Government of Western Australia

"WA Government" redirects here. For the government of Washington (state), see Government of Washington (state).

Government of Western Australia

State Government
The corporate logo (top) and state coat of arms (bottom)
Formation	21 October 1890;134 years ago (1890-10-21) as a colonial government 1 January 1901;124 years ago (1901-01-01) as an Australian state
Founding document	Constitution of Western Australia
State	Western Australia
Country	Australia
Website	wa.gov.au
Crown
Head of state	Charles III
Vice-regal representative	Governor Chris Dawson
Seat	Government House
Legislative branch
Legislature	Parliament of Western Australia, comprising: Legislative Council Legislative Assembly
Meeting place	Parliament House
Executive branch
Head of government	Premier Roger Cook
Main body	Western Australian Ministry
Appointed by	Governor on behalf of the King
Headquarters	Dumas House
Main organ	Executive Council
Departments	Approximately 130 agencies and authorities
Judicial branch
Court	Supreme Court
Seat	David Malcolm Justice Centre [1]

The Government of Western Australia, also known as the WA Government, is the executive branch of government for the Australian state of Western Australia. It comprises the State Cabinet, Executive Council and the public sector. The WA Government includes approximately 130 agencies and authorities delivering frontline and support services, employs approximately 240,000 people and had an expected operating expenditure of A$43.59 billion in the 2024–25 financial year. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

The state's founding constitution was enacted in 1890, with the state being a democratic constitutional monarchy. Since federation in 1901, Western Australia has been a constituent state of the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Commonwealth Constitution regulates its relationship with the Australian Government. The legislative branch takes the form of the bicameral Parliament of Western Australia, comprising the Legislative Assembly (lower house), Legislative Council (upper house), and the monarch of Australia represented through the Governor. The judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court of Western Australia and the lower courts.

History

Further information: History of Western Australia

Executive and judicial powers

Western Australia is governed according to the principles of the Westminster system, a form of parliamentary government based on the model of the United Kingdom. Legislative power rests with the Parliament of Western Australia, which consists of King Charles III, represented by the Governor of Western Australia, and the two Houses, the Western Australian Legislative Council (the upper house) and the Western Australian Legislative Assembly (the lower house). Executive power rests formally with the Executive Council, which consists of all ministers and is presided over by the governor. ^[5]

The Governor, as representative of the Crown, is the formal repository of power, which is exercised by him or her on the advice of the Premier of Western Australia and the Cabinet. The Premier and Ministers are appointed by the Governor, and hold office by virtue of their ability to command the support of a majority of members of the Legislative Assembly. Judicial power is exercised by the Supreme Court of Western Australia and a system of subordinate courts, but the High Court of Australia and other federal courts have overriding jurisdiction on matters which fall under the ambit of the Australian Constitution.

Ministries

Main article: Cook ministry (Western Australia)

As of 18 March 2025 ^[update] , the following individuals serve as government ministers, at the pleasure of the King, represented by the Governor of Western Australia. ^[6] All ministers and are members of the Parliament of Western Australia.

Current composition

Office	Minister	Image
Premier Minister for State Development, Trade and Investment Minister for Economic Diversification	Roger Cook MLA
Deputy Premier Treasurer Minister for Transport Minister for Sport and Recreation	Rita Saffioti MLA
Minister for Regional Development Minister for Ports Minister for Science and Innovation Minister for Medical Research Minister for the Kimberley	Stephen Dawson MLC
Minister for Agriculture and Food Minister for Fisheries Minister for Forestry Minister for Small Business Minister for the Mid West	Jackie Jarvis MLC
Minister for Emergency Services Minister for Corrective Services Minister for Racing and Gaming Minister for Defence Industries Minister for Veterans Issues	Paul Papalia MLA
Attorney-General Minister for Commerce Minister for Tertiary and International Education Minister for Multicultural Interests	Tony Buti MLA
Minister for Creative Industries Minister for Heritage Minister for Industrial Relations Minister for Aged Care and Seniors Minister for Women	Simone McGurk MLA
Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation Minister for Manufacturing Minister for Skills and TAFE Minister for the Pilbara	Amber-Jade Sanderson MLA
Minister for Planning and Lands Minister for Housing and Works Minister for Health Infrastructure	John Carey MLA
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Minister for Water Minister for Climate Resilience Minister for the South West	Don Punch MLA
Minister for Police Minister for Road Safety Minister for Tourism Minister for Great Southern	Reece Whitby MLA
Minister for Education Minister for Early Childhood Minister for Preventative Health Minister for the Wheatbelt	Sabine Winton MLA
Minister for Mines and Petroleum Minister for Finance Minister for Electoral Affairs Minister for Goldfields-Esperance	David Michael MLA
Minister for Local Government Minister for Disability Services Minister for Volunteering Minister for Youth Minister for the Gascoyne	Hannah Beazley MLA
Minister for Child Protection Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister assisting the Minister for Transport Minister for Peel	Jessica Stojkovski MLA
Minister for the Environment Minister for Community Services Minister for Homelessness	Matthew Swinbourn MLC
Minister for Health Minister for Mental Health	Meredith Hammat MLA
Cabinet Secretary	Daniel Pastorelli MLA

See also

• Western Australia portal
• Government portal

• List of Western Australian government agencies

References

1. "Find Us". Supreme Court of Western Australia. 28 December 2023.
2. "About WA Government". WA Government. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
3. "State of the Western Australian Government Sector Workforce Report 2023–24" (PDF). Public Sector Commission. 18 September 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
4. "2024–25 Budget - Economic and Fiscal Outlook. Budget Paper 3" (PDF). Western Australia State Budget (Our State Budget). 9 May 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
5. FINAL – Executive Council Guidelines – Feb 2022 (PDF) (2 ed.). Government of Western Australia. 4 February 2021. p. 4. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
6. "Premier announces new WA Labor Government Ministry portfolios | Western Australian Government". www.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 19 April 2025.

External links

• Government of Western Australia website
• Constitution ACT 1889 (WA)
• The Parliament of Western Australia website
• The Premier of Western Australia website