Colin Barnett

Colin James Barnett (born 15 July 1950), Australian politician, is the leader of the Western Australian Liberal Party and Premier of Western Australia since the 2008 election. He was sworn into office by Governor Ken Michael on 23 September 2008. Prior to becoming Premier, he was head of the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a lecturer in economics at Curtin University, a Minister in the Court government (1993–2001) and Oppo... more

Colin James Barnett (born 15 July 1950), Australian politician, is the leader of the Western Australian Liberal Party and Premier of Western Australia since the 2008 election. He was sworn into office by Governor Ken Michael on 23 September 2008. Prior to becoming Premier, he was head of the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a lecturer in economics at Curtin University, a Minister in the Court government (1993–2001) and Opposition Leader (2001–2005). Barnett was born in Nedlands, an inner western suburb of Perth, on 15 July 1950. He was educated at Nedlands Primary School and Hollywood Senior High School—the same school attended by former federal Labor Leader Kim Beazley. He began studying geology at the University of Western Australia, but switched to an economics course from which he graduated with an honours degree and later a masters degree. In 1973, he became a cadet research officer for the Australian Bureau of Statistics in Canberra, being promoted to... less