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Parliament of Western Australia

Coordinates: 31°57′06″S 115°50′49″E / 31.95167°S 115.84694°E / -31.95167; 115.84694
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Parliament of Western Australia
41st Parliament
Coat of arms or logo
Logo
Parliament of Western Australia logo
Type
Type
HousesLegislative Council
Legislative Assembly
SovereignKing (represented by the governor of Western Australia)
History
Founded30 December 1890; 133 years ago (30 December 1890)
Leadership
Charles III
since 8 September 2022
Chris Dawson
since 15 July 2022
Alanna Clohesy, Labor
since 25 May 2021
Michelle Roberts, Labor
since 29 April 2021
Roger Cook, Labor
since 8 June 2023
Shane Love, National
since 30 January 2023
Structure
Seats95
59 MLAs
36 MLCs
Legislative Assembly political groups
Government (53)

  Labor (53)
Opposition (6)[a]
  National (3)

  Liberal (3)
Legislative Council political groups
Government (21)

  Labor (21)
Opposition (9)[a]
  Liberal (7)
  National (2)
Crossbench (6)
  Legalise Cannabis (1)
  Greens (1)

  Independent (4)[b]
Elections
Instant-runoff voting
Single transferable vote
Last Legislative Assembly election
13 March 2021
Last general election
13 March 2021
Next general election
8 March 2025
Meeting place
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, which constitutes the legislative branch of the state's political system. The parliament consists of the King (represented by the governor), the Legislative Council (the upper house) and the Legislative Assembly (the lower house).[1] 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.[2]

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

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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.[3][4] The 2013 state election was the first election under the fixed date system.

Acts of Parliament

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The oldest recorded act of Parliament in Western Australia is the Civil Court of Western Australia (1832) act, an act for establishing a Court of Civil Judicature, assented to on 10 February 1832, under the first Governor of Western Australia, James Stirling. It predates the Parliament of Western Australia and was passed by the Western Australian Legislative Council instead.[5] All up, ten acts were passed in 1832.[6]

Since 1832, acts have been passed in every year but 1890, the year the Western Australian Parliament was formed.[5] The last act to be passed prior to the establishment of the Parliament was the Electoral Act 1889,[7] assented to on 26 June 1890.[8]

In 2023, the Western Australian Parliament passed 34 acts.[9]

See also

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Notes

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  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.
  2. ^

References

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  1. ^ Constitution Act 1889 (WA) s 2
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ Green, Antony (8 February 2011). "Future election dates". ABC Elections. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 8 September 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Acts as passed". www.legislation.wa.gov.au. Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Original Acts as passed: '1832' List of Acts". www.legislation.wa.gov.au. Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Original Acts as passed: '1889' List of Acts". www.legislation.wa.gov.au. Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Electoral Act 1889" (PDF). www.legislation.wa.gov.au. Government of Western Australia. 13 August 1889. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Original Acts as passed: '2023' List of Acts". www.legislation.wa.gov.au. Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
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31°57′06″S 115°50′49″E / 31.95167°S 115.84694°E / -31.95167; 115.84694