment of the Parliament was the Electoral Act 1889,[7] assented to on 26 June 1890.[8]
In 2023, the Western Australian Parliament passed 34 acts.[9]
Longest-serving members[edit]Members of the Western Australian upper and lower houses with over 30 years of service.
Name Party Chamber Start of tenure End of tenure Period of service John Tonkin Labor Legislative Assembly 8 April 1933 19 February 1977 43 years, 317 days Philip Collier Labor Legislative Assembly 27 October 1905 18 October 1948 42 years, 357 days Vernon Hamersley Country Legislative Council 5 August 1904 24 October 1946 42 years, 80 days John Drew Labor Legislative Council 14 May 1900 21 May 1918 41 years, 108 days 16 April 1924 17 July 1947 Sydney Stubbs Country Legislative Council 22 May 1908 20 September 1911 39 years, 284 days Legislative Assembly 3 October 1911 15 March 1947 William Johnson Labor Legislative Assembly 24 April 1901 27 October 1905 39 years, 215 days 16 July 1906 29 September 1917 22 March 1924 26 January 1948 Bill Grayden Liberal Legislative Assembly 15 March 1947 27 October 1949 39 years, 176 days 7 April 1956 6 February 1993 Arthur Wilson Labor Legislative Assembly 11 September 1908 17 February 1947 38 years, 159 days Sir John Kirwan Free Trade Legislative Council 22 May 1908 21 May 1946 37 years, 364 days Norman Moore Liberal Legislative Council 22 May 1977 21 May 2013 35 years, 364 days James Hegney Labor Legislative Assembly 12 April 1930 15 March 1947 35 years, 344 days 25 March 1950 23 March 1968 Charles Baxter Country Legislative Council 22 May 1914 2 March 1950 35 years, 284 days Joseph Sleeman Labor Legislative Assembly 22 March 1924 21 March 1959 34 years, 364 days Bert Hawke Labor Legislative Assembly 24 April 1933 23 March 1968 34 years, 334 days Frank Troy Labor Legislative Assembly 24 June 1904 18 March 1939 34 years, 267 days Sir Edward Wittenoom Nationalist Legislative Council 30 May 1883 23 January 1884 34 years, 113 days 25 June 1885 6 November 1886 16 July 1894 28 April 1898 12 May 1902 6 November 1906 13 May 1910 12 May 1934 George Miles Independent Legislative Council 18 September 1916 21 May 1950 33 years, 245 days Colin Jamieson Labor Legislative Assembly 14 February 1953 8 February 1986 32 years, 359 days Charles North Liberal Legislative Assembly 22 March 1924 7 April 1956 32 years, 16 days Eric Heenan Labor Legislative Council 22 May 1936 21 May 1968 32 years, 0 days Clive Griffiths Liberal Legislative Council 22 May 1965 21 May 1997 31 years, 364 days Sir Harold Seddon Liberal Legislative Council 22 May 1922 21 May 1954 31 years, 364 days Sir Ross McLarty Labor Legislative Assembly 12 April 1930 31 March 1962 31 years, 353 days James Mann Liberal Legislative Assembly 12 April 1930 31 March 1962 31 years, 353 days William Marshall Labor Legislative Assembly 12 March 1921 19 August 1952 31 years, 160 days Michelle Roberts Labor Legislative Council 19 March 1994 8 March 2025 30 years, 354 days Gilbert Fraser Labor Legislative Council 22 May 1928 1 November 1958 30 years, 163 days Graham MacKinnon Liberal Legislative Council 22 May 1956 21 May 1986 30 years, 0 days31°57′06″S 115°50′49″E / 31.95167°S 115.84694°E / -31.95167; 115.84694
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