Governor of Western Australia


The Governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of the Queen of Australia, Elizabeth II. As with the other governors of the Australian states, the Governor of Western Australia performs constitutional, ceremonial and community functions, including:
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 is Kim Beazley. He succeeded Kerry Sanderson, who was the first woman to hold the position, in May 2018.
Until the appointment of Sir James Mitchell in 1948, all governors of Western Australia had been British officials. After Mitchell's appointment, a further three Britons served as governor: Mitchell's two immediate successors, and then, from 1980 to 1983, Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Trowbridge who was the last British governor of any Australian state.

Styles

The Governor of Western Australia is styled His Excellency during his term in office. In August 2014, three of the four living past governors – John Sanderson, Ken Michael and Malcolm McCusker – were given the style "The Honourable", on the recommendation of the premier. The other living former governor, Michael Jeffery, already held the style in virtue of his later service as Governor-General of Australia.

Governor's standard

The governor standard of Western Australia is the same design as the British blue ensign with the union flag at the upper left quarter. On the right side, the state badge of Western Australia, comprising a black swan in a yellow disc, is surmounted by the St. Edward's crown.
If the Standard is flying at Government House, on a vehicle or at an event, this indicates that the Governor is present.
;Past and present standards of the governor

List of Lieutenant Governors of the Swan River Colony and Governors of Western Australia

This is a list of Governors and Lieutenant-Governors of Western Australia.

Lieutenant Governors of the Swan River Colony

Stirling was in fact only commissioned as Governor of Western Australia from 4 March 1831, rectifying the absence of a legal instrument providing the authority detailed in Stirling's Instructions of 30 December 1828. Stirling had said of his own position:
I believe I am the first Governor who ever formed a settlement without Commission, Laws, Instructions and Salary.

Governors

Living former governors

Five former governors are alive, the oldest being Michael Jeffery. The most recent governor to die was Sir Francis Burt, on 8 September 2004.
NameTerm as governorDate of birth
Michael Jeffery1993–2000
John Sanderson2000–2006
Ken Michael2006–2011
Malcolm McCusker2011–2014
Kerry Sanderson2014–2018