Parliament of Western Australia

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Parliament of Western Australia
41st Parliament
Coat of arms or logo
Logo
Type
Type
Bicameral
HousesLegislative Council
Legislative Assembly
History
Founded30 December 1890; 131 years ago (30 December 1890)
Leadership
Elizabeth II
since 6 February 1952
Kim Beazley
since 1 May 2018
Alanna Clohesy, Labor
since 25 May 2021
Michelle Roberts, Labor
since 29 April 2021
Mark McGowan, Labor
since 17 March 2017
Mia Davies, National
since 13 March 2021
Structure
Seats95
59 MLAs
36 MLCs
2021.03.20 Western Australian Legislative Assembly - Composition of Members.svg
Legislative Assembly political groups
Government (53)

  Labor (53)
Opposition (6)
  National (4)

  Liberal (2)[a]
2021.05.24 Western Australian Legislative Council - Composition of Members.svg
Legislative Council political groups
Government (22)

  Labor (22)
Opposition (10)
  Liberal (7)[a]
  National (3) Crossbench (4)
  Legalise Cannabis (2)
  Greens (1)
  Daylight Saving (1)

 
Elections
Full preferential voting
Single transferable vote with group voting tickets
Legislative Assembly last election
13 March 2021
Last general election
13 March 2021
Next general election
8 March 2025
Meeting place
Parliament House, Perth, Western Australia.jpg
Parliament House,
Perth, Western Australia,
Australia
Website
www.parliament.wa.gov.au

The Parliament of Western Australia is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of Western Australia, forming the legislative branch of the Government of Western Australia. The parliament consists of a lower house, the Legislative Assembly, an upper house, the Legislative Council and the Queen, represented by the Governor of Western Australia. 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.[1]

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.

History[]

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.[2][3] The 2013 state election was the first election under the fixed date system.

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ a b After the 2021 election, the Nationals and Liberals formed an opposition alliance. However, it is not a formal coalition and both parties maintain their independence from each other.

References[]

  1. ^ "Legislative Assembly" (PDF). About Parliament. Parliament of Western Australia. p. 7.1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  2. ^ "New laws fix state election dates". ABC News. ABC News (Australia). 4 November 2011. Archived from the original on 7 December 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  3. ^ Green, Antony (8 February 2011). "Future election dates". ABC Elections. Australian Broadcasting Company. Archived from the original on 8 September 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2012.

External links[]

Coordinates: 31°57′06″S 115°50′49″E / 31.95167°S 115.84694°E / -31.95167; 115.84694

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