Australian state Western Australia Meeting place Parliament House Main organ Federal Executive Council | Leader Premier | |
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Formation 1890 as responsible Colonial government;
1901 as an Australian state Legislature Parliament of Western Australia;
WA Legislative Council
WA Legislative Assembly Profiles | ||
Government of western australia department of health
The Government of Western Australia, also referred to formally as Her Majesty's Government of Western Australia, or as the Western Australian Government or the West Australian Government, is the Australian state democratic administrative authority of Western Australia. The Government of Western Australia, a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, was formed in 1890 as prescribed in its Constitution, as amended from time to time. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, Western Australia has been a state of the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Constitution of Australia regulates its relationship with the Commonwealth. Under the Australian Constitution, Western Australia ceded legislative and judicial supremacy to the Commonwealth, but retained powers in all matters not in conflict with the Commonwealth.
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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 the Crown, 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, which consists of the Governor and senior ministers.
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
The following individuals serve as government ministers, at the pleasure of the Queen, represented by the Governor of Western Australia. The government ministers are listed in order of seniority, while the shadow minister are listed against their opposing portfolio, to the best possible match. All ministers and shadow ministers are members of the Parliament of Western Australia.