The Court–Cowan Ministry was the 32nd Ministry of the Government of Western Australia , and was led by Liberal Premier Richard Court and his deputy, the Nationals' Hendy Cowan . It succeeded the Lawrence Ministry on 16 February 1993, following the defeat of the Labor government at the 1993 election ten days earlier. The Ministry was reconstituted on 9 January 1997 following the December 1996 election , due in part to the retirement and resignation of several ministers— Richard Lewis , Kevin Minson , Roger Nicholls and Bob Wiese . The ministry was followed by the Gallop Ministry on 16 February 2001 after the Coalition lost government at the state election held on 16 February.
30-715: On 16 February 1993, the Governor, Sir Francis Burt , designated 17 principal executive offices of the Government under section 43(2) of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899. The following ministers were then appointed to the positions, and served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 10 February 1995. The list below is ordered by decreasing seniority within the Cabinet, as indicated by
60-500: A change of premier is the ruling party changing its leader. This can occur as a result of a resignation, death or leadership spill . In this case, the new premier is whoever the party elects as its new leader. Another cause for a change of premier is a loss of majority support in the Legislative Assembly . This commonly occurred in the first three decades of self-governance, but has not occurred since 1916. If this occurs,
90-400: A member of parliament and they retain their responsibility for representing their electoral district. As of 2023, there have been 31 premiers of Western Australia. Carmen Lawrence , who was appointed on 12 February 1990, is the first and only woman to be premier of Western Australia. She is also the first woman to be premier of an Australian state. By convention, the premier is a member of
120-680: A position he held until 1977 when he was promoted to Chief Justice of Western Australia . He retired in 1988. Burt was afforded a state funeral on his death in 2004. He is buried at Karrakatta Cemetery . The Francis Burt Chambers located in Allendale Square , Perth , and the Francis Burt Law Education Centre and Museum in Stirling Gardens are both named in his honour. Premier of Western Australia The premier of Western Australia
150-465: Is Charles Court and his son Richard Court . George Leake , who died of pneumonia on 24 June 1902, is the only premier to have died in office. Moore, Philip Collier , John Willcock and Geoff Gallop are the only premiers to have resigned due to ill health. Forrest, Colebatch and Lawrence are the only premiers to have served in the Parliament of Australia as well. Forrest and Lawrence are
180-465: Is John Scaddan , who was 35 years, 2 months and 3 days old when he was sworn in in 1911. The oldest premier is John Tonkin , who was 69 years, 1 month and 1 day old when he was sworn in in 1971. Newton Moore became premier after two years in parliament, the least time aside from Forrest. Tonkin became premier after almost 38 years in parliament, the most time in parliament before becoming premier. The only father and son pair to have both been premier
210-415: Is Ray O'Connor , who was premier from 1982 to 1983 and died in 2013. Two former premiers have been sentenced to jail. In 1994, Brian Burke was sentenced to two years in jail for defrauding the state by $ 17,000 by making false claims on the parliamentary imprest account . He was released on parole after serving seven months. In 1995, O'Connor served six months in jail for stealing a $ 25,000 cheque from
240-461: Is the head of government of the state of Western Australia . The role of premier at a state level is similar to the role of the prime minister of Australia at a 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 . By convention,
270-455: Is the current premier, having been appointed to the position on 8 June 2023. The position of premier is not mentioned in the constitution of Western Australia . From 1890 to 1917, the premier was not an official position, rather, it was the title unofficially given, but widely used to refer, to the head of the government. When Western Australia became a self-governing colony in 1890, Governor William Robinson initially indicated he would use
300-796: The Second World War he served in the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force . After being admitted to the Bar in 1941, Burt gained his skills as a Queen's Counsel in 1959, and in 1961 founded the independent Bar in Western Australia . With others, he established Bar Chambers in 1962. He was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 1969,
330-489: The Second World War . Burt was made a justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 1969, and was promoted to Chief Justice in 1977. As Chief Justice, he served as lieutenant-governor. When the Governor of Western Australia, Gordon Reid , resigned in 1989, Burt was appointed to succeed him and served as governor until 1993. Born in Mosman Park, Western Australia , Burt's great-grandfather, Sir Archibald Burt ,
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#1732801502573360-529: The acts that they would administer. The premier leads the cabinet and chairs cabinet meetings. They communicate with the governor, the cabinet, the state government, other state and territory governments, the federal government, and overseas governments. The premier advises the governor on when state elections should be held. They oversee the Department of the Premier and Cabinet . While premier, they stay as
390-845: The Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899. The following ministers were then appointed to the positions, and served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 9 January 1997. Blue entries indicate members of the Liberal Party, whilst green entries indicate members of the National Party. Premier and Treasurer Minister for Public Sector Management Minister for Federal Affairs Minister for Tourism (until 21 December 1995) Minister for Youth (from 3 April 1996) Deputy Premier Minister for Commerce and Trade Minister for Regional Development Minister for Small Business Minister for Resources Development Minister for Energy Minister for Education (from 21 December 1995) Leader of
420-745: The Government Gazette and the Hansard index. Blue entries indicate members of the Liberal Party , whilst green entries indicate members of the National Party . Premier and Treasurer Minister for Public Sector Management Minister for Federal Affairs Minister for Tourism (from 25 January 1994) Deputy Premier Minister for Commerce and Trade Minister for Resources Development Minister for Energy Minister for Tourism (25 August 1993 –25 January 1994 ) Leader of
450-1051: The Government in the Legislative Council (from 30 April 1996) (until 21 December 1995:) (from 21 December 1995:) Minister for Women's Interests Minister for Finance Minister for Racing and Gaming Minister assisting the Treasurer Minister for the Environment Minister for the Arts (from 21 December 1995:) (until 21 December 1995:) Minister for Health (until 21 December 1995) Minister for Labour Relations Minister for Lands (from 26 April 1996) Minister for Housing (from 21 December 1995) (until 29 June 1995:) (29 June–21 December 1995) Minister for Water Resources (from 21 December 1995) Minister for Mines (from 26 April 1996) Minister for Works Minister for Services Minister for Disability Services Minister assisting
480-821: The House in the Legislative Assembly Minister for Primary Industry Minister for Fisheries Minister for Mines Minister for Lands Minister assisting the Minister for Public Sector Management Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council Minister for Transport Minister for Education (until 21 December 1995) Minister for Employment and Training Minister for Tourism (from 21 December 1995) Minister for Sport and Recreation Minister for Parliamentary and Electoral Affairs Leader of
510-560: The House in the Legislative Assembly Minister for Primary Industry Minister for Fisheries Minister for Mines Minister for Lands Minister assisting the Minister for Public Sector Management (from 25 January 1994) Minister assisting the Minister for Resources Development Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council Minister for Transport Minister for Education Minister for Employment and Training Minister for Sport and Recreation (from 25 August 1993) Minister assisting
540-553: The Legislative Assembly. However, the premier can be a member of either house of parliament. Hal Colebatch is the only premier to be a member of the Legislative Council ( upper house ). He served for 30 days in 1919, making him the shortest serving premier of Western Australia. David Brand is the longest serving premier, serving for 11 years and 335 days between 1959 and 1971. The youngest premier
570-478: The Minister for Commerce and Trade Attorney-General Minister for Women's Interests Minister for Parliamentary and Electoral Affairs Minister assisting the Minister for Community Development with special responsibility for the Youth Justice Bureau (8 March 1993 – 1 March 1994) Minister for Finance Minister for Racing and Gaming Minister assisting
600-497: The Minister for Fisheries Minister for Community Development Minister for the Family Minister for Seniors Minister for Labour Relations Minister for Works Minister for Services Minister for Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Minister for Police Minister for Emergency Services Minister for Planning Minister for Heritage Minister for Housing (25 August 1993 –25 January 1994 ) Minister assisting
630-619: The Minister for Justice Minister for Planning Minister for Heritage Minister for Police Minister for Emergency Services Minister for Local Government Minister for Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Minister for Health (from 21 December 1995) Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Minister for Housing (until 21 December 1995) Parliamentary Secretaries Bill McNee , MLA Fred Tubby , BEd, MACE, JP, MLA Doug Shave , MLA Rhonda Parker , DipTeach, MLA Francis Burt (judge) Sir Francis Theodore Page Burt AC KCMG QC (14 June 1918 – 8 September 2004)
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#1732801502573660-426: The Minister for Transport Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Minister for Housing Parliamentary Secretaries Bob Pike , MLC Fred Tubby , BEd, MACE, JP, MLA Bill McNee , MLA A reshuffle on 10 February 1995 saw several changes in order and portfolios, but no changes of personnel. The Governor, Major-General Michael Jeffery , designated 17 principal executive offices of the Government under section 43(2) of
690-594: The Treasurer Minister for Tourism Minister for Housing Minister for Sport and Recreation Minister for Water Resources Minister for Local Government Minister for Health Minister for the Arts Minister for Consumer Affairs (until 3 November 1993) Minister for Fair Trading (from 3 November 1993) Minister for the Environment Minister for Disability Services Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (until 25 January 1994) Minister assisting
720-586: The governor appoints as premier 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. Since Western Australia achieved self-governance in 1890, there have been 31 premiers. Roger Cook
750-564: The only premiers to have been ministers in the Government of Australia as well. Moore is the only premier to have served in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom . The only premier to subsequently serve as governor is James Mitchell . George Leake , Frank Wilson , Phillip Collier and Mitchell are the only people to have been premier more than once. There are currently eight living former premiers. The most recent premier to die
780-414: The position of premier was not listed, creating an ambiguity. It was not until 3 April 1947 that the premier became one of the executive offices of the government. The most common cause for a change of premier is an election. Since the 1990s, elections have occurred roughly every four years. Before then, elections were at most three years apart, except for during World War II . A less common cause for
810-477: The premier must either resign or be dismissed by the governor. The powers of the premier are set out by convention and by legislation. By convention, the premier advises the Monarch of Australia as to who to appoint as governor. The premier advises the governor as to who to appoint to cabinet and which portfolios should be given to each cabinet minister. The premier sets out the responsibilities of ministers and
840-423: The title prime minister to refer to the head of the government. However, after he appointed John Forrest , the title premier was used for consistency with the other Australian colonies. The position was first officially mentioned when the governor appointed Henry Lefroy as premier on 28 June 1917. However, when the governor designated and declared the six executive offices of the government on 2 July 1917,
870-573: Was Chief Justice of Western Australia from 1861 to 1879, while his grandfather, Septimus Burt , was Attorney-General and Agent-General when responsible government was granted to Western Australia in December 1890. Archibald Burt had been a slaveholder in the West Indies. Burt was educated at Guildford Grammar School and later studied law at the University of Western Australia . During
900-490: Was an Australian jurist who served as the 11th Chief Justice of Western Australia , from 1977 to 1988, and the 27th Governor of Western Australia , from 1990 to 1993. Burt was born in Cottesloe , a suburb of Perth Western Australia, and educated at Guildford Grammar School . He studied law at the University of Western Australia , and also served in the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force during
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