View source for Government of Western Australia

{{Short description|Australian state government}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2015}}
{{Redirect-multi|1|WA Government|the government of Washington (state)|Government of Washington (state)}}
{{Infobox government
| government_name = Government of Western Australia
| government_form = State Government
| image           = Government of Western Australia logo.svg
| alt             = Logo of the Western Australian Government and its agencies
| image2          = Western Australian Coat of Arms.svg
| image_size2     = 170px
| alt2            = Coat of arms of the State of Western Australia
| caption         = The corporate logo (top) and [[coat of arms of Western Australia|state coat of arms]] (bottom)
| date            = {{Idp|
* {{start date and age|1890|10|21|df=yes}} as a [[responsible government|colonial government]]
* {{start date and age|1901|01|01|df=yes}} as an [[States and territories of Australia|Australian state]]}}
| document        = Constitution of Western Australia
| division        = {{flag|Western Australia}}
| country         = {{flag|Australia}}
| url             = {{URL|wa.gov.au}}
| branch1         = Crown
| branch1_label1  = [[Monarchy of Australia|Head of state]]
| branch1_data1   = [[Charles III]]
| branch1_label2  = Vice-regal representative
| branch1_data2   = [[Governor of Western Australia|Governor]] [[Chris Dawson (governor)|Chris Dawson]]
| branch1_label3  = Seat
| branch1_data3   = [[Government House, Perth|Government House]]
| legislature     = [[Parliament of Western Australia]], comprising: {{bulleted list|[[Legislative Council of Western Australia|Legislative Council]]|[[Legislative Assembly of Western Australia|Legislative Assembly]]}}
| meeting_place   = [[Parliament House, Perth|Parliament House]]
| leader_type     = Head of government
| leader_title    = [[Premier of Western Australia|Premier]] [[Roger Cook (politician)|Roger Cook]]
| main_body       = [[First Cook ministry|Western Australian Ministry]]
| appointed       = [[Governor of Western Australia|Governor]] on behalf of the [[Monarchy of Australia|King]]
| headquarters    = [[Dumas House]]
| main_organ      = Executive Council
| departments     = Approximately 130 agencies and authorities 
| court           = [[Supreme Court of Western Australia|Supreme Court]]
| seat            = [[David Malcolm Justice Centre]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.supremecourt.wa.gov.au/f/find_us.aspx|title=Find Us|publisher=Supreme Court of Western Australia|date=2023-12-28}}</ref>
|image_size=150px}}

The '''Government of Western Australia''', also known as the '''WA Government''', is the executive branch of government for the Australian [[States and territories of Australia|state]] of [[Western Australia]]. It comprises the [[Cabinet of Western Australia|State Cabinet]], [[Executive Council of Western Australia|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 {{AUD|43.59 billion}} in the 2024{{Ndash}}25 [[financial year]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 December 2021 |title=About WA Government |url=https://www.wa.gov.au/government |access-date=17 June 2025 |website=WA Government}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=18 September 2024 |title=State of the Western Australian Government Sector Workforce Report 2023{{ndash}}24 |url=https://www.wa.gov.au/system/files/2024-09/state_of_western_australia_government_sector_workforce_report_2023-24.pdf |access-date=17 June 2025 |website=Public Sector Commission}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 May 2024 |title=2024{{ndash}}25 Budget - Economic and Fiscal Outlook. Budget Paper 3. |url=https://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au/2024-25/budget-papers/bp3/2024-25-wa-state-budget-bp3.pdf |access-date=17 June 2025 |website=Western Australia State Budget (Our State Budget)}}</ref>

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

==History==
{{further|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 of Western Australia|Executive Council]], which consists of all ministers and is presided over by the governor.<ref>{{cite book |title=FINAL – Executive Council Guidelines – Feb 2022 |date=4 February 2021 |publisher=Government of Western Australia |page=4 |edition=2 |url=https://www.wa.gov.au/system/files/2022-03/FINAL%20-%20Executive%20Council%20Guidelines%20-%20Feb%202022.pdf |access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref>

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|Cook ministry (Western Australia)}}
{{As of|2025|03|18}}, the following individuals serve as government ministers, [[At His Majesty's pleasure|at the pleasure of the King]], represented by the [[Governor of Western Australia]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Premier announces new WA Labor Government Ministry portfolios {{!}} Western Australian Government |url=https://www.wa.gov.au/government/media-statements/Cook%20Labor%20Government/Premier-announces-new-WA-Labor-Government-Ministry-portfolios-20250318 |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=www.wa.gov.au |language=en}}</ref> All ministers and are members of the Parliament of Western Australia.

== Current composition ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Office
!Minister
!Image
|-
|
[[Premier of Western Australia|Premier]]<br />
[[Minister for State Development (Western Australia)|Minister for State Development, Trade and Investment]]<br />
Minister for Economic Diversification
|[[Roger Cook (politician)|Roger Cook]] MLA
|[[File:3_Feb_15_FREO_FSH_gnangarra-123.jpg|198x198px]]
|-
|
[[Deputy Premier of Western Australia|Deputy Premier]]<br />
[[Treasurer of Western Australia|Treasurer]]<br />
[[Minister for Transport (Western Australia)|Minister for Transport]]<br />
[[Minister for Sport and Recreation (Western Australia)|Minister for Sport and Recreation]]
|[[Rita Saffioti]] MLA
|
|-
|
[[Minister for Regional Development (Western Australia)|Minister for Regional Development]]<br />
Minister for Ports<br />
[[Minister for Science (Western Australia)|Minister for Science and Innovation]]<br />
Minister for Medical Research<br />
[[Kimberley (Western Australia)|Minister for the Kimberley]]
|[[Stephen Dawson (politician)|Stephen Dawson]] MLC
|[[File:Stephen_Dawson.jpg|191x191px]]
|-
|
[[Minister for Agriculture and Food (Western Australia)|Minister for Agriculture and Food]]<br />
[[Minister for Fisheries (Western Australia)|Minister for Fisheries]]<br />
[[Minister for Forestry (Western Australia)|Minister for Forestry]]<br />
[[Minister for Small Business (Western Australia)|Minister for Small Business]]<br />
[[Minister for the Mid-West|Minister for the Mid West]]
|[[Jackie Jarvis]] MLC
|
|-
|
[[Minister for Emergency Services (Western Australia)|Minister for Emergency Services]]<br />
[[Minister for Corrective Services (Western Australia)|Minister for Corrective Services]]<br />
[[Minister for Racing and Gaming (Western Australia)|Minister for Racing and Gaming]]<br />
Minister for Defence Industries<br />
[[Minister for Veterans (Western Australia)|Minister for Veterans Issues]]
|[[Paul Papalia]] MLA
|
|-
|
[[Attorney-General of Western Australia|Attorney-General]]<br />
[[Minister for Commerce (Western Australia)|Minister for Commerce]]<br />
[[Minister for Education (Western Australia)|Minister for Tertiary and International Education]]<br />
[[Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests|Minister for Multicultural Interests]]
|[[Tony Buti]] MLA
|[[File:Tony_Buti.jpg|204x204px]]
|-
|
Minister for Creative Industries<br />
[[Minister for Heritage (Western Australia)|Minister for Heritage]] <br />
Minister for Industrial Relations<br />
Minister for Aged Care and Seniors<br />
[[Minister for Women's Interests|Minister for Women]]
|[[Simone McGurk]] MLA
|[[File:3_Feb_15_FREO_FSH_gnangarra-120.jpg|150x150px]]
|-
|
[[Minister for Energy (Western Australia)|Minister for Energy and Decarbonisation]]<br />
Minister for Manufacturing<br />
[[Minister for Training (Western Australia)|Minister for Skills and TAFE]]<br />
[[Pilbara|Minister for the Pilbara]]
|[[Amber-Jade Sanderson]] MLA
|
|-
|
[[Minister for Planning (Western Australia)|Minister for Planning and Lands]]<br />
[[Minister for Housing (Western Australia)|Minister for Housing and Works]]<br />
Minister for Health Infrastructure
|[[John Carey (Australian politician)|John Carey]] MLA
|[[File:John_Carey_MLA_speaking_at_Transition_Town_Vincent_September_2017_cropped.jpg|150x150px]]
|-
|
[[Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (Western Australia)|Minister for Aboriginal Affairs]]<br />
[[Minister for Water (Western Australia)|Minister for Water]]<br />
Minister for Climate Resilience<br />
[[Minister for the South-West|Minister for the South West]]
|[[Don Punch]] MLA
|
|-
|
[[Minister for Police (Western Australia)|Minister for Police]]<br />
[[Minister for Road Safety (Western Australia)|Minister for Road Safety]]<br />
[[Minister for Tourism (Western Australia)|Minister for Tourism]] <br />
[[Great Southern (Western Australia)|Minister for Great Southern]]
|[[Reece Whitby]] MLA
|
|-
|
[[Minister for Education (Western Australia)|Minister for Education]]<br />
Minister for Early Childhood<br />
Minister for Preventative Health<br />
[[Wheatbelt (Western Australia)|Minister for the Wheatbelt]]
|[[Sabine Winton]] MLA
|[[File:Sabine Winton MLA at Lake Joondalup.jpg|alt=Sabine Winton MLA|frameless|157x157px]]
|-
|
[[Minister for Mines and Petroleum (Western Australia)|Minister for Mines and Petroleum]]<br />
[[Minister for Finance (Western Australia)|Minister for Finance]]<br />
[[Minister for Electoral Affairs (Western Australia)|Minister for Electoral Affairs]]<br />
[[Goldfields–Esperance|Minister for Goldfields-Esperance]]
|David Michael MLA
|
|-
|
[[Minister for Local Government (Western Australia)|Minister for Local Government]]<br />
[[Minister for Disability Services (Western Australia)|Minister for Disability Services]]<br />
Minister for Volunteering<br />
[[Minister for Youth (Western Australia)|Minister for Youth]]<br />
[[Gascoyne|Minister for the Gascoyne]]
|[[Hannah Beazley]] MLA
|
|-
|[[Minister for Child Protection (Western Australia)|Minister for Child Protection]]<br />
Minister for Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence<br />
[[Minister for Transport (Western Australia)|Minister assisting the Minister for Transport]]<br />
[[Minister for Regional Development (Western Australia)|Minister for Peel]]
|[[Jessica Stojkovski]] MLA
|
|-
|
Minister for the Environment <br />
[[Minister for Community Services (Western Australia)|Minister for Community Services]]<br />
[[Minister for Homelessness (Western Australia)|Minister for Homelessness]]
|[[Matthew Swinbourn]] MLC
|[[File:Portrait of Matthew Swinbourn at Serpentine National Park.jpg|frameless|190x190px]]
|-
|
[[Minister for Health (Western Australia)|Minister for Health]]<br />
[[Minister for Mental Health (Western Australia)|Minister for Mental Health]]
|[[Meredith Hammat]] MLA
|[[File:210325 Meredith Hammat white BG.jpg|frameless|192x192px]]
|-
|
Cabinet Secretary
|[[Daniel Pastorelli]] MLA
|
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Western Australia|Government}}
* [[List of Western Australian government agencies]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.wa.gov.au/ Government of Western Australia website]
*{{cite Legislation AU|WA|act|ca1889188|Constitution ACT 1889}}
*[http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/index.htm The Parliament of Western Australia website]
*[http://www.premier.wa.gov.au/ The Premier of Western Australia website]

{{Government of Western Australia}}
{{Western Australia}}
{{Politics of Australia}}
{{Government of Australia by state}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Government of Western Australia| ]]
[[Category:1890 establishments in Australia]]