Leader of the Opposition (Western Australia)

The Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia is the leader of the largest minority political party or coalition of parties in the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of Western Australia. By convention, he or she is generally a member of the Legislative Assembly. The current Leader of the Opposition is Eric Ripper of the Labor Party.

Prior to 1911, the Western Australian political system had neither organised political parties (apart from the Labor Party) nor an organised opposition. The notion of leader of the opposition was well-understood however, and on occasions was applied to members. Maitland Brown, for example, was often referred to as Leader of the Opposition during his period as an outspoken critic of Governor Robinson's Government.

List of Leaders of the Opposition in Western Australia

This is an incomplete list of Leaders of the Opposition in Western Australia, from 1905 to present:

Leader Party Period in office Term
Henry Daglish Labor 25 August – 27 September 1905 &100000000000000000000000 years, &1000000000000003300000033 days
William Johnson Labor 4 October 1905 – 27 October 1906 &100000000000000010000001 year, &1000000000000002300000023 days
Thomas Bath Labor 27 October 1906 – 3 August 1910 &100000000000000030000003 years, &10000000000000280000000280 days
John Scaddan Labor 3 August 1910 – 7 October 1911 &100000000000000010000001 year, &1000000000000006500000065 days
Frank Wilson Liberal (WA) 1 November 1911 – 25 July 1916 &100000000000000040000004 years, &10000000000000267000000267 days
John Scaddan Labor 25 July 1916 – 16 April 1917 &100000000000000000000000 years, &10000000000000265000000265 days
Philip Collier Labor 16 April 1917 – 16 March 1924 &100000000000000060000006 years, &10000000000000335000000335 days
Sir James Mitchell Nationalist 16 March 1924 – 24 April 1930 &100000000000000060000006 years, &1000000000000003900000039 days
Philip Collier Labor 24 April 1930 – 24 April 1933 &100000000000000030000003 years, &100000000000000000000000 days
Charles Latham Country 24 April 1933 – 8 October 1942 &100000000000000090000009 years, &10000000000000167000000167 days
Arthur Watts Country 8 October 1942 – 1 April 1947 &100000000000000040000004 years, &10000000000000175000000175 days
Frank Wise Labor 1 April 1947 – 26 June 1951 &100000000000000040000004 years, &1000000000000008600000086 days
Albert Hawke Labor 3 July 1951 – 22 February 1953 &100000000000000010000001 year, &10000000000000234000000234 days
Ross McLarty Liberal 23 February 1953 – 1 March 1957 &100000000000000040000004 years, &100000000000000060000006 days
David Brand Liberal 1 March 1957 – 1 April 1959 &100000000000000020000002 years, &1000000000000003100000031 days
Albert Hawke Labor 2 April 1959 – 31 December 1966 &100000000000000070000007 years, &10000000000000273000000273 days
John Tonkin Labor 1 January 1967 – 2 March 1971 &100000000000000040000004 years, &1000000000000006000000060 days
Sir David Brand Liberal 3 March 1971 – 5 June 1972 &100000000000000010000001 year, &1000000000000009400000094 days
Charles Court Liberal 5 June 1972 – 8 April 1974 &100000000000000010000001 year, &10000000000000307000000307 days
John Tonkin Labor 8 April 1974 – 15 April 1976 &100000000000000020000002 years, &100000000000000070000007 days
Colin Jamieson Labor 16 April 1976 – 21 February 1978 &100000000000000010000001 year, &10000000000000311000000311 days
Ron Davies Labor 21 February 1978 – 18 September 1981 &100000000000000030000003 years, &10000000000000209000000209 days
Brian Burke Labor 18 September 1981 – 19 February 1983 &100000000000000010000001 year, &10000000000000154000000154 days
Ray O'Connor Liberal 19 February 1983 – 15 February 1984 &100000000000000000000000 years, &10000000000000361000000361 days
Bill Hassell Liberal 15 February 1984 – 25 November 1986 &100000000000000020000002 years, &10000000000000283000000283 days
Barry MacKinnon Liberal 25 November 1986 – 12 May 1992 &100000000000000050000005 years, &10000000000000169000000169 days
Richard Court Liberal 12 May 1992 – 6 February 1993 &100000000000000000000000 years, &10000000000000270000000270 days
Dr Carmen Lawrence Labor 16 February 1993 – 7 February 1994 &100000000000000000000000 years, &10000000000000356000000356 days
Ian Taylor Labor 7 February 1994 – 12 October 1994 &100000000000000000000000 years, &10000000000000247000000247 days
Jim McGinty Labor 12 October 1994 – 15 October 1996 &100000000000000020000002 years, &100000000000000030000003 days
Dr Geoff Gallop Labor 15 October 1996 – 16 February 2001 &100000000000000040000004 years, &10000000000000124000000124 days
Richard Court Liberal 16 February 2001 – 26 February 2001 &100000000000000000000000 years, &1000000000000001000000010 days
Colin Barnett Liberal 26 February 2001 – 9 March 2005 &100000000000000040000004 years, &1000000000000001100000011 days
Matt Birney Liberal 9 March 2005 – 24 March 2006 &100000000000000010000001 year, &1000000000000001500000015 days
Paul Omodei Liberal 24 March 2006 – 17 January 2008 &100000000000000010000001 year, &10000000000000299000000299 days
Troy Buswell Liberal 17 January 2008 – 4 August 2008 &100000000000000000000000 years, &10000000000000200000000200 days
Colin Barnett Liberal 6 August 2008 – 23 September 2008 &100000000000000000000000 years, &1000000000000004800000048 days
Eric Ripper Labor 23 September 2008 – present &100000000000000030000003 years, &10000000000000154000000154 days

See also

Executive
Legislative
Judicial