Western Australia Premier Colin Barnett

Premier Announces 31st Governor of Western Australia

Victor P Taffa

Respected barrister and philanthropist Malcolm McCusker AO QC will be the next Governor of Western Australia.

Premier Colin Barnett made the announcement at Government House today after Her Majesty The Queen approved the recommendation for the appointment of Mr. McCusker to succeed Dr. Ken Michael.

Mr. McCusker will formally take up the appointment from July 1, 2011.

“Malcolm McCusker is eminently suited to undertake the role and I congratulate him on his appointment.” Mr. Barnett said.

“He is widely respected and has an extensive knowledge of Western Australia and its people. Malcolm has led a distinguished legal career and has been very active in supporting community causes.”

“I am very confident that Mr. McCusker will excel in the role and build upon the fine contribution that Ken Michael made in the position.”

Mr. McCusker is currently a senior barrister and together with his normal commercial and criminal practice, has lent his skills to several well-known public interest cases demonstrating a strong commitment to justice and equality. He is also a long serving chairman of the Legal Aid Commission and the Advisory Board of the Western Australian Constitutional Centre.

He was previously the inaugural Parliamentary Inspector of the Corruption and Crime Commission and the Special Inspector appointed to investigate the Rothwells Bank collapse in 1989.

Mr. McCusker was appointed a Queens Counsel in 1982 and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2005. He was the WA Citizen of the Year (Professions) in 2005, WA Citizen of the Year (Community Service) in 2010, Philanthropist of the Year in 2010 and WA’s Australian of the Year in 2011. He has been awarded Honorary Doctorates from Edith Cowan University and The University of Western Australia.

Aged 72, Mr. McCusker was born in Perth and has three children with his wife Tonya. Mr. McCusker is a graduate of Perth Modern School and The University of Western Australia.

Dr. Michael will retire from the office on April 30, 2011 and the Lt. Governor the Hon. Justice Wayne Martin will perform the duties of Governor until Mr. McCusker takes up his appointment.