Sir Charles Court
AK KCMG, OBE - A Man of Vision

Sir Charles Court, twenty first Premier of Western Australia from 1974 to 1982, is regarded by many as the State’s greatest leader. His achievements were monumental and ranged from the development of large-scale iron ore mining in the Pilbara, through to the development of the North West Shelf gas project and Western Australia’s nickel mining and mineral sands industries. No less important was his contribution to the Arts: Sir Charles Court saved His Majesty’s Theatre from destruction and opened the Perth Art Gallery within a new Perth Cultural Centre.

His personal life, while perhaps less known, was no less remarkable. Sir Charles emigrated from England, arriving in Fremantle in 1912. He served his country with distinction during World War II. Originally posted to New Guinea in 1945 as a major, he received an acting promotion to lieutenant colonel while serving on Bougainville Island.

Father to five sons and grandfather to sixteen, Sir Charles Court’s achievements were perhaps best summed up by then Prime Minister, John Howard, at his retirement:

"If you think back over the last 50 years, no figure in public life has done more to promote resource development in this state, and therefore Australia, than Sir Charles Court. The contribution, through that energy, that he has made to the contemporary wealth of Australia has been enormous."

Sir Charles Court believed that his success in taking Western Australia from an undeveloped State, dependent on Federal handouts, to the economic powerhouse of Australia, was due to Australia’s State-based democratic political system and to a conservative philosophy imbued with high standards of ethics, skills and integrity. Sir Charles Court also embraced progress – a positive progress that would see Western Australia and its people continue to prosper.

The Economic Development of Western Australia

During his long and distinguished public career, Sir Charles Court was especially passionate about the development of Western Australia. When the WA parliament honoured Sir Charles Court with a condolence motion in 2008, then WA Labor Premier Alan Carpenter observed:

“There is absolutely no doubt that his relentless pursuit of industrial development underpinned the strength of the modern Western Australian economy from which we all benefit today”

The question of how Western Australia’s economy should be developed has not receded in the public domain and is as relevant today as it was then.

 

Western Australia’s Role in the Federation

Sir Charles Court has been Western Australia’s most famous advocate for state rights and was regarded as an uncompromising advocate for Western Australia.

Former Prime Minister John Howard described Court as:

“the most formidable and the most impressive WA leader I dealt with.”

He is still remembered for standing up to the Commonwealth Government and giving Western Australia a voice nationally. The question of Western Australia’s role in the Commonwealth has taken on renewed vigour in recent years, largely due to the debate around the share of GST revenue it receives from the Commonwealth. Many business and political leaders of all political persuasions, agree that robust advocacy of Western Australia’s interests is required. 

 

Parliamentary Service 

  • Member for Nedlands 14 February 1953 – 31 January 1982 (resigned)

  • Premier, Treasurer, Minister Coordinating Economic and Regional Development, and for Federal Affairs (18 June 1975–22 December 1975) 8 April 1974–25 January 1982

  • Deputy Leader of the Opposition 1 March 1957–2 April 1959

  • Minister for Industrial Development, Railways (until 16 February 1967), Transport (16 March–17 August 1965) and North–West 2 April 1959–3 March 1971

  • Deputy Leader of the Opposition 3 March 1971–5 June 1972

  • Leader of the Opposition 5 June 1972–8 April 1974
     

Key Achievements 

  • Premier of Western Australia 1974 – 1982; Member for Nedlands 1953 – 1982; Minister for Industrial Development, the North West, and Railways 1959 – 1971

  • The prime architect of the development of our resources industry, Kimberley Ord River Irrigation Scheme, and the North West Shelf Project.

  • Committed to furthering education, the arts and culture.

  • A staunch supporter of the conservative liberal philosophy, the crucial role of the States within the Federation of Australia and the economic and social development of Western Australia.

Awards

  • Officer of the Order of the British Empire (1982)

  • Knight Bachelor

  • Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George

  • Knight of the Order of Australia

  • Centenary Medal

Key Links 

More about Sir Charles Court