Colin Barnett

Colin Barnett

Colin James Barnett (born 15 July 1950) is an Australian politician who is the 29th and current Premier of Western Australia in his role as leader of the Western Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia. He had previously served as the state's Leader of the Opposition and Treasurer, as well as holding various other portfolios in Western Australia's Cabinet.

Barnett was born in Nedlands, a suburb of Perth, the capital of Western Australia, and graduated from the University of Western Australia with an economics degree. Having lectured in economics at the Western Australian Institute of Technology and served as an executive director of the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for the seat of Cottesloe at a by-election in 1990. Barnett served as a minister in the Court–Cowan Ministry from 1993 until its defeat at the 2001 election, after which he was made leader of the Liberal Party, replacing the outgoing premier, Richard Court. He resigned as leader after the unsuccessful 2005 election, but regained the position prior to the 2008 election, where he was elected premier. Barnett was sworn into office on 23 September 2008 by Ken Michael, the Governor of Western Australia at the time.

Read more about Colin Barnett:  Early Life

Famous quotes containing the word barnett:

    Shopping seemed to take an entirely too important place in women’s lives. You never saw men milling around in men’s departments. They made quick work of it. I used to wonder if shopping was a form of escape for women who had no worthwhile interests.
    —Mary Barnett Gilson (1877–?)