Editing Premier of Western Australia (section)

==History==
The position of premier is not mentioned in the [[constitution of Western Australia]]. From 1890 to 1917, the premier was not an official position, rather, it was the title unofficially given, but widely used to refer, to the head of the government.<ref name="Premiers factsheet" />{{sfn|Reid|Oliver|1982|p=1}} When Western Australia became a [[self-governing colony]] in 1890, Governor [[William C. F. Robinson|William Robinson]] initially indicated he would use the title ''[[prime minister]]'' to refer to the head of the government. However, after he appointed [[John Forrest]], the title ''[[premier]]'' was used for consistency with the other Australian colonies.<ref name="Premiers factsheet" />{{sfn|Reid|Oliver|1982|p=2}} The position was first officially mentioned when the governor appointed [[Henry Lefroy]] as premier on 28 June 1917. However, when the governor designated and declared the six executive offices of the government on 2 July 1917, the position of premier was not listed, creating an ambiguity.<ref name="Premiers factsheet" />{{sfn|Reid|Oliver|1982|p=1}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Government Gazette Extraordinary of Western Australia |url=https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/gazettestore.nsf/FileURL/gg1917_029.pdf/$FILE/Gg1917_029.pdf |website=Parliamentary Counsel's Office |access-date=18 June 2022 |date=2 July 1917 |archive-date=18 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618074252/https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/gazettestore.nsf/FileURL/gg1917_029.pdf/$FILE/Gg1917_029.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> It was not until 3 April 1947 that the premier became one of the executive offices of the government.<ref name="Premiers factsheet" />{{sfn|Reid|Oliver|1982|p=1}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Government Gazette of Western Australia |url=https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/gazettestore.nsf/FileURL/gg1947_017.pdf/$FILE/Gg1947_017.pdf |website=Parliamentary Counsel's Office |access-date=18 June 2022 |page=555 |date=3 April 1947 |archive-date=7 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607063258/https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/gazettestore.nsf/FileURL/gg1947_017.pdf/$FILE/Gg1947_017.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

The most common cause for a change of premier is an election. Since the 1990s, elections have occurred roughly every four years. Before then, elections were at most three years apart, except for during [[World War II]]. A less common cause for a change of premier is the ruling party changing its leader. This can occur as a result of a resignation, death or [[leadership spill]]. In this case, the new premier is whoever the party elects as its new leader. Another cause for a change of premier is a loss of majority support in the [[Western Australian Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]]. This commonly occurred in the first three decades of self-governance, but has not occurred since 1916. If this occurs, the premier must either resign or be dismissed by the governor.{{sfn|Reid|Oliver|1982|p=3}}