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Constitution Act 1889:
The Constitution Act 1889 set up a system of parliamentary self-government in the colony. It is the founding document of the Parliament of Western Australia.
Courtesy State Records Office |
Proclamation Day marked the occasion when the new Constitution was publicly announced, granting the colony of Western Australia responsible government. It marked the transition of Western Australia from a colony under British rule to self-government.
It was the first key step towards democracy in WA and meant that:
The Western Australian Constitution set up the basic components of the State’s system of government including:
the Parliament,
the Executive,
the Judicial system,
and established a relationship between the Governor, Premier, Cabinet and the new Parliament.
The new Constitution established our Parliament with two Houses:
This resulted in greater representation of the people in the process of government. The power to govern was substantially transferred from the Governor to the elected members.
What is a constitution?
A constitution is a set of rules defining a system of government. It describes the institutional structure, the conditions under which power is held and exercised, and the procedures through which the rules themselves may be changed.
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The first Parliament of Western Australia:
Members of the first Legislative Assembly elected in 1890.
Courtesy Battye Library 3976B |
