
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the government of the state of Western Australia. The role of the Premier is similar to that of the Prime Minister of Australia, but at a state level. The Premier leads the executive branch of the Government of Western Australia and is accountable to the Parliament of Western Australia. The Premier advises the Monarch of Australia on the appointment of the governor and advises the governor on cabinet appointments and state elections. The current Premier of Western Australia is Roger Cook, who was appointed on 8 June 2023.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Head of government of the state of Western Australia | Roger Cook |
| Similar role to the prime minister of Australia | Appointed on 8 June 2023 |
| Leads the executive branch of the Government of Western Australia | Appointed by the governor of Western Australia |
| Accountable to the Parliament of Western Australia | Leader of the political party with a majority of seats in the Legislative Assembly |
| Advises the Monarch of Australia on the appointment of the governor | 31 people have held the position since 1890 |
| Advises the governor on cabinet appointments and their portfolios | --- |
| Leads and chairs cabinet meetings | --- |
| Communicates with the governor, cabinet, state government, other state and territory governments, the federal government, and overseas governments | --- |
| Advises the governor on when state elections should be held | --- |
| Oversees the Department of the Premier and Cabinet | --- |
| Remains a member of parliament | --- |
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What You'll Learn
- The premier is the head of the government of Western Australia
- The premier leads the executive branch of the government
- The role of premier is similar to the role of the Prime Minister of Australia
- The premier advises the governor on cabinet appointments and election dates
- The premier is appointed by the governor of Western Australia

The premier is the head of the government of Western Australia
The premier is appointed by the governor of Western Australia. By convention, the governor appoints 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.
The powers of the premier are set out by convention and by legislation. The premier advises the governor on cabinet appointments and portfolio allocations, leads and chairs cabinet meetings, and advises the governor on when state elections should be held. The premier also communicates with various government bodies, including the federal government and overseas governments.
The position of premier was not initially 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 title "premier" was first used when John Forrest was appointed in 1890, to maintain consistency with the other Australian colonies. The position was officially mentioned when Henry Lefroy was appointed premier in 1917, but it was not designated as one of the executive offices of the government until 1947.
Since Western Australia achieved self-governance in 1890, there have been 31 premiers. The current premier is Roger Cook, who was appointed on 8 June 2023. Cook has oversight of key portfolios such as State and Industry Development, Jobs and Trade, and Federal-State Relations. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly since 2008 and has a background in politics and public relations.
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The premier leads the executive branch of the government
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the state government and leads the executive branch of the Government of Western Australia. The role is similar to that of the Prime Minister of Australia at the federal level. The Premier is accountable to the Parliament of Western Australia and is appointed by the governor of Western Australia. The governor typically appoints the leader of the political party or coalition of parties with a majority in the Legislative Assembly as the Premier.
The Premier's powers are established by convention and legislation. They advise the Monarch of Australia on the appointment of the governor and counsel the governor on cabinet appointments and portfolio allocations. The Premier outlines the responsibilities of ministers and the acts they administer. They lead and chair cabinet meetings and communicate with the governor, cabinet, state government, other state and territory governments, the federal government, and overseas governments. The Premier advises the governor on the timing of state elections. They oversee the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and remain a member of parliament, representing their electoral district.
The Premier of Western Australia has significant responsibilities and powers, including advising the Monarch and governor, leading the cabinet, and overseeing the state's administration. They play a crucial role in governing the state and ensuring its effective management. The current Premier of Western Australia is Roger Cook, who was appointed on June 8, 2023. He has oversight of key portfolios such as State and Industry Development, Jobs and Trade, Public Sector Management, and Federal-State Relations.
The Department of the Premier and Cabinet plays a vital role in supporting the Premier and Cabinet Ministers. It provides quality policy and administrative advice, assisting in decision-making and implementing the government's agenda. The Department also facilitates connections between potential candidates and Western Australian boards and committees, offering administrative support to Cabinet and its sub-committees. The Premier's role has evolved since Western Australia achieved self-governance in 1890, with 31 individuals holding the office since then. The position was initially unofficial, referred to as “premier” for consistency with other Australian colonies.
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The role of premier is similar to the role of the Prime Minister of Australia
The role of the Premier of Western Australia is similar to that of the Prime Minister of Australia. The Premier is the head of the government of the state of Western Australia and leads the executive branch of the Government of Western Australia. The Premier is accountable to the Parliament of Western Australia and is appointed by the governor of the state. The Premier advises the governor on cabinet appointments and portfolio allocations. They also advise the Monarch of Australia on the appointment of the governor.
The Premier leads and chairs cabinet meetings. They communicate with various stakeholders, including the governor, the cabinet, the state government, other state and territory governments, the federal government, and overseas governments. The Premier advises the governor on the timing of state elections and retains their responsibility for representing their electoral district.
The Premier of Western Australia has oversight of key portfolios such as State and Industry Development, Jobs and Trade, Public Sector Management, and Federal-State Relations. The current Premier, Roger Cook, has been a member of the Legislative Assembly since 2008 and has a background in policy and Aboriginal issues.
The role of the Premier is similar to the Prime Minister in leading the state or country, respectively, and in advising the governor or monarch on key appointments. The Premier, like the Prime Minister, plays a crucial role in governing the state, including overseeing portfolios and communicating with various government entities.
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The premier advises the governor on cabinet appointments and election dates
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the government of the state of Western Australia. The role is similar to that of the Prime Minister of Australia but at a state level. The Premier is accountable to the Parliament of Western Australia and is appointed by the governor of Western Australia.
The Premier is responsible for setting out the responsibilities of ministers and the acts that they administer. They oversee the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and stay as a member of parliament, retaining their responsibility for representing their electoral district.
The current Premier of Western Australia is Roger Cook, who was appointed on 8 June 2023. He has oversight of key portfolios such as State and Industry Development, Jobs and Trade, Public Sector Management, and Federal-State Relations. Roger Cook has a background in politics and a passion for Aboriginal issues.
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The premier is appointed by the governor of Western Australia
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the government of the state of Western Australia. The role is similar to that of the Prime Minister of Australia, but at a state level. The Premier leads the executive branch of the Government of Western Australia and is accountable to the Parliament of Western Australia.
The position of Premier was not initially mentioned in the constitution of Western Australia, and from 1890 to 1917, it was not an official position. Instead, it was the title unofficially given to the head of the government. When Western Australia became a self-governing colony in 1890, Governor William Robinson indicated he would use the title "Prime Minister" to refer to the head of government. However, after appointing John Forrest, the title "Premier" was used for consistency with the other Australian colonies.
The role of the Premier is to advise the Monarch of Australia on appointments to the cabinet and the portfolios that should be given to each cabinet minister. The Premier leads the cabinet and chairs cabinet meetings, as well as communicating with the governor, the state government, other states and territories, the federal government, and overseas governments. The Premier advises the governor on when state elections should be held and oversees the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
As of 2023, there have been 31 premiers of Western Australia, with the current Premier being Roger Cook, who was appointed on 8 June 2023. Roger Cook has oversight of key portfolios such as State and Industry Development, Jobs and Trade, Public Sector Management, and Federal-State Relations.
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Frequently asked questions
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the government of the state of Western Australia. The role is similar to that of the Prime Minister of Australia but at a state level.
The Premier is appointed by the governor of Western Australia. By convention, the governor appoints whoever has the support of the majority of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly.
The Premier leads the executive branch of the Government of Western Australia and is accountable to the Parliament of Western Australia. They advise the governor on matters such as cabinet appointments and state elections, and they lead and chair cabinet meetings.
The current Premier is Roger Cook, who was appointed on 8 June 2023.
The longest-serving Premier was David Brand, who served for almost 12 years between 1959 and 1971.



























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