Peter Dowding

Infobox_President | name =Peter Dowding
nationality =Australian


order =24th Premier of Western Australia
term_start = 25 February, 1988
term_end = 12 February, 1990
deputy =
predecessor =
successor =
birth_date = Birth date and age|1943|10|6|mf=y
birth_place = Melbourne
death_date =
death_place =
constituency =
party = Australian Labor Party
spouse =
profession = Barrister


footnotes =|

Peter M'Callum Dowding SC (born 6 October 1943 in Melbourne) was the 24th Premier of Western Australia, serving from 25 February 1988 until his resignation on 12 February 1990 after an internal party dispute.

He was educated at three independent schools: Caulfield Grammar School, The Scots College and Hale School, in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth respectively. He earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Western Australia in 1964.

Dowding was elected as a member of Western Australia's Legislative Council for the Australian Labor Party from 1979 to 1986 representing the North Province, and in 1986 was elected as the Member for Maylands in the Legislative Assembly.

Having taken over as Premier from Brian Burke at a time which became known as the WA Inc period, he was involved in unravelling a number of business transactions but as the Government's position in the polls deteriorated he was challenged as Premier and resigned. A Royal Commission later found that several of the Ministers who had served in the Governments of Dowding, Burke before him, and Lawrence after him, had acted improperly.

Dowding has worked for several law firms during his career, and has specialised as a barrister in the areas of Family and Native Title law. In 2002, he was appointed as Senior Counsel in Western Australia. He was a recipient of a Centenary Medal in 2001.

External links

* [http://www.ccentre.wa.gov.au/index.cfm?event=premiersPeterdowding Constitutional Centre of Western Australia entry on Peter Dowding]
* [http://www.supremecourt.wa.gov.au/media/media38.htm Biography] - part of a media release for the 2002 Appointments of Senior Counsels in Western Australia.