The Court–Cowan Ministry was the 32nd Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, and was led by Liberal Premier Richard Court and his deputy, the Nationals' Hendy Cowan. It succeeded the Lawrence Ministry on 16 February 1993, following the defeat of the Labor government at the 1993 election ten days earlier. The Ministry was reconstituted on 9 January 1997 following the December 1996 election, due in part to the retirement and resignation of several ministers—Richard Lewis, Kevin Minson, Roger Nicholls and Bob Wiese. The ministry was followed by the Gallop Ministry on 16 February 2001 after the Coalition lost government at the state election held on 16 February.
First Ministry
On 16 February 1993, the Governor, Sir Francis Burt, designated 17 principal executive offices of the Government under section 43(2) of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899. The following ministers were then appointed to the positions, and served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 10 February 1995.
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, whilst green entries indicate members of the National Party.
Office | Minister |
---|---|
Premier and Treasurer |
Richard Court, BComm, MLA |
Deputy Premier |
Hendy Cowan, MLA |
Minister for Resources Development |
Colin Barnett, MEc, MLA |
Minister for Primary Industry |
Monty House, JP, MLA |
Minister for Mines |
George Cash, JP, MLC |
Eric Charlton, MLC | |
Minister for Education |
Norman Moore, BA, DipEd, MLC |
Attorney-General |
Cheryl Edwardes, B.Juris, LL.B., BA, MLA |
Minister for Finance |
Max Evans, MBE, FCA, MLC |
Minister for Tourism |
Doug Shave, MLA (until 24 August 1993)[1] |
Minister for Water Resources |
Paul Omodei, MLA |
Minister for Health |
Peter Foss, BA, LL.B., MLC |
Minister for the Environment |
Kevin Minson, BDSc, MLA |
Minister for Community Development |
Roger Nicholls, MLA |
Minister for Labour Relations |
Graham Kierath, MLA |
Minister for Police |
Bob Wiese, MLA |
Minister for Planning |
Richard Lewis, MLA |
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs |
Kevin Prince, LL.B., MLA (from 25 January 1994)[2] |
Parliamentary Secretaries |
Bob Pike, MLC[3] |
- X Both the First and Second Ministries were officially referred to as the "Court–Cowan Ministry" or "Court Ministry" in Hansard and other parliamentary records.
- 1 On 24 August 1993, Doug Shave resigned for personal reasons. His three portfolios were distributed to three of the other ministers.
- 2 On 25 January 1994, the ministry returned to 17 members with the appointment of Kevin Prince. Additionally, the Premier took on the role of Minister for Tourism.
- 3 On 26 April 1994, parliamentary secretary Bob Pike died. His parliamentary secretary position was not refilled.
First Ministry (reconstituted)
A reshuffle on 10 February 1995 saw several changes in order and portfolios, but no changes of personnel. The Governor, Major-General Michael Jeffery, designated 17 principal executive offices of the Government under section 43(2) of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899. The following ministers were then appointed to the positions, and served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 9 January 1997.
Blue entries indicate members of the Liberal Party, whilst green entries indicate members of the National Party.
Office | Minister |
---|---|
Premier and Treasurer |
Richard Court, BComm, MLA |
Deputy Premier |
Hendy Cowan, MLA |
Minister for Resources Development |
Colin Barnett, MEc, MLA |
Minister for Primary Industry |
Monty House, JP, MLA |
Minister for Mines |
George Cash, JP, MLC (until 26 April 1996)[5] |
Eric Charlton, MLC | |
Minister for Education (until 21 December 1995) |
Norman Moore, BA, DipEd, MLC |
(until 21 December 1995:)
(from 21 December 1995:)
Minister for Women's Interests |
Cheryl Edwardes, B.Juris, LL.B., BA, MLA |
Minister for Finance |
Max Evans, MBE, FCA, MLC |
Minister for the Environment (from 21 December 1995:)
(until 21 December 1995:)
|
Peter Foss, BA, LL.B., MLC |
Minister for Health (until 21 December 1995) |
Graham Kierath, MLA |
(until 29 June 1995:)
(29 June–21 December 1995)
Minister for Water Resources (from 21 December 1995) |
Roger Nicholls, MLA |
Minister for Mines (from 26 April 1996)[5] |
Kevin Minson, BDSc, MLA |
Minister for Planning |
Richard Lewis, MLA |
Minister for Police |
Bob Wiese, MLA |
Minister for Local Government |
Paul Omodei, MLA |
Minister for Health (from 21 December 1995) |
Kevin Prince, LL.B., MLA |
Parliamentary Secretaries |
Bill McNee, MLA |
- 4 On 21 December 1995, a major reshuffle took place amongst existing Ministers, mainly to discharge particular Ministers of portfolios which had proven troublesome for the government.
- 5 On 26 April 1996, George Cash resigned from the ministry due to ill health. Graham Kierath and Kevin Minson adopted his portfolios, whilst Norman Moore was elected leader of the Government in the Legislative Council four days later.
Second Ministry
On 9 January 1997, the Governor, Major General Michael Jeffery, designated 17 principal executive offices of the Government under section 43(2) of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899. The following ministers were then appointed to the positions, and served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 22 December 1999.
Office | Minister |
---|---|
Premier and Treasurer |
Richard Court, BComm, MLA |
Deputy Premier |
Hendy Cowan, MLA |
Minister for Resources Development |
Colin Barnett, MEc, MLA |
Minister for Primary Industry |
Monty House, JP, MLA |
Minister for Mines |
Norman Moore, BA, DipEd, MLC |
Eric Charlton, MLC (until 28 July 1998) Murray Criddle, MLC (from 28 July 1998)[1] | |
Minister for the Environment |
Cheryl Edwardes, B.Juris, LL.B., BA, MLA |
Minister for Labour Relations (until 28 July 1998)[1] |
Graham Kierath, MLA |
Attorney-General |
Peter Foss, BA, LL.B., QC, MLC |
Minister for Finance |
Max Evans, MBE, FCA, MLC |
Minister for Health (until 28 July 1998) |
Kevin Prince, LL.B., MLA |
Minister for Lands |
Doug Shave, MLA |
Minister for Local Government |
Paul Omodei, MLA |
Minister for Family and Children's Services |
Rhonda Parker, DipTeach, MLA |
Minister for Housing |
Dr Kim Hames, MBBS, JP, MLA |
Minister for Health (from 28 July 1998) |
John Day, BSc, BDSc, MLA |
Minister for Works |
Mike Board, JP, MLA |
Parliamentary Secretaries |
Fred Tubby, BEd, MACE, JP, MLA |
- 1 On 28 July 1998, a reshuffle took place following Eric Charlton's departure from Parliament, with Agricultural MLC Murray Criddle assuming his Transport portfolio. Graham Kierath lost his Labour Relations portfolio to Cheryl Edwardes, whilst Kevin Prince and John Day traded portfolios.
Second Ministry (reconstituted)
On 22 December 1999, following a reshuffle which lost Ministers Max Evans and Rhonda Parker, the Governor, Major General Michael Jeffery, designated 17 principal executive offices of the Government under section 43(2) of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899. The following ministers were then appointed to the positions, and served until the end of the Ministry on 16 February 2001, when they were replaced by the Gallop Ministry.
Office | Minister |
---|---|
Premier and Treasurer |
Richard Court, BComm, MLA |
Deputy Premier |
Hendy Cowan, MLA |
Minister for Resources Development |
Colin Barnett, MEc, MLA |
Minister for Primary Industry |
Monty House, JP, MLA |
Minister for Mines |
Norman Moore, BA, DipEd, MLC |
Murray Criddle, MLC | |
Cheryl Edwardes, B.Juris, LL.B., BA, MLA | |
Minister for Lands |
Doug Shave, MLA |
Minister for Police |
Kevin Prince, LL.B., MLA |
Minister for Planning |
Graham Kierath, MLA |
Attorney-General |
Peter Foss, BA, LL.B., QC, MLC |
Minister for Housing |
Dr Kim Hames, MBBS, JP, MLA |
John Day, BSc, BDSc, MLA | |
Minister for Employment and Training |
Mike Board, JP, MLA |
Minister for Local Government |
Paul Omodei, MLA |
Minister for Family and Children's Services |
June van de Klashorst, MLA |
Minister for Works |
Rob Johnson, MLA |
Parliamentary Secretaries |
John Bradshaw, MPS, JP, MLA |
References
- Hansard Indexes for 1993–2000, "Legislature of Western Australia"
- "No.32 (Special)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 16 February 1993. p. 1993:1287–1289.
- "No.116 (Special)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 25 August 1993. p. 1993:4599.
- "No.8 (Special)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 25 January 1994. p. 1994:278–279.
- "No.18 (Special)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 10 February 1995. p. 1995:477–478.
- "No.176 (Special)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 21 December 1995. p. 1995:6163–6164.
- "No.5 (Special)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 9 January 1997. p. 1997:99–100.
- Phillips, Harry; Black, David (June 1996). "Australian Political Chronicle: July–December 1995". Australian Journal of Politics and History. 42 (2): 271. ISSN 0004-9522.