The Minister for Forestry is a position in the Cabinet of Western Australia. The minister is responsible for the Forest Products Commission, an agency of the government of Western Australia, and may hold other portfolios in addition to forestry. The current Minister for Forestry is Jackie Jarvis of the Labor Party, who holds the position as a member of the Cook Labor Government.
The responsibilities now incorporated in the portfolio were originally held by the Colonial Secretary, and subsequently the Minister for Lands. A separate Minister for Forests was not appointed until the 1917 Lefroy Ministry, with the inaugural minister being Robert Robinson. From the late 1950s to the early 1980s the forests and lands portfolios were generally held by the same person, and for a brief period during the Court Ministry the two portfolios were merged, under the title Minister for Lands and Forests. The portfolio was again merged with others during the late 1980s and 1990s, with the minister responsible for forestry known as the Minister for Conservation and Land Management from 1985 to 1993 and as the Minister for Primary Industries from 1993 to 2001. Although the portfolio has since then often been held by the Minister for Agriculture or the Minister for Fisheries, it has been once again a standalone portfolio since 2006.
List of ministers for forestry Twenty people have been appointed as Minister for Forestry (or equivalent) in Western Australia, with William Bovell's 11 years and 335 days the longest time period in the position.Forests Ministry of Western Australia – Parliamentary Library of Western Australia. Last updated 28 March 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2014. 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.Addressing a Member of Parliament – Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
Order Minister Party Premier Title Term start Term end Term in office 1 Robert Robinson Nationalist Lefroy Minister for Woods and Forests Colebatch Minister for Forests Mitchell 2 John Scaddan Nationalist Mitchell Minister for Forests 3 John Willcock Labor Willcock Minister for Forests 4 Ross McLarty Liberal McLarty Minister for Forests 5 Robert McDonald Liberal –(4) Ross McLarty Liberal 5 Gerald Wild Liberal 6 Herb Graham Labor Hawke 7 William Bovell Liberal Brand 8 Tom Evans Labor Tonkin 9 David Evans 10 Alan Ridge Liberal C. Court 11 June Craig Minister for Lands and Forests 12 David Wordsworth MLC 13 Ian Laurance Liberal O'Connor Minister for Forests 14 Brian Burke Labor Burke 15 Monty House National R. Court Minister for Primary Industries 16 Kim Chance MLC Labor Gallop Minister for Forestry Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Minister for Agriculture and Forestry Carpenter Minister for Forestry 17 Terry Redman National Barnett 18 Mia Davies 19 Dave Kelly Labor McGowan 14 December 2022 20Jackie Jarvis 14 December 20228 June 2023 Cook8 June 2023incumbent
List of assistant ministers for forestry Order Minister Party Premier Title Term start Term end Term in office 1 David Evans Labor Burke Minister assisting the Minister for Forests
See also Minister for the Environment (Western Australia)
References