Search

The Western Australian Labor government, led by Premier Mark McGowan, faced a challenging first six months of 2018 addressing public debt within the confines of promises made during the March 2017 election campaign. Labor’s overwhelming forty-one to eighteen-seat majority in the Legislative Assembly was dented in a 23 June by-election, which occurred following Labor “rookie” Barry Urban’s resignation. Early in February the publication of a report into the political economy of the state, by former Under Treasurer John Langoulant, contributed to framing the budget delivered in May 2018. Western Australia’s poor return from the GST remained a major issue, although there appeared some hope of at least a short-term fix to this long-standing problem. Meanwhile on 21 January 2018 Premier McGowan opened the gates to the new Perth multi-purpose Optus Stadium at Burswood.

On 12 March 1996 the Honourable Justice French, as Chancellor of Edith Cowan University, led a rededication ceremony of the Edith Cowan Clock Tower. This occasion, the seventy-fifth anniversary of Edith Cowan's election to the Legislative Assembly, was immediately followed by a breakfast at the nearby Parliament of Western Australia. During the evening a touring exhibition of Edith Cowan's life was launched titled "A Tough Nut to Crack". Then five days later Professor Geoffrey Bolton spoke at St George's Cathedral to celebrate a "Life of Service" by Edith Cowan. The Voice of Edith Cowan is another contribution to the anniversary. The publication focuses upon her role as a parliamentarian. What, too, was the content of her speeches? How did she conduct herself as a parliamentarian? What was her legislative contribution? What was her impact as a politician? In an introductory essay tentative answers have been formulated to these questions. Edith Cowan's parliamentary speeches have been organised by firstly recording each of her annual Address-in-Reply Speeches. This has been followed by the two private member's Bills (Administration Act Amendment Bill and Women's Legal Status Bill) she piloted through the Legislative Assembly. Her participation in a range of legislative measures, in subject alphabetical order, then follow. The Parliamentary Questions which Edith Cowan directed to Minister's are then presented before her Notices of Motion and Complimentary Remarks. In conclusion Edith Cowan's observations in the annual budget estimates are recorded...

There was much controversy in Western Australian politics during the period in which the world was shaken by the 11 September terrorist attacks in the United States. Major electoral law changes, together with legislation intended to remove discrimination against the gay and lesbian community, provoked much public controversy and long and bitter parliamentary debates. The Gallop Labor government, which began the period under review with a minor Cabinet reshuffle, also delivered its first budget. As former National Party leader Hendy Cowan had resigned his Merredin in seat in a quest for a Senate berth in the 10 November federal election, this necessitated a keenly fought by-election with the National Party requiring victory to retain its status as an official party.

During the second half of 2000 there was much speculation as to the likely date of the next election. Eventually Premier Court ruled out a pre-Christmas poll after the so-called Finance Brokers' Scandal continued to draw adverse publicity. Difficulties in the major portfolio areas of health, education and transport also bedevilled the government while several ministers came under fire for actions that were alleged to have breached expected standards of ministerial conduct.

Phillips, H. C. J., & Kerr, L. (2020). Western Australia July to December 2019. Australian Journal of Politics & History, 66(2), 346-351. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajph.12686

Phillips, H. C., & Kerr, L. (2017). Western Australia July to December 2016. Australian Journal of Politics & History, 63(2), 310-315. Available here

Phillips, H.C.J. & Kerr, L. (2014). Political Chronicles Western Australia July 2013 to December 2013. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 60(2), 304-309. Available here

Phillips, H. C. J., & Kerr, L. (2018). Western Australia July to December 2017. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 64(2), 338-343. Available here

Phillips, H.C.J. (1996). The voice of Edith Cowan: Australia's first woman parliamentarian 1921-1924. Churchlands, Australia: Edith Cowan University.

Phillips, H.C.J. (1996). The voice of Edith Cowan: Australia's first woman parliamentarian 1921-1924. Churchlands, Australia: Edith Cowan University.