About WA Labor
Phone: 08 9328 7222
or 1800 200 777
Fax: 08 9227 9585
Email us
Address:
Second Floor, Unity House
79 Stirling Street
Perth WA 6000
Postal Address:
PO Box 8117
Stirling St
Perth Business Centre WA 6849
- Introduction
- Party Members
- Branches
- Electorate Councils
- The Administrative Committee
- State Executive
- State Conference
- Policy Committees
- Affiliated Unions
- Parliamentary Parties
The Australian Labor Party is a national organisation with national rules. However, each State and Territory forms a separate Branch within the organisation. Although they share common elements such as sub-branches, State Conferences and Administrative Committees, each State branch is structured and governed in its own way.
Party Members form the core of the Australian Labor Party and the WA Branch encourages you to join and make your voice heard - as a member of the Labor Party, you can shape decisions affecting our community, influence the policy of Labor governments and discuss ideas with others members.
Membership of the ALP is about having a say in Australia’s future.
For more information about the benefits of joining the Labor Party click here.
Party Members all belong to a Branch and your Branch is one of the foundations of the ALP. The Party can only function effectively with the active involvement of its members in Branches.
There are two types of Branches. Local Branches are named after suburbs or towns and organised around a local geographic area. Direct Branches are generally larger and are organised around an issue or a broader group in the community.
In each case your Branch offers you the opportunity to:
- discuss issues of public policy and influence the policies of Labor in government;
- have your ideas brought before the entire ALP;
- participate actively in election campaigns;
- meet like-minded people, who also have a commitment to social justice;
- stand in pre-selection ballots as a candidate for public office;
- meet ALP parliamentary representatives;
- find out the inside news on the labour movement and Labor in government.
All Branches within a federal electorate send delegates to their Electorate Council. Delegates are elected each year at the Sub-branch Annual General Meeting.
Electorate Councils meet regularly to consider motions passed by Branches, to hear reports from local Members of Parliament, to help the recruitment of new members by Branches, and to campaign for the ALP. The Electorate Council also elects delegates to State Executive.
The Administrative Committee is responsible for the management and administration of the Party. The Administrative Committee comprises 14 members, with 10 of these members being elected annually by the State Conference. The State Secretary and Assistant State Secretary, who are elected at State Conference for three year terms, are automatically members of the Administrative Committee. The leader of the State Parliamentary Labor Party (SPLP) is also automatically a member of the Administrative Committe, and a representative of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party (WA) (FPLPWA) is elected by their fellow FPLPWA colleagues.
State Executive Meeting
State Executive is the principle forum of the Party. It is made up of delegates from Electorate Councils, affiliated unions and ALP Parliamentary representatives.
It is responsible for managing the Party’s affairs between State Conferences, giving effect to the decisions and policies of State Conference and choosing the Western Australian delegation to the ALP’s National Conference.
In addition, State Executive selects ALP candidates for Federal Parliament and the State Parliament. State Executive is held seven times a year.
State Conference meets annually and is the governing body of the Party in Western Australia. It is made up of delegates from Branches, affiliated unions and ALP Parliamentary representatives.
You can find out more information about State Conference by clicking here.
Policy Committees report to State Conference with a draft policy document for debate. The policy that results from this debate becomes the State Platform, to which all Government actions must adhere.
These are run by a Convenor who is elected for a two year term at State Conference.
Policy Committees advice Ministers and Shadow Ministers, consider items from Sub-branches and unions, develop the draft Party platform to be considered by State Conference and make submissions to the National Policy Committee about changes to the Party’s National Platform.
Committees welcome the help and ideas of all Party Members. The WA Branch has 15 policy committees. The Committees cover the following policy areas:
- Health
- Education and Training
- Law, Public Administration and Community Safety
- Economics, Industrial Relations and Regional Development
- Community and Social Policy
- Conservation and the Environment
- Transport, Planning and Urban Services
- International Affairs
If you would like to be involved in any of the Policy Committees, please contact Party Office on (08) 9328 7222 or 1800 200 777 or email us and indicate the Policy Committee you wish to join. Your nomination will be presented to the Administrative Committee and then passed onto the Policy Committee Convenor.
Many unions - though not all - are affiliated to the ALP (WA Branch).
An affiliated union is entitled to participate in a number of Party forums, including State Conference and State Executive. This affiliation allows a union to be involved in the political expression of the aspirations of its membership.
Below is a list of the unions affiliated to the ALP (WA Branch):
Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union
Jock Ferguson – Secretary
GPO Box J667
Perth 6000
Phone: (08) 9223 0800
Fax: (08) 9225 4744
Email: amwuwa@amwu.asn.au
Australian Institute of Marine Power Engineers
Phil Olsen - Secretary
1/169 Stock Road
Palmyra 6157
Phone: (08) 9317 6446
Fax: (08) 9317 6450
Email:polsen@iinet.net.au
Australian Meat Industries Employees Union
Graeme Haynes
1A/228 Great Eastern Highway
Ascot 6104
PO Box 479, Belmont 6104
Phone: (08) 9479 6029
Fax: (08) 9479 6308
Email: wameat@iinet.net.au
Australia Rail, Tram & Bus Industry Union
Phil Woodcock – Secretary
2/10 Nash Street
Perth 6000
Phone: (08) 9225 6722
Fax: (08) 9227 6400
Email: general@rtbuwa.asn.au
Australian Services Union-Railway Division
Paul Burlinson - Secretary
102 East Parade
East Perth 6004
Phone: (08) 9427 7777
Fax: (08) 9227 5565
Email: branch.secretary@asuwa.asn.au
Australian Worker's Union
Tim Daly - Secretary
PO Box 8122
Perth Business Centre 6849
Phone: (08) 9221 1686
Fax: (08) 9221 1706
Email: administrator@awuwa.asn.au
Breweries and Bottleyards Employees Union
Ron Murphy - Secretary
PO Box 1455
Canning Vale 6155
Phone: (08) 9455 4633
Fax: (08) 9455 4733
CEPU Communications Division
Gary Carson - Secretary
PO Box 8354
Perth BC 6849
Phone: (08) 9227 9911
Fax: (08) 9227 9397
Email: cepuwa@iinet.net.au
CEPU Engineering & Electrical Division
James Murie
24/257 Balcatta Road
Balcatta 6021
Phone: (08) 9440 3522
Fax: (08) 9440 3544
Email: cepu@4u.com.au
CEPU Plumbing Division
Rob Hampson
24/257 Balcatta Road
Balcatta 6021
Phone: (08) 9440 3522
Fax: (08) 9440 3544
Email: cepu@4u.com.au
CEPU Postal Division
Paul Kelly - Secretary
196 Lord St
Perth 6000
Phone: (08) 9328 3222
Fax: (08) 9227 9397
Email: paulcepu@iinet.net.au
(CFMEU) Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union
Kevin Reynolds - Secretary
82 Royal St
East Perth 6004
Phone: (08) 9221 1055
Fax: (08) 9221 1506
Email: cfmeuwa@cfmeuwa.com
Coal Miners Industry Union
Gary Wood - Secretary
75 Throssell St
Collie 6225
Phone: (08) 9734 5600
Fax: (08) 9734 1898
Email: cfmeuwa@highway1.com.au
Food Preservers Union
Joe Bullock - Secretary
PO Box Y3436, St Georges Terrace East
Perth 6832
Phone: (08) 9221 4321
Fax: (08) 9221 2774
Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union
Dave Kelly – Secretary
PO Box 414
Subiaco 6008
Phone: (08) 9388 5400
Fax: (08) 9382 3986
Email: lhmuwa@lhmu.org.au
Maritime Union of Australia
Chris Cain - Secretary
2-4 Kwong Alley
North Fremantle 6159
Phone: (08) 9335 0500
Fax: (08) 9335 0510
Email: muawa@mua.org.au
National Union of Workers
Martin Pritchard - Secretary
PO Box Y3436, St Georges Terrace East
Perth 6832
Phone: (08) 9221 4321
Fax: (08) 9221 2774
Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Union
Joe Bullock - Secretary
PO Box Y3436, St Georges Terrace East
Perth 6832
Phone: (08) 9221 4321
Fax: (08) 9221 2774
Email: sda@sdawa.asn.au
Transport Workers' Union
Jim McGiveron - Secretary
3rd Floor, 82 Beaufort St
Perth 6000
Phone: (08) 9328 7477
Fax: (08) 9227 8320
Email: jim.mcgiveron@wa.twu.com.au
United Firefighters Union of WA
Dave Bowers - Secretary
63 Railway Parade
Mt Lawley 6050
Phone: (08) 9272 3222
Fax: (08) 9271 2666
Email: ufuofwa@iinet.net.au
Western Australian Prison Officers’ Union of Workers
John Welch – Secretary
63 Railway parade
Mt Lawley 6050
Phone: (08) 9272 3222
Fax: (08) 9271 2666
Email: wapou@wapou.asn.au
ALP members of State and Federal Parliament form Parliamentary Parties which operate as separate Sub-branches of the Party. "Caucus" is the collective term used to describe the Labor MPs in a particular Parliament. For example, the SPLP is the State Caucus and the FPLP (comprising Federal Members and Senators from all States and Territories) is the Federal Caucus. Caucus elects the Party Leaders in both Houses of Parliament and the Ministry or Shadow Ministry.
- Foundation of the Australian Labor Party
- Origins of Labor in Parliament
- History of the ALP (WA Branch)
- WA Election Dates
- WA Labor Leaders
- WA Labor Premiers
First State Conference - Coolgardie, 1889
Foundation of the Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is Australia's oldest political party.
It is about 30 years older than the Country Party and more than 50 years older than the Liberal Party.
Origins of Labor in Parliament
Labor became a Federal Party when the former colonies of Australia federated in 1901.
Separate labour parties had been established in the colonies during the formative decade of the 1890s.
These parties were sponsored by the trade union movement, to help get sympathetic politicians elected to colonial parliaments. In Western Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, there were no strong and coherent labour parties until after federation.
However, by 1900 strong labour parties had emerged in Queensland and New South Wales, quickly taking up a prominent role in Parliamentary politics.
Australia's first labour government took office in Queensland in 1899. It lasted seven days. Although these early labour parties were strongly influenced by the trade unions, they were never confined to union membership and interests. Their earliest programs and platforms show that they sought the support of farmers, small businessmen and non-union employees including clerical and other white-collar workers.
From the start the Labour Party was essentially a pragmatic and non-doctrinaire party, representing a broad range of social and economic interests. It was broad in appeal and moderate in aim, although this did not stop its opponents from attacking it as extremist.
The Australian Labor Party entered federal politics at the first Commonwealth elections of 1901, when 16 Labor members were elected to the House of Representatives and eight to the Senate. They met before the first sitting of Parliament on 8 May 1901 and agreed to form a Federal Labor Party. J.C. (Chris) Watson, a Sydney printer and a former member of the NSW Parliament, was elected the first Leader of the Party.
History of the ALP (WA Branch)
The Western Australian Labor Party was established by a Trade Union Congress, held in Coolgardie in 1899. Representatives of Trades and Labor Councils from around the State agreed to the formation of a political party to protect the interests of workers. The result was the Western Australian Labor Party.
1899: WA Labor Party was established by a Union Congress in Coolgardie. The First Platform was agreed upon.
1900: The Labor Party gained representation in the WA Parliament with the election of six members of the Legislative Assembly. Labor also became a federal party, and 24 Labor members were elected to the first Federal parliament.
1903: WA Labor became a state branch of the Australian Labor Federation.
1904: Labor won 22 Legislative Assembly seats and formed a minority government. Henry Daglish became the first Labor Premier of WA.
1911: Labor won a landslide electoral victory. John Scaddan became the second Labor Premier of WA. Scaddan lead Labor to a second electoral victory in 1914.
1916: The Conscription controversy split Labor both in WA and nationally. Labor governments at both levels were defeated in Parliament and at subsequent general elections.
1924: Labor was returned to power under the leadership of Phillip Collier (3rd Labor Premier). The Collier government was re-elected in 1927.
1925: May Holman was elected to the Legislative Assembly. She was the first Labor woman and second woman ever to be elected to an Australian parliament.
1930: The WA Labor government was defeated at a general election.
1933: The WA Labor Party was returned to government in a landslide, again under the leadership of Phillip Collier.
1935: John Curtin, the Federal Member for Fremantle, was elected Federal Parliamentary Leader. He was the first person from WA to be Leader of the Federal Labor Party.
1936: John Wilcock replaces Phillip Collier as Premier, leading the Labor Government for the next nine years.
1941: John Curtin became Prime Minister two months before the bombing of Pearl Harbour. He lead Labor to victory at the 1943 election on the basis of the government’s war record.
1945: Frank Wise becomes Premier. John Curtin died in July.
1947: Labor unexpectedly loses the State election, having held office for 20 of the previous 23 years.
1953: Bert Hawke leads Labor to victory and becomes Premier.
1956: Labor wins the State election with an increased majority.
1959: Bert Hawke’s Government was defeated due to a preference strategy run in marginal seats by the anticommunist, anti-ALP, Democratic Labor Party.
1971: Labor was returned to government in WA under the leadership of John Tonkin. Tonkin was Premier until 1974, when Labor lost the State Election, although he remained Leader until 1976.
1983: Labor was victorious in both the state and federal spheres, under the leadership of Brian Burke and Bob Hawke.
1988: Peter Dowding became Labor leader and Premier when Brian Burke retired.
1989: Peter Dowding lead Labor to a third successive electoral victory.
1990: Carmen Lawrence became WA Labor leader and the first woman Premier in Australia.
1993: Labor was defeated at a State election after 10 years in office.
1993: Ian Taylor replaces Carmen Lawrence as Labor leader. Carmen Lawrence stands for, and wins, the Federal seat of Fremantle in a by-election on 12th March.
1994: Jim McGinty becomes Leader of the Opposition.
1996: Geoff Gallop becomes Labor Leader. Labor is defeated in a December State Election. Kim Beazley was elected Opposition Leader, becoming the second Western Australian to lead the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party.
1999: Marked the centenary of the WA Branch. A Centenary State Conference was held on May 8th and 9th, 1999, to reformulate the Branch’s platform in preparation for a 2000-2001 State Election.
2001: Geoff Gallop led WA Labor to victory in the State Election. Creating a Government which stopped all logging of old-growth forests and doubled the size of Perth’s passenger rail services by building a train to Mandurah.
2005: The Gallop Government was re-elected with an increased majority and immediately introduced a fair, one-vote one-value, electoral system for the first time in WA. This had been part of Labor’s platform since 1899.
2006: Geoff Gallop resigned as Labor Leader and Premier, citing his battle with depression. Alan Carpenter became the 12th Labor Premier of WA.
You can find out more about WA Labor's history by clicking here.
27 Nov to 12 Dec, 1890
14 June to 3 July, 1894
27 April to 28 May, 1897
24 April, 1901
28 June, 1904
27 October, 1905
11 September, 1908
3 October, 1911
21 October, 1914
29 September, 1917
12 March, 1921
22 March, 1924
26 March, 1927
8 April, 1933
15 February, 1936
18 March, 1939
20 November, 1943
15 March, 1947
25 March, 1950
14 February, 1953
7 April, 1956
21 March, 1959
31 March, 1962
20 February, 1965
23 March, 1968
20 February, 1971
30 March, 1974
19 February, 1977
23 February, 1980
19 February, 1983
8 February, 1986
4 February, 1989
6 February, 1993
14 December, 1996
10 February, 2001
26 February, 2005
There have been seventeen Parliamentary leaders of the Labor Party in Western Australia, twelve of whom have served as Premier:
Henry Daglish - 1904-1905Tom Bath - 1906-1910
John Scaddan - 1910-1916
Phillip Collier - 1917-1936
John Willcock - 1936-1945
Frank Wise - 1945-1951
Bert Hawke - 1951-1966
John Tonkin - 1967-1976
Colin Jamieson - 1976-1978
Ron Davies - 1978-1981
Brian Burke - 1981-1988
Peter Dowding - 1988-1990
Carmen Lawrence - 1990-1993
Ian Taylor - 1993-1994
Jim McGinty - 1994-1996
Geoff Gallop - 1996-2006
Alan Carpenter - 2006-
Henry Daglish - 1904-05
John Scaddan - 1911-16
Phillip Collier - 1924-30
John Willcock - 1936-45
Frank Wise - 1945-47
Bert Hawke - 1953-59
John Tonkin - 1971-74
Brian Burke - 1983-88
Peter Dowding - 1988-90
Carmen Lawrence - 1990-93
Geoff Gallop - 2001-06
Alan Carpenter - 2006-
