About the WA State Government
Departments and Agencies
The WA State Government has a number of different types of agencies with varied responsibilities and functions. Some of the different agencies include:
Government Departments which are created under the Public Sector Management Act 1994. Government Departments are responsible for administering particular legislation, as well as developing and implementing Government policies. Some examples of Government Departments include the Department of Education and Training, Department of Health and Department of Treasury and Finance.
Statutory Authorities have their own Act of Parliament under which they were established. They are overseen by Boards of Management or Commissioners. Some examples are the Public Transport Authority, Main Roads and the Botanical Gardens and Parks Authority.
Government Trading Enterprises also have their own Act of Parliament. They have their own functions and generate income from the goods and services they provide. The Water Corporation is an example of a Government trading enterprise.
Central Agencies traditionally have coordinating responsibilities for overseeing activities across the Public Sector. Some examples are the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection, the State Supply Commission and the Department of Treasury and Finance.
Independent Offices that report direct to Parliament and are established to monitor and oversee standards of practice and performance across WA Public Sector agencies. Some examples include the Office of the Auditor General, the Office of the Public Sector Standards Commissioner and the Office of the Information Commissioner.
Want to know more? If you're interested in learning about a specific government agency then a good source of information is the annual report. At the end of each financial year, government agencies are required to prepare a report to Parliament on their operations. Copies of all Public Sector annual reports are held by the State Library of Western Australia at the Alexander Library Building.
Annual reports are also available electronically through each of the departments and agencies websites. For a list of WA Government departments and agencies, please visit www.wa.gov.au/agencies