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About the WA State Government

Structures of Government

There are 3 main structures which direct the way the WA State Government (also known as the Public Sector) operates:

• The Parliamentary System;
• The Premier and Cabinet; and
• Legislation.

The Parliamentary System

The Government system in Western Australia is known as a parliamentary democracy and was established by the Western Australian Constitution Act 1890.

Our Parliamentary System was adapted from the British (or Westminster) system and is responsible for making laws for the State of Western Australia.

A key feature of this System is the "separation of powers". These powers are:

• Legislative - the establishment of laws through the Parliamentary System;
• Executive - the WA State Government, led by the Premier and day to day administration through the Public Service;
• Judicial - the law courts (ie High Court, Supreme Court, Family Court and Local courts).

The Parliament's role is to consider and pass laws. There are two Houses of Parliament - the Legislative Assembly (Lower House) and the Legislative Council (Upper House) - and both Houses are responsible for passing legislation.

Parliamentarians are either Members of the Legislative Council (MLC) or Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). The main functions of Parliament are to:

• represent the people of Western Australia;
• provide a responsible Government under the British system;
• approve finance for Government operations;
• to monitor and scrutinise Government administration and expenditure; and
• to pass legislation.

The Premier and the Cabinet

After an election, the Leader of the party or coalition of parties which have the support of the majority of members in the Legislative Assembly forms the Government of the day.

The Leader of the Government is called the Premier and members from the majority party or coalition are then chosen as Ministers. The Ministers form a committee called the Cabinet.

The Cabinet has three main functions:

1. to discuss and initiate new laws and to decide on Government policy;
2. to carry out the work of Government control throughout the year; and
3. to control the departments which administer or put into action the laws of the State.