Government of Western Australia Official Site


18.08.2011

Malcolm McCusker new Governor of Western Australia

Malcolm McCusker

Respected barrister and philanthropist Malcolm McCusker AO QC has been sworn in as the Governor of Western Australia. Mr McCusker succeeds Dr Ken Michael as the 31st Governor of Western Australia.

“Malcolm McCusker is eminently suited to undertake the role and I congratulate him on his appointment,” Premier Colin Barnett said. “He is widely respected and has an extensive knowledge of WA and its people. Malcolm has led a distinguished legal career and has been very active in supporting community causes.”

Mr McCusker is 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 appointed a Queen’s 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.

Mr McCusker was born in Perth and will reside at Government House with his wife, Australian ballet dancer Tonya Batalin, and their children. Mr McCusker is a graduate of Perth Modern School and The University of Western Australia.