Roger Cook (politician)

Roger Cook (politician)

Roger Hugh Cook (born 1965) is an Australian politician current serving as the Labor Party member for the seat of Kwinana in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, as well as Deputy Leader of the Opposition to Eric Ripper and Mark McGowan. From Perth, Western Australia, Cook was educated at Murdoch University, where he was heavily involved in student organisations and served as the first president of the National Union of Students. He subsequently became involved in indigenous land rights, serving as director of a number of native title bodies. Cook was elected to parliament at the 2008 state election, defeating independent candidate Carol Adams to become the first member for the newly-created electoral district of Kwinana. He was elected deputy leader of the Labor Party shortly after the election, and maintained the role when Eric Ripper was replaced as leader in early 2012. Cook is also the current Shadow Minister for Health, having previously also held the shadow portfolios of Mental Health and Indigenous Affairs.