The Minister for Culture and the Arts is a position in the

Cabinet of Western Australia The ministries of Western Australia (also known as Cabinets) are the centre of executive power in the Government of Western Australia. They are composed of Ministers who are responsible for one or more portfolios, answer questions on those portfo ...

. It was first created in 1971, during the Tonkin government, under the title Minister for Cultural Affairs. That title was retained until 1983, when the title Minister for the Arts was adopted. The current title was adopted in 2001. The current Minister for Culture and the Arts is

David Templeman David Alan Templeman (born 21 November 1965) is an Australian politician who has been a Labor Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia since 2001, representing the seat of Mandurah. He is Leader of the House and Minist ...

of the Labor Party, who holds the position as a member of the McGowan Ministry. The minister, who generally also holds other portfolios, is responsible for the

state government A state government is the government that controls a subdivision of a country in a federal form of government, which shares political power with the federal or national government. A state government may have some level of political autonomy, or ...

Department of Culture and the Arts The Department of Culture and the Arts was part of the Government of Western Australia. Preceding authorities The earlier governmental agencies or authorities concerning the arts were advisory boards or councils; it was not until 1986 that the ...

List of Ministers for Culture and the Arts

Thirteen people have been appointed as Minister for Culture and the Arts or equivalent.

Sheila McHale Sheila Margaret McHale (born 1 September 1953) born is a former Labor Party MP in the Government of Western Australia. Prior to retirement, she served as Member for Kenwick and Minister for Disability Services, Tourism, Culture and the Arts, ...

, who served in both the Gallop and Carpenter governments, held the position for the longest period, 7 years and 220 days. David Parker had two non-consecutive terms as minister, initially in the Burke government and then across the Dowding and Lawrence governments, although he served for just over three years.Electoral Affairs Ministry of Western Australia
– Parliamentary Library of Western Australia. Last updated 29 June 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2015. 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 ''The Honourable'' (British English) or ''The Honorable'' (American English; see spelling differences) (abbreviation: ''Hon.'', ''Hon'ble'', or variations) is an honorific style that is used as a prefix before the names or titles of certain ...

", and may retain the style after three years' service in the ministry.Addressing a Member of Parliament
– Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 10 March 2015.

References

{{Western Australian ministerial portfolios Culture and Arts Ministers, Culture and Arts