Ministerialists and Oppositionists

The Opposition was a political grouping in Western Australia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In the Western Australian Parliament, there were initially no official parties, government being carried out by a loose coalition of members with similar interests. The pre-federation Legislative Assembly (1890–1901) had only one premier, John Forrest. Those members who supported him were generally referred to as the Pro-Forrest group whilst the majority of others were referred to as the Opposition.

For some years following federation, this continued, even though, at times the non Pro-Forrest group were in government, thus having the anomalous situation where the Opposition (Party) was in fact the Government.

As well as the Pro-Forrest and the Opposition members there were a small number (initially) who supported the emerging Labor Party as well as a few who considered themselves to be non aligned to any grouping, collectively referred to as Independents.

In the early post federation years, government in Western Australia was quite unstable in that all governments until 1906 were minority governments, relying on the support of sufficient independents, (along with a few that from time to time were persuaded to change "sides") to form an effective government. Thus it was in the immediate post-federation period 1901 - 1906, Western Australia had seven changes of government and Premier.

It was not until the Ministerial Party (a carry over from the Pro-Forrest group) led by Sir Newton Moore won the 1906 election that a Party was able to govern in its own right and complete a full term of office.