Eric Ripper was elected as the Leader of the Western Australian Opposition on 16 September 2008.
He is also Shadow Minister for Public Sector Management and Native Title.
Before the State Election in September 2008, Eric was Western Australia’s Deputy Premier and Treasurer, a position he had held since February 2001. He was also the Minister for State Development and was responsible for Native Title.
As Treasurer he was responsible for delivering Western Australia’s $19billion a year State Budget, preserving the State’s AAA credit rating and overseeing the Government’s economic reform agenda.
Eric was elected to the State Parliament in 1988 and previous Ministerial portfolios have included:
- Minister for Government Enterprises
- Minister for Energy
- Minister for Community Services
- Minister for Juvenile Justice
- Minister for Disability Services
Born in 1951, Eric was raised on a wheat and sheep farm at Nyabing in the Great Southern and educated at Nyabing Primary School, Churchlands Senior High School and the University of Western Australia, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Education.
Eric lives in his electorate of Belmont and has two adult children.