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Speaker
(an elected Member of the Legislative Assembly)
The Speaker is the Presiding Officer of the Legislative Assembly. He or she is elected from
the members of the Legislative Assembly at the beginning of a Parliament. The Speaker’s
role is to act as a kind of referee by keeping everyone on track and making sure they are
following the rules of the Legislative Assembly. These rules are called Standing Orders.
Deputy Speaker and Acting Speakers
(elected Members of the Legislative Assembly)
The Deputy Speaker and Acting Speakers are given permission to act in the place of the Speaker.
They mainly take on the role of Chair to the committee stage of a bill known as the
Consideration in Detail, which is one of the stages of making laws in the Legislative Assembly.
Members
(59 elected members)
The 59 Members of the Legislative Assembly are elected from 59 districts of Western
Australia for four-year, fixed terms. Members who are not Ministers are known as “backbenchers”
because they sit behind the Ministers or Shadow Ministers.
Premier
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government.
The Premier is the leader of the party or coalition of parties holding a majority in the
Legislative Assembly. This majority determines the Government.
Leader of the House
(appointed by the Premier) also known as the Manager of Government Business
The Leader of the House manages the Government’s legislative program in the Legislative
Assembly and plays a major role in determining the work schedule of the House.
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Leader of the Opposition
(an elected member of the Legislative Assembly)
The Leader of the Opposition leads the main Opposition party in the Legislative Assembly and plays a
major part in debates. He/ she essentially operates to promote themselves as the alternative Premier.
Ministers
(elected members of the Legislative Assembly, appointed by the Premier)
Ministers are members of the Government with responsibility for particular Government
departments and the administration of specific laws and Government activities.
Ministers in the Legislative Assembly are given the title of Honourable. Ministers
can be appointed from either House.
Shadow Ministers
(elected members of the Legislative Assembly)
Shadow Ministers are members of the Opposition parties that have a responsibility for
“keeping watch” on a particular Government Minister and questioning the Minister
about the Government’s activities.
Party Whips
(elected members of the Legislative Assembly)
Each political party has a Member referred to as a Whip. The Whip ensures that Members of their
party are present in the Chamber when needed. Whips are appointed as tellers (or counters)
for a vote during a division of the House.
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Clerk
(appointed Parliamentary Officer)
The Clerk is an officer of the House whose duties include the organisation of the
administrative work necessary to enable the House to carry out its functions,
advising the Speaker and Members on matters of procedure and preparing and
preserving the records, papers and documents associated with the House.
Sergeant-at-Arms
(appointed Parliamentary Officer)
The Sergeant‐at‐Arms is an officer of the Legislative Assembly who attends upon
the Speaker on ceremonial occasions such as the opening of Parliament. The
Sergeant‐at‐Arms carries the Mace. The formal role of the Sergeant‐at‐Arms is also to keep
order, at the direction of the Speaker, during the sittings of the Legislative Assembly.
Hansard Reporters
(appointed Parliamentary Officers)
Hansard Reporters record the words of the members during Parliamentary debates using
various written and audio formats and produce a written record known commonly as
“Hansard”. Hansard is not written word for word, mistakes are corrected and repetition is
omitted. The Hansard Reporters work as part of a team, taking 10 minute turns in the chamber
to record what is said, then they spend an hour in their office transcribing their
notes into the written word.
Ministerial Advisors
(Government Officers)
Ministerial Advisors sit at the Table of the House and provide advice to Ministers
when Bills are considered in detail during the “Committee Stage” in which the proposed law
progresses through the House. The Advisors are not permitted to stay in the chamber for a vote
and are lead ‘off the floor’ when amendment votes are taken and return to continue advising the
Minister during further debate.
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Parliamentary Officers
(appointed Parliamentary Officers)
Parliamentary Officers are Chamber staff that assist Members of the Legislative Assembly
and the Clerk with the work of the Legislative Assembly Chamber. When a vote is called
on a division, the Parliamentary Officers lock the doors of the Chamber to prevent
Members coming and going from the Chamber until after the vote is counted.