Our History

The Country Party was formed in 1913 in the small Wheatbelt town of Kellerberrin by the Farmers and Settlers Association. The Country Party of WA contested the State elections in 1914 winning ten seats in the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council.

Since that time the Party has always held seats in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council of the Western Australian Parliament.

The party has had many names in its long history, but adopted its most recent, The Nationals WA, in 2003.

In March 2006 the Party’s State Councillors voted to break the Coalition arrangement that had been in place for a number of years with the Liberal Party. The Nationals WA contested the 2008 State election as an independent political Party seeking to hold the balance of power in the State Parliament on behalf of regional Western Australians.

On September 12, 2009, The Nationals WA achieved the balance of power in both Houses of the State Parliament. The leadership of the Party negotiated in good faith with the Liberal and Labor parties – prepared to form Government with the party that would deliver Royalties for Regions. A week after the State election Brendon Grylls, Leader of The Nationals WA, announced that the Party would form a power sharing alliance with the Liberal Party.

The Nationals WA have maintained their independence in Government, reviewing each piece of legislation before the State Parliament on its merits and voting accordingly.

For further historical information visit The Nationals WA Wikipedia site.