About Charles Court
Sir Charles Walter Michael Court (29 September 1911 – 22 December 2007) was an Australian politician who was the premier of Western Australia from 8 April 1974 to 25 January 1982. A member of the Liberal Party, Court was the member for Nedlands in the Parliament of Western Australia from 1953 to 1982. He held multiple portfolios during this time, including as the minister for industrial development from 1959 to 1971, when he became known for developing Western Australia's mining industry. Born in England, Court's family migrated to Perth when Court was a baby. He grew up in a working-class family in Leederville and Shenton Park. Court's political beliefs became conservative as a young adult when working as an accountant during the Great Depression. He soon married and moved to Nedlands, where he lived most of his life. During World War II, Court served in the Second Australian Imperial Force in Bougainville Island, which earned him an Order of the British Empire. He joined the Liberal Party in 1946 and was elected to parliament at the 1953 state election. Court became deputy leader of the Liberal Party in 1957 and a minister after the party won the 1959 state election, serving under Premier David Brand. As the minister for industrial development, Court oversaw the Ord River Scheme, the development of the Kwinana industrial area, and the beginning of extensive iron ore mining in the Pilbara after the federal government lifted an embargo on iron ore exports. As the minister for railways from 1959 to 1967, Court oversaw the gauge standardisation project. Court lost his portfolios when the Liberal Party lost the 1971 state election. After Brand's retirement in 1972, Court became the Liberal Party's leader. The following day, he was knighted. Court became premier and treasurer upon the party's victory in the 1974 state election. During his eight years as premier, Court continued to promote mining and industry, focusing on the North West Shelf Venture, an oil and gas project off the north-west coast of the state. Court also supported the arts by having the government purchase His Majesty's Theatre and initiating the Perth Cultural Centre. Court's strong opposition to Aboriginal land rights aroused controversy when Court supported Amax Petroleum's drilling at an Aboriginal sacred site on Noonkanbah Station. Other controversies included an amendment to the Police Act to prevent gatherings of more than three people in a public place and the closure of the Fremantle railway line in 1979. Court resigned as premier and from parliament in 1982. He was succeeded as the member for Nedlands by his son, Richard Court, who was premier himself from 1993 to 2001.
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