Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Fisheries; Electoral Affairs: Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council

The Hon. Norman Frederick Moore’s connection to the mining industry began with his birth in Kalgoorlie on August 24, 1945 – the eldest of the four children of Frederick John Moore and Patricia Dorothy Moore (nee Childlow).

Norman’s father, originally from Goomalling in the wheatbelt, worked in the purchasing and stores area for a mining company. His mother came from a pioneering family that had originally settled around Northam.

From Kalgoorlie, the family moved to Bullfinch where Norman completed his primary schooling.
His high school years saw Norman living with his grandparents and other relatives while he attended school in Northam. He was heavily involved in the Cadets, and was school captain.

Although he was a good footballer and team player, Norman’s sporting prowess developed more along individual lines and he excelled in golf and tennis – taking after his father who was a goldfields champion in both sports.

After high school, he pursued teaching studies at the University of Western Australia and at Claremont Teachers College. His burgeoning interest in politics saw him hold the post of Student President in his last year of studies.

On graduating as a teacher he held a short city posting. However, most of his subsequent teaching career was spent in the bush in towns such as Carnamah, Morawa, Karratha, Tom Price, and Laverton (where he was Principal).

It was while in Tom Price that his involvement with politics deepened, firstly as a branch president of the Liberal Party and later as divisional leader.

After 10 years of teaching, Norman quit as Laverton’s school principal and in 1977 successfully stood for Parliament by defeating a sitting Labor member for what was then a Legislative Council seat representing the Lower North Province.

He has held an elected position in the Upper House ever since and is currently the longest serving sitting Member of Parliament.

The Hon. Norman Moore was appointed Minister for Mines and Petroleum; Fisheries; Electoral Affairs on the election of the Liberal-National Government in September 2008 after becoming a Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region in 1989 and again winning the seat in the 1993, 1996, 2001 and 2005 elections.

He first entered the Ministry as Minister for Education, Employment and Training in the 1993 Coalition Government. He spent three years as Education Minister during which he oversaw the implementation of more than 30 major reforms of Western Australia’s education system.

He became Sport and Recreation Minister on August 25, 1993 and then took the portfolio of Parliamentary and Electoral Affairs in February, 1995.

His time in Opposition was not spent idle. Between 1983 and 1992 he extended his areas of interest and expertise by acting in shadow portfolio roles that included Housing, Aboriginal Affairs, Sport and Recreation, Tourism, Consumer Affairs, Community Services, Regional Development, Youth Family and Women’s Interest, Mines and Lands.

His priorities for his portfolio areas during this term of Government are:

• improving and accelerating the State Government approvals processes for resources exploration and development to increase certainty for industry, attract investment and increase economic benefits for Western Australia.

• ensuring workable and sustainable management of the State’s fisheries to protect the long term interests of the recreational and professional fishing sectors

• ensuring WA’s electoral system fairly and equitably reflects the democratic foundations of the State’s community.

Mr Moore’s Ministerial experience in previous Governments between 1993 and 2001 includes; Mines; Education, Employment and Training; Tourism, Sport and Recreation; and Parliamentary and Electoral Affairs.

  
He also served as Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council between 1996 and 2001 and was Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council between 2001 and 2008.

Mr Moore is married to Lee and has three grown-up children, Kathryn, Georgia and Daniel.