Roger Cook (politician)

Roger Cook MLA
Member of the Western Australian Parliament for Kwinana
Incumbent
Assumed office 6 September 2008
Personal details
Born	Roger Hugh Cook (1965-08-20) 20 August 1965 Perth, Western Australia
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Alma mater	Murdoch University (BA)
Website	www.rogercook.org

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Roger Hugh Cook (born 20 August 1965) is an Australian politician current serving as the Labor Party member for the seat of Kwinana in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, as well as Deputy Leader of the Opposition to Eric Ripper and Mark McGowan. From Perth, Western Australia, Cook was educated at Murdoch University, where he was heavily involved in student organisations and served as the first president of the National Union of Students. He subsequently became involved in indigenous land rights, serving as director of a number of native title bodies. Cook was elected to parliament at the 2008 state election, defeating independent candidate Carol Adams to become the first member for the newly created electoral district of Kwinana. He was elected deputy leader of the Labor Party shortly after the election, and maintained the role when Eric Ripper was replaced as leader in early 2012. Cook is also the current Shadow Minister for Health, having previously also held the shadow portfolios of Mental Health and Indigenous Affairs.

Biography

Born and raised in Perth, Western Australia,^[1] Cook attended Murdoch University, completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration, as well as later completing a Master of Business Administration degree and a graduate business diploma (specialising in public relations) at Curtin University.^[2] Whilst at Murdoch, Cook became involved in student politics, serving as a student representative on the university's senate. He was also involved in the establishment of the National Union of Students in mid-1986, becoming its first national president as a representative of the National Organisation of Labor Students.^[3] After graduating, Cook went on to work in the offices of a number of Labor Party MPs, including Stephen Smith, Jim McGinty, and Chris Evans.^[1]

He has been involved in indigenous land rights issues including time as the CEO of the West Australian Native Title Working Group, as Executive Director of the Native Title Representative Body for the resource rich Pilbara region (Yamatji Marlpa Barna Baba Maaja Aboriginal Corporation) and as Director of government and corporate relations at the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council. Cook served as national president of Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation until the election was called. Cook is also a former state party secretary and until the election was state manager of public relations firm CPR which is closely associated with the Labor Party.^[4]

At the 2008 state election, Cook won the seat of Kwinana in a tightly fought contest, winning by 300 votes from independent candidate Carol Adams, the mayor of the Town of Kwinana at the time.^[4] On 16 September 2008, he was elected to the position of deputy leader of the Labor Party under Eric Ripper.^[5] After Ripper was replaced by Mark McGowan as Leader of the Opposition in January 2012, Cook maintained his position as deputy leader, but was stripped of the Mental Health and Indigenous Affairs portfolios following a shadow cabinet reshuffle.^[6]

Portfolios

Cook has held the following shadow portfolios since his election in 2008:^[2]

• 26 September 2008 – 27 January 2012: Deputy Leader of the Opposition; Shadow Minister for Health; Shadow Minister for Mental Health; Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs
• 27 January 2012 onwards: Deputy Leader of the Opposition; Shadow Minister for Health

References