Legislative Council (2017–2021,2025–present)
At the 2017 Western Australian state election,Clifford was elected to the Legislative Council representing the East Metropolitan Region. His term began on 22 May 2017.
As an MP,Clifford focused on climate action,affordable housing,and social justice issues. In his inaugural speech,he highlighted his upbringing in Albany,his early employment in construction and mining,and the role of public services in supporting his family. [5]
In early 2020,Clifford introduced the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Bill 2020,which called for:
- Net zero emissions in Western Australia by 2040
- 100% renewable energy by 2030
He also pushed for a motion to declare a climate emergency in Western Australia and called for an end to government support for oil and gas companies that contribute to climate change.
Clifford was defeated in his bid for re-election at the 2021 Western Australian state election,losing his seat when the Greens (WA) vote declined. His term ended on 21 May 2021.
Clifford returned to Parliament following his successful re-election at the 2025 Western Australian state election. He returns,along with three other Greens MLCs,who hold the balance of power in the Legislative Council. [6]
In his 2025 inaugural address,which he described as a "second first speech," Clifford identified housing and homelessness as his top priorities,along with environmental protection and First Nations justice. [7]
In June 2025,Clifford moved a motion in the Legislative Council requiring the government to report on the implementation of 57 recommendations from the 2023 "Funding of Homelessness Services" inquiry. The motion passed unanimously. [8]
In August 2025,Clifford and the Greens parliamentary team referred the government’s "post and boast" bill to a committee and tabled the Greens’climate bill in the Upper House. [9]
