Opposition (Western Australia)
The Opposition in the Australian state of Western Australia comprises the largest party or coalition of parties not in Government. The Opposition's purpose is to hold the Government to account and constitute a "Government-in-waiting" should the existing Government fall. To that end, a Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Ministers for the various government departments question the Premier and Ministers on Government policy and administration, and formulate the policy the Opposition would pursue in Government. It is sometimes styled "His Majesty's Loyal Opposition" to demonstrate that although it opposes the Government, it remains loyal to the King.
The current Leader of the Opposition is Nationals Leader Mia Davies. The conservative Opposition was previously led by Zak Kirkup of the Liberal Party. In the 2021 election, the Liberal Party ended up winning fewer seats than the National Party, headed by Davies, with the National Party gaining opposition status and Davies becoming the first Nationals opposition leader since 1947.[1]
List of shadow ministries
- Tonkin shadow ministry
- Jamieson shadow ministry
- Ron Davies shadow ministry
- Burke shadow ministry
- O'Connor shadow ministry
- Hassell shadow ministry
- MacKinnon shadow ministry
- First Court shadow ministry
- Lawrence shadow ministry
- Taylor shadow ministry
- McGinty shadow ministry
- Gallop shadow ministry
- Second Court shadow ministry
- First Barnett shadow ministry
- Birney shadow ministry
- Omodei shadow ministry
- Buswell shadow ministry
- Second Barnett shadow ministry
- Ripper shadow ministry
- McGowan shadow ministry
- Nahan shadow ministry
- Harvey shadow ministry
- Kirkup shadow ministry
- Mia Davies shadow ministry
- Shane Love shadow ministry
Current arrangement
Following the 2021 election, the Liberal Party and Nationals Party entered into a formal alliance to form opposition, with National Party being the senior party and the Liberal Party being the junior party in the alliance. Shadow ministerial positions were also held by parliamentary members of both parties.[2] This was similar to the agreements between both parties when they were in government following the 2008 and 2013 elections.[3] Similar to the 2008 and 2013 agreements, the deputy leader of the senior party, Nationals deputy leader Shane Love, was the deputy opposition leader, instead of the leader of the junior party, Liberal Party leader David Honey. Under the alliance, each party maintained their independence, and could speak out on issues when there was a disagreement with their partner.[4][5]
Shadow Minister | Portfolio | Image | |
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Shane Love MLA |
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Peter Rundle MLA |
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Merome Beard MLA |
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Hon. Mia Davies MLA |
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Hon. Colin de Grussa MLC |
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Hon. Martin Aldridge MLC |
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Libby Mettam MLA |
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Dr. David Honey MLA |
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Hon. Steve Thomas MLC |
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Hon. Tjorn Sibma MLC |
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Hon. Donna Faragher MLC |
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Hon. Peter Collier MLC |
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Hon. Neil Thomson MLC |
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Hon. Steve Martin MLC |
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Hon. Nick Goiran MLC |
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See also
References
- ^ "Nationals weigh coalition to form opposition in WA after Liberals wiped out". ABC News. 15 March 2021. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
- ^ "Shadow Ministers". Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
- ^ "Opposition Alliance Agreement Reached". The Nationals WA. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
- ^ "WA Liberals and Nationals enter alliance instead of formal coalition following electoral wipeout". ABC News. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
- ^ "WA Nationals, Liberals form alliance for opposition – just don't call it a coalition". WA Today. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.