Minister for Child Protection (Western Australia)

Minister for Child Protection
Incumbent
Sabine Winton
since 14 December 2022 (2022-12-14)
Department for Child Protection
StyleThe Honourable
NominatorPremier of Western Australia
AppointerGovernor of Western Australia
Inaugural holderJames Kenneally
(as Minister for Child Welfare)
Formation24 April 1933 (1933-04-24)

The Minister for Child Protection is a position in the Cabinet of Western Australia, first created in 1933 during the Second Collier Ministry.

The current Minister for Child Protection is Simone McGurk of the Labor Party, who holds the position as a member of the McGowan Ministry. The minister, who has generally held other portfolios in addition to child protection, is responsible for the state government's Department for Child Protection (DCP).

List of ministers for child protection

Thirteen people have been appointed as Minister for Child Protection (or equivalent), with Leslie Logan's 11 years and 335 days during the Brand–Nalder Ministry the longest period in the position. The position and corresponding department have existed under several different names, and on several occasions been abolished entirely, with responsibility for the portfolio held by what is now the Minister for Community Services.[1]

In the table below, members of the Legislative Council are designated "MLC". All others were members of the Legislative Assembly at the time of their service. In Western Australia, serving ministers are entitled to be styled "The Honourable", and may retain the style after three years' service in the ministry.[2]

Order Minister Party Premier Title Term start Term end Term in office
1 James Kenneally   Labor Collier Minister for Child Welfare 24 April 1933 (1933-04-24) 26 March 1936 (1936-03-26) 2 years, 337 days
1936–1950: no minister – responsibilities held by other ministers.
2 Arthur Watts   Country McLarty Minister for Child Welfare 6 April 1950 (1950-04-06) 23 February 1953 (1953-02-23) 2 years, 323 days
3 Albert Hawke   Labor Hawke 23 February 1953 (1953-02-23) 2 April 1959 (1959-04-02) 6 years, 38 days
4 Leslie Logan MLC   Liberal Brand 2 April 1959 (1959-04-02) 3 March 1971 (1971-03-03) 11 years, 335 days
1971–1995: no separate minister – responsibilities held by Minister for Community Services.
5 Roger Nicholls   Liberal R. Court Minister for Family and Children's Services 29 June 1995 (1995-06-29) 21 December 1995 (1995-12-21) 175 days
6 Cheryl Edwardes   21 December 1995 (1995-12-21) 9 January 1997 (1997-01-09) 1 year, 19 days
7 Rhonda Parker   9 January 1997 (1997-01-09) 22 December 1999 (1999-12-22) 2 years, 347 days
8 June van de Klashorst   22 December 1999 (1999-12-22) 16 February 2001 (2001-02-16) 1 year, 56 days
2001–2006: no separate minister – responsibilities held by Minister for Community Development.
9 David Templeman   Labor Carpenter Minister for Child Protection 13 December 2006 (2006-12-13) 2 March 2007 (2007-03-02) 79 days
10 Sue Ellery   2 March 2007 (2007-03-02) 23 September 2008 (2008-09-23) 1 year, 205 days
11 Robyn McSweeney MLC   Liberal Barnett 23 September 2008 (2008-09-23) 21 March 2013 (2013-03-21) 4 years, 179 days
12 Helen Morton MLC   21 March 2013 (2013-03-21) 17 March 2017 (2017-03-17) 3 years, 361 days
13 Simone McGurk   Labor McGowan 17 March 2017 (2017-03-17) 14 December 2022 5 years, 272 days
14 Sabine Winton   14 December 2022 8 June 2023 2 years, 13 days
  Cook 8 June 2023 incumbent

References

  1. ^ Child, Family & Community Services Ministry of Western Australia – Parliamentary Library of Western Australia. Last updated 29 June 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  2. ^ Addressing a Member of Parliament – Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 20 August 2014.