Barnett ministry explained

The Barnett Ministry was the 35th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia. It included 13 members of the Liberal Party, three members of the National Party and an independent. It was led by the Premier of Western Australia, Colin Barnett, and Deputy Premier Liza Harvey. It succeeded the Carpenter Ministry on 23 September 2008 following the 2008 election and was succeeded by the First McGowan Ministry following the Liberal Party's defeat at the 2017 election.

First Ministry

The Governor, Ken Michael, designated 17 principal executive offices of the Government under section 43(2) of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899. The following ministers and parliamentary secretaries were then appointed to the positions, and served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 14 December 2010. The list below is ordered by decreasing seniority within the Cabinet, as indicated by the Government Gazette and the Hansard index. Blue entries indicate members of the Liberal Party, green entries indicate members of the National Party, and grey indicates an Independent.

OfficeMinister
Premier
Minister for State Development
Treasurer (from 28 April 2010)
Colin Barnett, MLA
Deputy Premier
Minister for Health
Minister for Indigenous Affairs
Dr Kim Hames, MLA
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Minister for Fisheries
Minister for Electoral Affairs
Norman Moore, MLC
Minister for Regional Development
Minister for Lands
Minister assisting the Minister for State Development
Minister assisting the Minister for Transport
Brendon Grylls, MLA
Minister for Education
Minister for Tourism
Minister for Women's Interests (until 9 February 2009)
Dr Liz Constable, MLA
Minister for Transport
Minister for Disability Services
Simon O'Brien, MLC
Treasurer
Minister for Commerce
Minister for Science and Innovation
Minister for Housing and Works
Troy Buswell, MLA
(until 27 April 2010)
Minister for Police
Minister for Emergency Services
Minister for Road Safety
Rob Johnson, MLA
Minister for Sport and Recreation
Minister for Racing and Gaming
Minister assisting the Minister for Health
Terry Waldron, MLA
Minister for Planning
Minister for Culture and the Arts
Minister for the Environment (from 22 November 2010 to 14 December 2010)
Minister for Youth (from 22 November 2010 to 14 December 2010)
John Day, MLA
Minister for Energy
Minister for Training
Minister for Workforce Development (from 17 November 2009)
Peter Collier, MLC
Attorney-General
Minister for Corrective Services
Christian Porter, MLA
Minister for Child Protection
Minister for Community Services
Minister for Seniors and Volunteering
Minister for Women's Interests (from 9 February 2009)
Robyn McSweeney, MLC
Minister for Water
Minister for Mental Health
Dr Graham Jacobs, MLA
Minister for Local Government
Minister for Heritage
Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests
John Castrilli, MLA
Minister for Agriculture and Food
Minister for Forestry
Minister assisting the Minister of Education
Terry Redman, MLA
Minister for the Environment
Minister for Youth
Donna Faragher, MLC (until 22 November 2010)
Minister for Commerce
Minister for Science and Innovation
Minister for Housing and Works
Bill Marmion, MLA
(from 28 April 2010)
Parliamentary SecretariesMurray Cowper, MLA
Bill Marmion, MLA (until 28 April 2010)
Michael Mischin, MLC (from 11 August 2009)
Helen Morton, MLC
Tony Simpson, MLA
Wendy Duncan, MLC
Barry House, MLC (until 27 May 2009)

On 27 April 2010, Troy Buswell resigned from the ministry following questions arising from a personal affair with Greens MP Adele Carles. The following day, Premier Colin Barnett assumed the role of Treasurer, while Buswell's remaining portfolios were transferred to Bill Marmion, who had hitherto been a parliamentary secretary.

December 2010 reconstitution

On 14 December 2010, a number of changes were made to the Ministry. The most notable were the re-appointment of Troy Buswell to the Ministry as Minister for Transport and Minister for Housing and the promotion of Christian Porter to Treasurer to replace Colin Barnett. The Governor, Ken Michael, designated 17 principal executive offices of the Government under section 43(2) of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899. The following ministers and parliamentary secretaries were then appointed to the positions. The list below is ordered by decreasing seniority within the Cabinet, as indicated by the Government Gazette and the Hansard index. Blue entries indicate members of the Liberal Party, green entries indicate members of the National Party, and grey indicates an Independent. Except where indicated, all ministers served until the next reconstitution on 29 June 2012.

OfficeMinister
Premier
Treasurer (from 12 June 2012)
Minister for State Development
Colin Barnett, MLA
Deputy Premier
Minister for Health
Minister for Tourism
Dr Kim Hames, MLA
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Minister for Fisheries
Minister for Electoral Affairs
Minister for Justice (from 12 June 2012)
Norman Moore, MLC
Minister for Regional Development
Minister for Lands
Minister assisting the Minister for State Development
Brendon Grylls, MLA
Treasurer
Attorney-General
Christian Porter, MLA
(until 12 June 2012)
Minister for EducationDr Liz Constable, MLA
Minister for Finance
Minister for Commerce
Minister for Small Business
Simon O'Brien, MLC
Minister for Police
Minister for Emergency Services (until 5 December 2011)[1]
Minister for Road Safety
Rob Johnson, MLA
Minister for Sport and Recreation
Minister for Racing and Gaming
Terry Waldron, MLA
Minister for Planning
Minister for Culture and the Arts
Minister for Science and Innovation
John Day, MLA
Minister for Energy
Minister for Training and Workforce Development
Minister for Indigenous Affairs
Peter Collier, MLC
Minister for Transport
Minister for Housing
Minister for Emergency Services (from 5 December 2011)
Troy Buswell, MLA
Minister for Child Protection
Minister for Community Services
Minister for Seniors and Volunteering
Minister for Women's Interests
Minister for Youth
Robyn McSweeney, MLC
Minister for Local Government
Minister for Heritage
Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests
John Castrilli, MLA
Minister for Agriculture and Food
Minister for Forestry
Minister for Corrective Services
Terry Redman, MLA
Minister for the Environment
Minister for Water
Bill Marmion, MLA
Minister for Mental Health
Minister for Disability Services
Helen Morton, MLC
Parliamentary SecretariesMurray Cowper, MLA
Wendy Duncan, MLC
Donna Faragher, MLC
Liza Harvey, MLA
Michael Mischin, MLC
Tony Simpson, MLA

June 2012 reconstitution

On 29 June 2012, the Ministry was reconstituted. This followed the retirement of Liz Constable (Education), the removal of Rob Johnson (Police; Road Safety) and the earlier resignation on 12 June of Christian Porter (Treasurer; Attorney General), whose duties had been temporarily split between Premier Colin Barnett and senior minister Norman Moore. Three new ministers were appointed from amongst the parliamentary secretary ranks, and three new secretaries were appointed to replace them. The list below is ordered by decreasing seniority within the Cabinet, as indicated by the Government Gazette and the Hansard index. Blue entries indicate members of the Liberal Party, while green entries indicate members of the National Party.

OfficeMinister
Premier
Treasurer (until 7 July 2012)
Minister for State Development
Colin Barnett, MLA
Deputy Premier
Minister for Health
Minister for Tourism
Dr Kim Hames, MLA
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Minister for Fisheries
Minister for Electoral Affairs
Norman Moore, MLC
Minister for Regional Development
Minister for Lands
Minister assisting the Minister for State Development
Brendon Grylls, MLA
Treasurer (from 7 July 2012)
Minister for Transport
Minister for Housing
Minister for Emergency Services
Troy Buswell, MLA
Minister for Finance
Minister for Commerce
Minister for Small Business
Simon O'Brien, MLC
Minister for Planning
Minister for Culture and the Arts
Minister for Science and Innovation
John Day, MLA
Minister for Sport and Recreation
Minister for Racing and Gaming
Terry Waldron, MLA
Minister for Education
Minister for Energy
Minister for Indigenous Affairs
Peter Collier, MLC
Minister for Child Protection
Minister for Community Services
Minister for Seniors and Volunteering
Minister for Women's Interests
Minister for Youth
Robyn McSweeney, MLC
Minister for Local Government
Minister for Heritage
Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests
John Castrilli, MLA
Minister for Agriculture and Food
Minister for Forestry
Terry Redman, MLA
Minister for the Environment
Minister for Water
Bill Marmion, MLA
Minister for Mental Health
Minister for Disability Services
Helen Morton, MLC
Attorney-GeneralMichael Mischin, MLC
Minister for Police
Minister for Road Safety
Liza Harvey, MLA
Minister for Training and Workforce Development
Minister for Corrective Services
Murray Cowper, MLA
Parliamentary SecretariesWendy Duncan, MLC
Donna Faragher, MLC
Tony Simpson, MLA
Dr Mike Nahan, MLA
Joe Francis, MLA
Albert Jacob, MLA

March 2013 reconstitution

Following the return of the government at the 2013 state election, held on 9 March, the Ministry was again reconstituted, and was sworn in on 21 March 2013. John Castrilli (Local Government; Heritage; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests) and the retiring Norman Moore (Mines and Petroleum; Fisheries; Electoral Affairs) both resigned their positions, while Simon O'Brien (Finance; Commerce; Small Business), Robyn McSweeney (Child Protection; Community Services; Seniors and Volunteering; Women's Interests; Youth), and Murray Cowper (Training and Workforce Development; Corrective Services) each lost their portfolios. Five new ministers were appointed, including four previous parliamentary secretaries, and seven new parliamentary secretaries were appointed, making eight in total. A new portfolio, that of Minister for Veterans, was created. The list below is ordered by decreasing seniority within the Cabinet, as indicated by the Government Gazette and the Hansard index. Blue entries indicate members of the Liberal Party, while green entries indicate members of the National Party.

OfficeMinister
Premier
Minister for State Development
Minister for Science
Colin Barnett, MLA
Deputy Premier
Minister for Health
Minister for Tourism (until 5 August 2013)
Minister for Training and Workforce Development (from 11 December 2013)
Dr Kim Hames, MLA
Minister for Regional Development (until 11 December 2013)
Minister for Lands (until 11 December 2013)
Minister assisting the Minister for State Development (until 11 December 2013)
Brendon Grylls, MLA
Minister for Education
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Minister for Electoral Affairs
Peter Collier, MLC
Treasurer (until 17 March 2014)
Minister for Transport (until 17 March 2014)
Minister for Fisheries (until 11 December 2013)
Troy Buswell, MLA
Minister for Planning
Minister for Culture and the Arts
John Day, MLA
Minister for Police
Minister for Road Safety
Minister for Small Business (until 5 August 2013)
Minister for Women's Interests
Minister for Tourism (from 5 August 2013)
Liza Harvey, MLA
Minister for Training and Workforce Development (until 11 December 2013)
Minister for Water (until 11 December 2013)
Minister for Forestry (until 11 December 2013)
Minister for Regional Development (from 11 December 2013)
Minister for Lands (from 11 December 2013)
Minister assisting the Minister for State Development (from 11 December 2013)
Terry Redman, MLA
Minister for Mental Health
Minister for Disability Services
Minister for Child Protection
Helen Morton, MLC
Attorney-GeneralMichael Mischin, MLC
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Minister for Housing
Minister for Finance (from 8 December 2014)
Bill Marmion, MLA
Minister for Sport and Recreation
Minister for Racing and Gaming
Terry Waldron, MLA
Minister for Agriculture and Food
Minister for Fisheries (from 11 December 2013)
Ken Baston, MLC
Treasurer (from 17 March 2014)
Minister for Energy
Minister for Finance (to 17 March 2014)
Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests
Dr Mike Nahan, MLA
Minister for Local Government
Minister for Community Services
Minister for Seniors and Volunteering
Minister for Youth
Tony Simpson, MLA
Minister for Environment
Minister for Heritage
Albert Jacob, MLA
Minister for Emergency Services
Minister for Corrective Services
Minister for Veterans
Minister for Small Business (from 5 August 2013)
Joe Francis, MLA
Minister for Water (from 11 December 2013)
Minister for Forestry (from 11 December 2013)
Mia Davies, MLA
Minister for Finance (17 March 2014 – 8 December 2014)
Minister for Transport (from 17 March 2014)
Dean Nalder, MLA
Parliamentary SecretariesDonna Faragher, MLC
John McGrath, MLA
Alyssa Hayden, MLC
Jim Chown, MLC
Paul Miles, MLA
Andrea Mitchell, MLA

Mia Davies, MLA (until 11 December 2013)
Colin Holt, MLC

March 2016 reconstitution

In December 2015, Kim Hames announced his intention to resign as deputy leader of the Liberal Party (and thus also as deputy premier) with effect from February 2016.[2] Liza Harvey was elected unopposed as his successor,[3] with a resultant ministerial reshuffle that took effect from 31 March 2016. Another reshuffle took place on 22 September 2016, with the resignations of Dean Nalder and Tony Simpson.[4] All ministers are listed in order of seniority.[5]

OfficeMinister
Premier
Minister for Tourism
Minister for Science
Colin Barnett, MLA
Deputy Premier
Minister for Police
Minister for Road Safety
Minister for Training and Workforce Development
Minister for Women's Interests
Liza Harvey, MLA
Minister for Regional Development
Minister for Lands
Minister assisting the Minister for State Development
Terry Redman, MLA
Minister for Education
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Minister for Electoral Affairs
Peter Collier, MLC
Minister for Health
Minister for Culture and the Arts
John Day, MLA
Treasurer
Minister for Energy
Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests
Dr Mike Nahan, MLA
Minister for State Development
Minister for Finance (to 22 September 2016)
Minister for Innovation
Minister for Transport (from 22 September 2016)
Bill Marmion, MLA
Attorney-General
Minister for Commerce
Michael Mischin, MLC
Minister for Environment
Minister for Heritage
Albert Jacob, MLA
Minister for Emergency Services
Minister for Fisheries
Minister for Corrective Services
Minister for Veterans
Joe Francis, MLA
Minister for Water
Minister for Sport and Recreation
Minister for Forestry
Mia Davies, MLA
Minister for Agriculture and Food
Minister for Transport
Dean Nalder, MLA
(until 17 September 2016)
Minister for Local Government
Minister for Community Services
Minister for Seniors and Volunteering
Minister for Youth
Tony Simpson, MLA
(until 17 September 2016)
Minister for Housing
Minister for Racing and Gaming
Colin Holt, MLC
(until 15 August 2016)
Minister for Planning
Minister for Disability Services
Donna Faragher, MLC
Minister for Mental Health
Minister for Child Protection
Andrea Mitchell, MLA
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Minister for Small Business
Minister for Finance (from 22 September 2016)
Sean L'Estrange, MLA
Minister for Housing
Minister for Racing and Gaming
Brendon Grylls, MLA
(from 15 August 2016)
Minister for Local Government
Minister for Community Services
Minister for Seniors and Volunteering
Minister for Youth
Paul Miles, MLA
(from 22 September 2016)
Minister for Agriculture and FoodMark Lewis, MLC
(from 22 September 2016)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Johnson dumped from emergency services role. ABC News. 5 December 2011. 5 December 2011.
  2. News: Strutt, Jessica . Health Minister Kim Hames to resign as Deputy Premier of WA in February . . Australia . 10 December 2015 . 12 July 2016.
  3. News: Liza Harvey replaces Kim Hames as WA's new deputy leader . WAtoday . 15 February 2016 . 12 July 2016.
  4. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-22/barnett-announces-new-cabinet-ministers/7869206 "WA Cabinet reshuffle: Colin Barnett promotes little-known MP Mark Lewis; Bill Marmion gets Transport"
  5. Web site: The Western Australian Government Ministry. Premier of Western Australia & Cabinet Ministers. Government of Western Australia. 16 May 2016. 13 July 2016. 22 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190522225948/https://www.premier.wa.gov.au/Ministers/pages/default.aspx. dead.