The Governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of Australia's Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor performs important constitutional, ceremonial and community functions, including:
- presiding over the Executive Council;
- proroguing and dissolving the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council;
- issuing writs for elections; and
- appointing Ministers, Judges, Magistrates and Justices of the Peace.
Furthermore, all Bills passed by the Parliament of Western Australia require the Governor's signature before they become Acts and pass into law.
The current Governor of Western Australia is Malcolm McCusker, who was sworn in on 1 July 2011.
The first Australian- (and Western Australian-) born Governor of Western Australia was Sir James Mitchell (appointed 1948). His two successors were British; then came two Australians; but in 1980, another Briton was appointed, Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Trowbridge. His term ended in 1983. He was the last British governor of any Australian state.
For further information on the office of Governor, see Governors of the Australian states.
Read more about Governor Of Western Australia: Living Former Governors
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