Lyla Lindsey
Western Australia has a bicameral parliamentary system, consisting of the Legislative Council (upper house) and the Legislative Assembly (lower house). Together, the two houses form the Parliament of Western Australia, which constitutes the legislative branch of the state's political system. The current premier of Western Australia is Roger Cook, who was appointed on June 8, 2023. The Legislative Council has 36 members, while the Legislative Assembly consists of 59 members. Western Australia has a rich political history, with notable figures such as Edith Cowan, the first Australian woman to serve as a member of parliament, and John Curtin, the first and only Prime Minister of Australia to represent an electorate outside the eastern states.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of members in the Legislative Council (upper house) | 36 |
| Number of members in the Legislative Assembly (lower house) | 59 |
| Number of acts passed in 2023 | 34 |
| Year Western Australia achieved self-governance | 1890 |
| Number of premiers since 1890 | 31 |
| Current premier | Roger Cook |
| Year fixed four-year terms were introduced for Parliament | 2011 |
| Year of the first election under the fixed-term system | 2013 |
| Oldest recorded act of Parliament | Civil Court of Western Australia (1832) Act |
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What You'll Learn
Western Australia has a bicameral parliamentary system
The Legislative Council currently has 36 members, while the Legislative Assembly has 59. Members of the Legislative Council are elected for four-year terms from multi-member constituencies by proportional representation. The Legislative Assembly's members are also elected for four-year terms.
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 with majority support in the Legislative Assembly is invited by the governor to form a government, with the head of government holding the office of Premier of Western Australia.
Bicameral legislatures are common in federal governments, such as those of the United States, Australia, Brazil, and Canada. They are also found in quasi-federal governments, such as those of Germany and India. The United Kingdom, which has a House of Commons and a House of Lords, also has a bicameral legislature.
Bicameral legislatures have been trending downward, with unicameral, proportional legislatures seen as more democratic and effective. However, bicameralism can provide a system of checks and balances, with two chambers providing an additional layer to avoid hasty and harsh legislation.
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The Legislative Council has 36 members
The Parliament of Western Australia is a bicameral legislature, consisting of the King (represented by the) governor, the Legislative Council (upper house), and the Legislative Assembly (lower house). The Legislative Council currently has 36 members, who are elected for four-year terms from multi-member constituencies by proportional representation. On the other hand, the Legislative Assembly has 59 members, elected for four-year terms from single-member constituencies.
The Parliament of Western Australia operates within a constitutional monarchy framework, with legislative power vested in the Crown and the two houses of parliament. This means that 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 governor, as the representative of the King, plays a crucial role in appointing the premier, who leads the executive branch of the government. The premier is typically the leader of the party or coalition with the majority support of the Legislative Assembly.
The Legislative Council, with its 36 members, serves as the upper house of parliament and has important legislative functions. It provides a forum for debate and deliberation on proposed laws and policies, allowing for a more comprehensive examination of legislation before it becomes law. The multi-member constituencies represented in the Legislative Council also ensure that a range of perspectives and interests from across Western Australia are considered in the decision-making process.
The 36 members of the Legislative Council are elected through a system of proportional representation, which aims to ensure that the composition of the upper house reflects the diverse political views of the electorate. This system allows for a more accurate representation of the various political parties and independents, providing a platform for a broader spectrum of ideas and ideologies. The four-year terms for members of the Legislative Council align with those of the Legislative Assembly, facilitating a synchronized electoral process and enabling a more stable and consistent legislative environment.
The Western Australian Legislative Council has undergone a transformative journey since its inception in 1832 as an appointed body. The evolution towards a democratically elected Legislative Council with fixed four-year terms reflects the region's commitment to representative governance. The current composition of 36 members in the Legislative Council strikes a balance between effective decision-making and ensuring diverse representation in Western Australia's legislative process.
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The Legislative Assembly has 59 members
Western Australia has a bicameral parliamentary system, consisting of the Legislative Council (upper house) and the Legislative Assembly (lower house). The Legislative Assembly is made up of 59 elected members, who serve four-year terms.
The lower house, or Legislative Assembly, is where the majority of parliamentary decisions are made. It is also where the premier—the head of the government of Western Australia—is appointed from. The premier is the leader of the party or coalition with the most support in the Legislative Assembly. The premier leads the executive branch of the government and is accountable to the parliament.
The Legislative Assembly has been in place since 1890 when Western Australia attained self-government. The first premier, John Forrest, held office until 1901. Since then, there have been 31 premiers, with Roger Cook being appointed the most recent in June 2023.
The Legislative Assembly, along with the Legislative Council, forms the legislative branch of Western Australia's political system. For a bill to become law, it must be passed by both houses and receive royal assent from the governor, who represents the King of Australia in the state.
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The premier leads the government
The Parliament of Western Australia is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of Western Australia. It consists of the King (represented by the governor), the Legislative Council (the upper house), and the Legislative Assembly (the lower house). The head of government holds the office of Premier of Western Australia. The premier leads the executive branch of the Government of Western Australia and is accountable to the Parliament of Western Australia.
The role of premier at a state level is comparable to that of the prime minister of Australia at a federal level. The premier is appointed by the governor of Western Australia and is typically the leader of the political party or coalition commanding the support of a majority of the members of the Legislative Assembly. The premier advises the governor on cabinet appointments and portfolio assignments, leads and chairs cabinet meetings, and communicates with various government entities. They also advise the governor on the timing of state elections and oversee the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
The position of premier in Western Australia was first held by John Forrest, who served from 1890 to 1901. Roger Cook is the current premier, having been appointed on June 8, 2023. The premier's powers are established by convention and legislation, and they remain a member of parliament, representing their electoral district. The premier's role includes advising the Monarch of Australia on the appointment of the governor and providing recommendations on cabinet appointments and portfolio allocations.
Western Australia has had 31 premiers since achieving self-governance in 1890. David Brand served the longest term, holding office for nearly 12 years between 1959 and 1971. John Scaddan, who became premier in 1911 at the age of 35, was the youngest person to hold the office, while John Tonkin, sworn in at 69 years old in 1971, was the oldest. The position of premier in Western Australia has a rich history, with notable figures like Charles Court and his son Richard Court, the only father-and-son pair to have both served as premier.
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The governor appoints the premier
The Parliament of Western Australia is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of Western Australia. It consists of the King (represented by the governor), the Legislative Council (the upper house), and the Legislative Assembly (the lower house). The Legislative Council currently has 36 members, while the Legislative Assembly has 59.
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of government of the state of Western Australia. The role of premier is similar to that of the prime minister of Australia at the 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. The governor appoints as premier whoever commands 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 coalition of parties with a majority of seats in the Legislative Assembly.
Historically, the position of premier was not officially mentioned in the constitution of Western Australia. From 1890 to 1917, it was an unofficial title used to refer to the head of the government. The position was first officially recognised when the governor appointed Henry Lefroy as premier on 28 June 1917. Roger Cook is the current premier, having been appointed on 8 June 2023.
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Frequently asked questions
There are 95 members of parliament in Western Australia.
The two houses of parliament in Western Australia are the Legislative Council (upper house) and the Legislative Assembly (lower house).
There are currently 36 members in the Legislative Council.
There are currently 59 members in the Legislative Assembly.
The head of the Government of Western Australia is the premier, currently Roger Cook, who has been in office since June 2023.
