10 Facts About Eric Ripper

Eric Stephen Ripper was born on 13 September 1951 and is an Australian former politician.

Eric Ripper entered the Parliament of Western Australia in 1988, after winning a by-election in the Electoral district of Ascot.

Eric Ripper served as Minister for Community Services and Minister for Disability Services in the Lawrence Ministry.

Labor was defeated in the 1993 election, and Eric Ripper served as an opposition frontbencher for eight years.

Labor regained government in 2001, and Eric Ripper was named Deputy Premier of Western Australia.

When Gallop announced his retirement from politics in 2006 whilst off-duty as Premier, Eric Ripper briefly served as acting premier until Gallop's official resignation as Premier when Alan Carpenter was elected as state Labor leader and premier.

Eric Ripper succeeded Carpenter as WA leader of the ALP on 23 September 2008.

On 17 January 2012, Eric 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.

Eric Ripper thus became only the fourth WA Labor leader not to take the party into an election.

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