MP Biographical Register

Mr Mark McGowan

Parliamentary Service

House

MLA

Party

Labor
Joined Australian Labor Party 1984
President Safety Bay/Rockingham branch 1992–1996
President Brand Electorate Council 1994–1996

Date Elected

14 December 1996

Electorate

Rockingham

Service

Electorates

MLA Rockingham from 14 December 1996 to 8 June 2023. Elected to the Thirty–Fifth Parliament for Rockingham on 14 December 1996 in succession to the Hon Michael Barnett (retired). Re-elected 2001, 2005, 2008, 2013, 2017 and 2021. Resigned 8 June 2023.

Parliamentary Party Appointments

Leader of the Opposition from 23 January 2012 to 17 March 2017

Office

Shadow Minister for Local Government from 15 January 1997 to 4 August 1999
Spokesperson for Tourism, Local Government, Heritage, Sport and Recreation from 5 August 1999 to 10 February 2001
Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and Minister for Public Sector Management, Federal Affairs, Science, Citizenship and Multicultural Interests from 16 February 2001 to 26 February 2005
Minister for Tourism, Racing and Gaming, Youth, Peel and the South West from 10 March 2005 to 13 October 2005
Minister for Tourism, Racing and Gaming, Youth, Peel and South West, Disability Services, Sport and Recreation, Citizenship and Multicultural Interests, Seniors from 13 October 2005 to 25 November 2005
Minister for Tourism, Racing and Gaming, Youth, Peel and South West from 25 November 2005 to 3 February 2006
Minister for the Environment, Racing and Gaming from 3 February 2006 to 9 November 2006
Minister for the Environment, Racing and Gaming, Peel, South West from 9 November 2006 to 13 December 2006
Minister for Education and Training, South West from 13 December 2006 to 26 February 2007
Minister for Education and Training, South West, the Environment, Climate Change, Disability Services from 26 February 2007 to 2 March 2007
Minister for Education and Training, South West from 2 March 2007–23 September 2008
Manager of Opposition Business, Shadow Minister for State Development, Trade, Planning, Housing and Works from 26 September 2008 to 5 March 2010
Manager of Opposition Business, Shadow Minister for State Development, Regional Development, Housing and Works, Trade from 5 March 2010 to 23 January 2012
Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Economic Reform, Public Sector Management from 27 January 2012 to 11 March 2017
Premier; Minister for Public Sector Management; State Development, Jobs and Trade; Federal-State Relations from 17 March 2017 to 19 March 2021
Premier; Treasurer; Minister for Public Sector Management; Federal-State Relations from 19 March 2021 to 8 June 2023

Committees

Member, Joint Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation from 6 May to 22 October 1997
Member, Procedure and Privileges Committee from 13 November 2008 to 13 February 2012 (Deputy Chair from 26 November 2008 to 13 February 2012)

Historical Notes

Announced resignation as Premier and member for Rockingham, 29 May 2023

Private Member's Bills

Caravan Parks and Camping Grounds Amendment Bill 1999 Legislative Assembly Second Reading - 12/05/1999
Criminal Code Amendment (Domestic Violence) Bill 2012 Second reading not agreed to - 24/10/2012

Criminal Laws (Domestic Violence) Amendment Bill 2016 Second reading not agreed to - 14/9/2016

Industrial Relations Amendment Bill 2012 Second reading not agreed to - 12/9/2012

Major Events (Ticket Scalping) Bill 2014 Bill discharged from Notice Paper under Standing Order 144A - 11/10/2016

Inaugural Speech

Year Retired/Resigned

2023

Personal Information

Birth date

13 July 1967

Place of birth

Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia

Arrived in WA

1991

Parents

Son of Dennis Francis McGowan, squash court proprietor, and Mary Anne White, teacher

Marriage and Family

Married 21 December 1996, Fremantle to Sarah Anne Miller, daughter of Neil and Gwen Miller
Children: two sons and one daughter

Religion

Uniting Church

Education

Educated Casino Primary School, Casino High School (years 7 to 10) and Coffs Harbour High School (years 11 to 12)
University of Queensland—Bachelor of Arts (BA), 1987, LLB, 1989
Queensland University Of Technology—Grad Dip of Legal Practice

Occupation

Naval officer

Employment History

Permanent naval officer (legal officer), Royal Australian Navy, 1989–1996

Local Government

Member, Rockingham City Council, 1994–1996 Deputy Mayor, 1995–1996

Principal Honours

Awarded Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), 10 June 2024 for "eminent service to the people and Parliament of Western Australia, to public health and education, and to international trade relations"

Background/Membership

Voluntary lawyer, Rockingham Citizens Advice Bureau
Member, Rockingham Community Law Centre
Member, Rockingham Environment Centre
Awarded Governor-General’s Commendation for Bravery, 1997
Member, Rockingham branch Royal Services League of Australia
Member, Rockingham branch of the Naval Association
Player, Australian Junior squash titles, 1982

References

D Black and G Bolton, eds, Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia: volume two 1930-2010, Western Australian Parliamentary History Project, Perth, WA, 2011, p. 158.
Parliament of Western Australia website. Current Members. Accessed 28 May 2015.
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia website. King's Birthday 2024 Honours List. https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-06/The%20King%27s%20Birthday%202024%20Honours%20List%20-%20Order%20of%20Australia%20Awards.pdf Accessed 11 June 2024.

Further Information