Opposition (Western Australia)

The Opposition in the Australian state of Western Australia comprises the largest party or coalition of parties not in Government. The Opposition's purpose is to hold the Government to account and constitute a "Government-in-waiting" should the existing Government fall. To that end, a Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Ministers for the various government departments question the Premier and Ministers on Government policy and administration, and formulate the policy the Opposition would pursue in Government. It is sometimes styled "His Majesty's Loyal Opposition" to demonstrate that although it opposes the Government, it remains loyal to the King.

The current Leader of the Opposition is Nationals Leader Shane Love. The conservative Opposition was previously led by Zak Kirkup of the Liberal Party. In the 2021 election, the Liberal Party ended up winning fewer seats than the National Party, headed by Davies, with the National Party gaining opposition status and Davies becoming the first Nationals opposition leader since 1947.^[1]

List of shadow ministries

Current arrangement

Following the 2021 election, the Liberal Party and Nationals Party entered into a formal alliance to form opposition, with National Party being the senior party and the Liberal Party being the junior party in the alliance. Shadow ministerial positions were also held by parliamentary members of both parties.^[2] This was similar to the agreements between both parties when they were in government following the 2008 and 2013 elections.^[3] Similar to the 2008 and 2013 agreements, the deputy leader of the senior party, Nationals deputy leader Shane Love, was the deputy opposition leader, instead of the leader of the junior party, Liberal Party leader David Honey. Under the alliance, each party maintained their independence, and could speak out on issues when there was a disagreement with their partner.^[4]^[5]

Shadow Minister		Portfolio	Image
Shane Love MLA		Leader of the Opposition Shadow Minister for: Regional Development Transport Jobs & Trade Climate Action Finance Federal-State Relations Public Sector Management Government Accountability Leader of the National Party
Peter Rundle MLA		Deputy Leader of the Opposition Manager of Opposition Business Shadow Minister for: Education & Training International Education Sports & Recreation Racing & Gaming Deputy Leader of the National Party
Merome Beard MLA		Opposition Whip in the Legislative Assembly Shadow Minister for: Local Government Tourism Commerce Women's Interests
Hon. Mia Davies MLA		Shadow Minister for: Mines & Petroleum Electoral Affairs Aboriginal Affairs
Hon. Colin de Grussa MLC		Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Opposition Whip in the Legislative Council Shadow Minister for: Agriculture and Food Fisheries Ports Veterans Issues Regional Communications Leader of the National Party in the Legislative Council
Hon. Martin Aldridge MLC		Shadow Minister for: Emergency Services Regional Health Road Safety Volunteering Regional Cities Deputy Leader of the National Party in the Legislative Council
Libby Mettam MLA		Shadow Minister for: Health Mental Health Disability Services Prevention of Family & Domestic Violence Child Protection Leader of the WA Liberal Party
Dr. David Honey MLA		Shadow Minister for: State Development Water Hydrogen Small Business Science Innovation and ICT
Hon. Steve Thomas MLC		Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Shadow Minister for: Energy Treasury Industrial Relations Deputy Leader of the WA Liberal Party Leader of the Liberal Party in the Legislative Council
Hon. Tjorn Sibma MLC		Shadow Minister for: Justice Defence Industry MetroNet Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in the Legislative Council
Hon. Donna Faragher MLC		Shadow Minister for: Community Services Early Childhood Learning Youth Seniors and Ageing
Hon. Peter Collier MLC		Shadow Minister for Police and Corrective Services Shadow Minister for Culture and the Arts
Hon. Neil Thomson MLC		Shadow Minister for: Planning Environment Lands Heritage
Hon. Steve Martin MLC		Shadow Minister for Housing and Forestry
Hon. Nick Goiran MLC		No portfolio