Eric Ripper

The Honourable
Eric Ripper
AM
The Honourable Eric Ripper AM
Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia
	In office; 23 September 2008 – 23 January 2012
Premier	Colin Barnett
Deputy	Roger Cook
Preceded by	Colin Barnett
Succeeded by	Mark McGowan
Leader of the Western Australian ; Labor Party
	In office; 16 September 2008 – 23 January 2012
Preceded by	Alan Carpenter
Succeeded by	Mark McGowan
Member of the Western Australian Parliament; for Belmont
	In office; 4 February 1989 – 9 March 2013
Preceded by	Constituency re-established
Succeeded by	Glenys Godfrey
Member of the Western Australian Parliament; for Ascot
	In office; 19 March 1988 – 4 February 1989
Preceded by	Mal Bryce
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	Eric Stephen Ripper; 13 September 1951 (age 73); Subiaco, Western Australia
Political party	Labor Party
Spouse	Patricia Y. Pearce (m. 1982, divorced)
Domestic partner	Ljiljanna Ravlich
Children	2 sons
Relatives	Bob Pearce MP (ex brother-in-law)
Alma mater	University of Western Australia
Profession	Teacher

Eric Stephen Ripper AM (born 13 September 1951) is a retired Australian politician. From 2008 to 2012 he was Leader of the Opposition and leader of the Labor Party in Western Australia.

He grew up on a wheat/sheep farm near Nyabing. Ripper later attended Churchlands Senior High School and the University of Western Australia, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Education. Before entering politics, Ripper had a career as a teacher.

Career

Ripper entered the Parliament of Western Australia in 1988, after winning a by-election in the Electoral district of Ascot. That seat was abolished for the general election held a year later, and he followed most of his constituents into the recreated seat of Belmont. He served as Minister for Community Services and Minister for Disability Services in the Lawrence Ministry (1991–1993).

Labor was defeated in the 1993 election, and Ripper served as an opposition frontbencher for eight years. By 1997, he had become Deputy Leader of the state Labor Party, and hence Deputy Leader of the Opposition, under Geoff Gallop. Labor regained government in 2001, and Ripper was named Deputy Premier of Western Australia. At various times during Gallop's tenure, he served as Treasurer, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Energy and Minister Assisting the Minister for Public Sector Management in the Gallop government. When Gallop announced his retirement from politics in 2006 whilst off-duty as Premier, Ripper briefly served as acting premier until Gallop's official resignation as Premier when Alan Carpenter was elected as state Labor leader and premier. Under Carpenter, Ripper served as Deputy Premier and Treasurer.

Ripper succeeded Carpenter as WA leader of the ALP on 23 September 2008. In January 2011, Labor MP Ben Wyatt intended to challenge Ripper for the Labor leadership, but withdrew after finding minority support amongst caucus.^[1]^[2]

On 17 January 2012, Ripper announced that he would stand down as Opposition Leader at a caucus meeting on 23 January, and retire from parliament at the 2013 state election.^[3] Mark McGowan, who had been managing opposition business in the House, was elected unopposed as his successor. Ripper thus became only the fourth WA Labor leader not to take the party into an election.

Ripper retired at the 2013 state election and his seat was won by Glenys Godfrey of the Liberal Party, the former Mayor of Belmont.

Personal life

Ripper lives in Rivervale and has two sons. His ex-brother-in-law is Bob Pearce MP (1977-1993).^[4] His partner is former Education Minister Ljiljanna Ravlich.

References

^ Jones, Lloyd (5 January 2011). "Wyatt to challenge for WA Labor leadership". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
^ Wyatt withdraws leadership challenge: ABC News 7 January 2011
^ "WA Opposition Leader Ripper resigns". ABC News. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2012.
^ Ripper, Eric. "MP Biographical Register". Parliament of Western Australia. Hansard. Retrieved 28 July 2020.

External links

Australian Labor Party: Western Australia branch website Archived 18 January 2006 at the Wayback Machine
WA Parliament biography

Political offices
Preceded by Hendy Cowan	Deputy Premier of Western Australia 2001–2008	Succeeded by Kim Hames
Preceded by Colin Barnett	Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia 2008–2012	Succeeded by Mark McGowan
Party political offices
Preceded by Alan Carpenter	Leader of the Labor Party in Western Australia 2008–2012	Succeeded by Mark McGowan
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Mal Bryce	Member of Parliament for Ascot 1988–1989	Constituency abolished
Preceded by Constituency re-established	Member for Belmont 1989–2013	Succeeded by Glenys Godfrey