State Government of Western Australia beginning 25 January 1982 - period in office of Premier O'Connor, Raymond James ending on 25 February 1983
Period in office of premier (see Glossary entry for 'period in office' and related terms)
Parliamentary support during period
Coalition partner 1
Number of ministers at beginning of period (this may vary during the period)
Assembly elections contested as premier or after which became premier (see Glossary entry for 'after election')
| Election | Premier at election | Premier's party | Premier after election | Premier's party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WA 19 February 1983 | Raymond James O'Connor | Liberal Party | Brian Thomas Burke | Australian Labor Party |
Previous period in this series for WA | Next period in this series for WA
Notes
Change of party leader (Court): Beginning of O'Connor's period in office: 'Despite months of speculation, Sir Charles Court kept the pundits guessing to the last moment before announcing on 18 December that he would retire as premier and member for Nedlands to date from 25 January 1982. His deputy, Mr O’Connor, was elected unopposed as premier ...', David Black, 'Western Australia', Australian Journal of Politics and History, Political Chronicle, 28(1) April 1982: 83-121 at 121. O'Connor became Premier of a Liberal Party and National Country Party coalition government.
Loss of general election: The O'Connor Liberal Party and National Country Party coalition government was defeated at the general election for the Legislative Assembly on 19 February 1983; Premier O'Connor resigned on 25 February 1983.
References: For a study of the style of parliamentary politics during this period, see Harry Phillips, 'The Modern Parliament, 1965-1989', in David Black (editor), The House on the Hill: A History of the Parliament of Western Australia 1832-1990, pp 185-262, particularly pp 210-227, (Perth: Western Australian Parliamentary History Project, Parliament of Western Australia, 1991, ISBN 0730939839).
Summary information on Western Australian premiers from 1890 to 1982 (including information on Premier O'Connor) and a short essay, 'The Premiers -- An Introductory Comment', can be found in Reid and Oliver (see 'Sources', below).
The Australian Journal of Politics and History has provided brief surveys of Western Australian politics since 1956 in the 'Political Chronicle' section of the journal in issues of each annual volume. This publication can be viewed online through Wiley-Blackwell Journals at subscribing libraries.
Sources
Colin A Hughes, A Handbook of Australian Government and Politics 1975-1984, (Sydney: Australian National University Press, 1986, ISBN 008033038X); John Mandy and David Black (editors),The Western Australian Parliamentary Handbook Centenary Edition, (Perth: Parliamentary History Project, Parliament of Western Australia, 1990, ISBN 0731697847); G S Reid and M R Oliver, The Premiers of Western Australia 1890-1982, (Perth: University of Western Australia Press, 1982, ISBN 0855642149).