Introduction

The premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive branch of government in the Australian state of Western Australia. The premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions.

The incumbent premier of Western Australia is Mark McGowan who won the 2017 state election and was sworn in on 17 March 2017 by Governor Kerry Sanderson as the 30th premier of Western Australia.

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Function

The premier must be a member of one of the two Houses of the Parliament of Western Australia; and by convention the premier is a member of the lower house, the Legislative Assembly.^{[citation needed]} He or she is appointed by the governor on the advice of the lower house, and must resign if he or she loses the support of the majority of that house. Consequently, the premier is almost always the leader of the political party or coalition of parties with the majority of seats in the lower house.

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History

The office of premier of Western Australia was first formed in 1890, after Western Australia was officially granted responsible government by Britain in 1889. The Constitution of Western Australia does not explicitly provide for a premier, and the office was not formally listed as one of the executive offices until the appointment of Ross McLarty in 1947. Nonetheless, John Forrest immediately adopted the title on taking office as first premier of Western Australia in 1890, and it has been used ever since.

John Forrest was the only premier of Western Australia as a self-governing colony. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, Western Australia became an Australian state and the responsibilities of the office of premier were diminished.

Party politics began in Western Australia with the rise of the Labor party in 1901. By 1904, the party system was entrenched in Western Australian politics. Since then the premiers have been associated with political parties.

Western Australia's constitution contains nothing to preclude the premier being a member of the upper house, the Western Australian Legislative Council. Historically and by convention, however, the premier is a member of the Assembly. The only exception has been Hal Colebatch, a member of the Legislative Council who accepted the premiership in April 1919 on the understanding that an Assembly seat would be found for him, only to resign a month later when no seat could be found.

During the economic boom of the 1980s, the Western Australian government became closely involved with a number of large businesses. A succession of deals were made between the government and businesses, and these ultimately caused great losses for the state. A subsequent royal commission found evidence of widespread corruption. Three former premiers were found to have acted improperly and two of them, Ray O'Connor and Brian Burke, were jailed. This scandal became popularly known as WA Inc.

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List of premiers of Western Australia

No.	Name (lifespan)	Portrait	Constituency	Party	Term of office		Ministry	Election(s)	Ref
1	Sir John Forrest (1847–1918)		MLA for Bunbury 1890–1901 (resigned)	none (pro-Forrest)	29 December 1890	15 February 1901	Forrest Ministry	1890 1894 1897
			Appointed by Governor William Robinson as the first premier of Western Australia. Began large-scale public works projects, including Fremantle Harbour and the Goldfields Water Supply Scheme. Perth Mint opened. Represented Western Australia at Federation conferences. Resigned in February 1901 to run for the seat of Swan in the federal House of Representatives.
2	George Throssell (1840–1910)		MLA for Northam 1890–1904 (resigned) MLC for East Province 1907–1910 (died)	none (pro-Forrest)	15 February 1901	27 May 1901	Throssell Ministry	1901
			Took over as Premier and Treasurer after Forrest's resignation in February 1901. Contested the 1901 election as Premier, but resigned after his faction failed to win a majority of seats.
3	George Leake (I) (1856–1902)		MLA for Roebourne 1890 (resigned) MLA for Albany 1894–1900 (resigned) MLA for West Perth 1901–1902 (died)	none (Opposition)	27 May 1901	21 November 1901	1st Leake Ministry	–
			Became Premier as a compromise between the opposing factions of Frederick Illingworth and George Throssell. Served for five months before his government was defeated on a no-confidence vote.
4	Alf Morgans (1850–1933)		MLA for Coolgardie 1897–1904 (resigned)	none (Ministerialist)	21 November 1901	23 December 1901	Morgans Ministry	–
			Served as Premier for 32 days as a compromise after George Leake's government was defeated. Resigned after members of his Cabinet were defeated in a ministerial by-election.
– (3)	George Leake (II) (1856–1902)		MLA for Roebourne 1890 (resigned) MLA for Albany 1894–1900 (resigned) MLA for West Perth 1901–1902 (died)	none (Opposition)	23 December 1901	24 June 1902	2nd Leake Ministry	–
			Again became Premier after the failure of Alf Morgans' government. Died in office on 24 June 1902.
5	Sir Walter James (1863–1943)		MLA for East Perth 1894–1904 (resigned)	none (Opposition)	1 July 1902	10 August 1904	James Ministry	-
			Sworn in as Premier after Leake's death. Led a reforming government, which legalised trade unions and introduced workers' compensation and a stronger Arbitration Act. Unsuccessfully attempted to reform the franchise. Defeated in a no-confidence motion after the 1904 election.
6	Henry Daglish (1866–1920)		MLA for Subiaco 1901–1911 (lost seat)	Labor Party	10 August 1904	25 August 1905	Daglish Ministry	1904
			Western Australia's first Labor premier. John Drayon, a newspaper editor, imprisoned under parliamentary privilege. Defeated after twelve months over plans to buy out the Midland Railway Company for £1.5 million.
7	Sir Hector Rason (1858–1927)		MLC for Swan 1889–1890 (resigned) MLA for South Murchison 1897–1901 (resigned) MLA for Guildford 1901–1906 (resigned)	Ministerialist	25 August 1905	7 May 1906	Morgans Ministry	1905
			Became premier after Henry Daglish's government was defeated. Headed a Royal Commission on immigration. Resigned in 1906 after appointing himself Agent General.
8	Sir Newton Moore (1870–1936)		MLA for Bunbury 1904–1911 (resigned)	Ministerialist	7 May 1906	16 September 1910	Moore Ministry	1908
			Began as premier at age 36, with only two years of parliamentary experience, at the time the youngest ever premier. Placed emphasis on agriculture and rural development, establishing the Wheatbelt and implementing the Income and Land Tax. Resigned in September 1910 on grounds of ill health.
9	Frank Wilson (I) (1859–1918)		MLA for Canning 1895–1901 (seat abolished) MLA for Perth 1901 (lost seat) MLA for Sussex 1904–1917 (lost seat)	Ministerialist	16 September 1910	7 October 1911	1st Wilson Ministry	-
			Pushed through legislation which established the University of Western Australia and a number of electoral reform bills. Lost in a landslide to Labor at the 1911 election.
10	John Scaddan (1876–1934)		MLA for Ivanhoe 1904–1911 (seat abolished) MLA for Brown Hill-Ivanhoe 1911–1916 (resigned) 1916–1917 (lost seat) MLA for Albany 1919–1924 (did not contest) MLA for Maylands 1930–1933 (lost seat)	Labor Party	7 October 1911	27 July 1916	Scaddan Ministry	1911 1914
			Passed a number of reform bills, established a state income tax, extended workers' compensation, reformed the education system, and set up a number of state-owned industries, including the State Shipping Service, abattoirs, sawmills, quarries, brickworks and farms. SS Koombana wrecked off the coast of Port Hedland. Government defeated July 1916, in part due to heavy debt and the Nevanas affair.
– (9)	Frank Wilson (II) (1859–1918)		MLA for Canning 1895–1901 (seat abolished) MLA for Perth 1901 (lost seat) MLA for Sussex 1904–1917 (lost seat)	Liberal Party	27 July 1916	28 June 1917	2nd Wilson Ministry	–
			Returned as premier after Scaddan's Labor government lost a majority in the lower house. Replaced by Henry Lefroy as premier after a new Nationalist Party was formed, without Wilson and several of his ministers.
11	Henry Lefroy (1854–1930)		MLA for Moore 1892–1901 (did not contest) 1911–1921 (did not contest)	Nationalist Party	28 June 1917	17 April 1919	Lefroy Ministry	1917
			Elected leader by the newly formed majority Nationalist Party. Moore River Native Settlement established 1918. Resigned in 1919 after an unsuccessful leadership spill which forced Lefroy to cast the deciding vote on his premiership.
12	Hal Colebatch (1872–1953)		MLC for East Province 1912–1923 (resigned)	Nationalist Party	17 April 1919	17 May 1919	Lefroy Ministry	–
			After being elected leader of the Nationalist Party, Colebatch served as premier from the Legislative Council with the understanding that a lower house seat would be found for him. Resigned after a month when no seat could be found for him. Pelted with rocks during the Fremantle wharf crisis. The only person to serve as premier while a member of the upper house, and the short-serving premier.
13	Sir James Mitchell (I) (1866–1951)		MLA for Northam 1905–1933 (lost seat)	Nationalist Party	17 May 1919	16 April 1924	1st Mitchell Ministry	1921
			Established a strong Western Australian dairy industry. Initiated the Group Settlement and Soldier Settlement Schemes in the South West. Race riots in Broome in 1920. Defeated by Labor at the 1924 election.
14	Philip Collier (I) (1873–1948)		MLA for Boulder 1905–1948 (died)	Labor Party	16 April 1924	24 April 1930	1st Collier Ministry	1924 1927
			Reduced taxation, allowing the first surplus in 16 years. Continued the previous government's rural development initiatives. Woods Royal Commission on the Forrest River massacre. Centenary of Western Australia celebrated. Introduced a minimum wage and a 40-hour working week.
– (13)	Sir James Mitchell (II) (1866–1951)		MLA for Northam 1905–1933 (lost seat)	Nationalist Party	24 April 1930	24 April 1933	2nd Mitchell Ministry	1930
			Returned after the 1930 election, governing in coalition with the Country Party. Secession referendum held in 1933 was passed with 66% of the vote, however, the Nationalist/Country coalition lost power at the 1933, and the returning Labor government did not act on the results. Moseley Royal Commission regarding the treatment of Aboriginals established.
– (14)	Philip Collier (II) (1873–1948)		MLA for Boulder 1905–1948 (died)	Labor Party	24 April 1933	19 August 1936	2nd Collier Ministry	1933 1936
			Led his party to victory at the 1936 election. Resigned August 1936. Over his two terms, served nine years and 126 days, the longest by a Labor premier.
15	John Willcock (1879–1956)		MLA for Geraldton 1917–1947 (died)	Labor Party	20 August 1936	31 July 1945	Willcock Ministry	1939 1943
			Introduced a range of small secondary industries. Considered a plan for a Jewish homeland in the Kimberley. Japanese planes attack Broome and the MV Koolama. Represented Western Australia at the coronation of King George V in 1937. Resigned in 1945 due to ill health.
16	Frank Wise (1897–1986)		MLA for Gascoyne 1933–1951 (resigned)	Labor Party	31 July 1945	1 April 1947	Wise Ministry	-
			Chosen to serve as premier after John Willcock's resignation. Introduced Air Beef Scheme in the Kimberley. Wise's government was defeated at the 1947 election.
17	Sir Ross McLarty (1891–1962)		MLA for Murray-Wellington 1930–1962 (resigned)	Liberal Party	1 April 1947	23 February 1953	McLarty–Watts Ministry	1947 1950
			Governed in coalition with the Country Party. Introduced post-war industrial development, including oil refineries at Kwinana. Established the State Housing Commission. Lost office at the 1953 election.
18	Albert Hawke (1900–1986)		MLA for Northam 1933–1968 (did not contest)	Labor Party	23 February 1953	2 April 1959	Hawke Ministry	1953 1956
			Improved public housing. Aboriginal Australians given citizenship rights in 1954. Passed heavily criticised anti-profiteering legislation. The first premier born in the 20th century.
19	Sir David Brand (1912–1979)		MLA for Greenough 1945–1975 (resigned)	Liberal Party	2 April 1959	3 March 1971	Brand–Watts Ministry Brand–Nalder Ministry	1959 1962 1965 1968
			First mining of iron ore in the Pilbara. Expanded mineral processing at Kwinana and in the South West. 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games held in Perth.Federal funding obtained for Ord River Scheme. Controversy over proposed demolition of the Barracks Arch. Mining Poseidon bubble burst. Conflict with the federal government over wheat quotas. Lost power at the 1971 election.
20	John Tonkin (1902–1995)		MLA for North-East Fremantle 1933–1950 (seat abolished) MLA for Melville 1950–1977 (did not contest)	Labor Party	3 March 1971	8 April 1974	Tonkin Ministry	1971
			Emphasis on education and further industrial development.
21	Sir Charles Court (1911–2007)		MLA for Nedlands 1953–1982 (resigned)	Liberal Party	8 April 1974	25 January 1982	Court–McPharlin Ministry Court Ministry	1974 1977 1980
			Emphasised development of mining, oil and natural gas industries, precipitating a mining boom. Perth–Fremantle railway line closed September 1979. Murdoch University and Art Gallery of Western Australia opened. 150th anniversary of European settlement celebrated. Retired January 1982.
22	Ray O'Connor (1926–2013)		MLA for North Perth 1959–1962 (seat abolished) MLA for Mount Lawley 1962–1984 (resigned)	Liberal Party	25 January 1982	25 February 1983	O'Connor Ministry	-
			Continued Charles Court's policies of mining and industrial development. Perth Mint Swindle. Lost power at the 1983 election. In 1992, jailed for six months as part of the WA Inc scandal.
23	Brian Burke (born 1947)		MLA for Balcatta 1973–1974 (seat abolished) 1977–1983 (did not contest) MLA for Balga 1974–1977 (seat abolished) 1983–1988 (did not contest)	Labor Party	25 February 1983	25 February 1988	Burke Ministry	1983 1986
		Fremantle railway line re-opened. Capital punishment abolished 1984. Stock market crash. In 1992, jailed for seven months as part of the WA Inc scandal.
24	Peter Dowding (born 1943)		MLC for North Province 1979–1986 (resigned) MLA for Maylands 1986–1990 (resigned)	Labor Party	25 February 1988	12 February 1990	Dowding Ministry	1989
			Took over from Brian Burke as premier in 1988. Resigned in 1990 after being challenged for the ALP leadership after a slump in the polls.
25	Dr Carmen Lawrence (born 1948)		MLA for Subiaco 1986–1989 (seat abolished) MLA for Glendalough 1989–1994 (resigned)	Labor Party	12 February 1990	16 February 1993	Lawrence Ministry	-
			Called a Royal Commission into WA Inc. Northern Suburbs Transit System begun. Perth City Busport opened. Later charged with perjury over the Easton affair, but acquitted in 1999. First female premier of any Australian state. Defeated at the 1993 election.
26	Richard Court (born 1947)		MLA for Nedlands 1982–2001 (resigned)	Liberal Party	16 February 1993	10 February 2001	Court–Cowan Ministry	1993 1996
			Governed in coalition with the Nationals, led by Hendy Cowan. Scandals over the logging of old-growth forests and a finance-broking scheme. Graham Farmer Freeway and final stage of the Kwinana Freeway completed. Defeated at the 2001 election.
27	Dr Geoff Gallop (born 1951)		MLA for Victoria Park 1986–2006 (resigned)	Labor Party	10 February 2001	25 January 2006	Gallop Ministry	2001 2005
			Swan Valley Nyungah Community closed after allegations of rape, substance abuse and child abuse, later the subject of the Gordon Inquiry. Resigned in 2006 to deal with depression.
28	Alan Carpenter (born 1957)		MLA for Willagee 1996–2009 (resigned)	Labor Party	25 January 2006	23 September 2008	Carpenter Ministry	-
			Mandurah railway line opened. Removed three ministers after allegations of impropriety involving former premier Brian Burke by the Corruption and Crime Commission. Defeated at the 2008 election.
29	Colin Barnett (born 1950)		MLA for Cottesloe 1990–2018 (resigned)	Liberal Party	23 September 2008	17 March 2017	Barnett Ministry	2008 2013
			Minority government in first term in partnership with the National Party. Developed Perth's foreshore, began and completed construction of Elizabeth Quay, introduced plans for a new Perth Stadium, completed Gateway WA Road project, began Perth Freight Link and NorthLink WA Road projects, partially deregulated Perth's shopping hours, and sunk the railway line that divides Perth and Northbridge. Lost the state's AAA credit rating and presided over a 6.5% unemployment rate. Defeated at the 2017 election.
30	Mark McGowan (born 1967)		MLA for Rockingham 1996–present	Labor Party	17 March 2017	Incumbent	First McGowan Ministry Second McGowan Ministry	2017 2021
			Won the 2017 state election. Created Metronet and started construction on a new railway line, various line extensions, station upgrades and level crossing removals. Premier during the COVID-19 pandemic. Brought the state into a surplus.

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Living former premiers

As of 12 February 2022, seven former premiers are alive, the oldest being Peter Dowding (born 1943), who served from 1988 to 1990. The most recent premier to die was Ray O'Connor, on 25 February 2013, aged 86.

Name	Term as premier	Date of birth	Current age
Brian Burke	1983–1988	25 February 1947	74 years, 352 days
Peter Dowding	1988–1990	6 October 1943	78 years, 129 days
Dr Carmen Lawrence	1990–1993	2 March 1948	73 years, 347 days
Richard Court	1993–2001	27 September 1947	74 years, 138 days
Dr Geoff Gallop	2001–2006	27 September 1951	70 years, 138 days
Alan Carpenter	2006–2008	4 January 1957	65 years, 39 days
Colin Barnett	2008–2017	15 July 1950	71 years, 212 days

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Graphical timeline