16 Facts About Richard Court

Richard Fairfax Court was born on 27 September 1947 and is a former Australian politician and diplomat.

Richard Court served as Premier of Western Australia from 1993 to 2001 and as Australian Ambassador to Japan from 2017 to 2020.

Richard Court was educated at Hale School and graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1968.

Richard Court subsequently spent a year as a management trainee at Ford Motor Company in the United States, and on his return to Western Australia, operated a number of businesses including food retailing and the manufacture, wholesale and retail of marine and boating equipment.

In March 1982, at a by-election upon the retirement of his father from politics, Court was elected to represent his father's seat of Nedlands, located in Perth's wealthy beachside suburbs, in the state legislature.

Richard Court was elevated to the shadow frontbench in 1984, serving as the opposition spokesman for Resources and Industrial Development, Mines and Aboriginal Affairs.

Richard Court became deputy leader of the Liberal Party in September 1987, serving under Barry MacKinnon, and became leader in 1992.

Richard Court ousted MacKinnon as leader by a vote of 20 to 12.

The Richard Court government was comfortably re-elected in the 1996 WA State election.

The Liberals actually won a majority in their own right for the first time ever, but Richard Court opted to retain the coalition with the Nationals.

However, Richard Court's popularity suffered in his second term as Premier due to scandals, including deals made between the government and the Premier's brother, Ken Richard Court, as well as the finance broking scandal, where many elderly investors lost their savings and an inquiry found the Government ineffective and inefficient in managing the industry.

Richard Court was from the conservative wing of the WA Liberals, while Barnett was from the moderate wing.

Richard Court said he intended to continue in the role as other well-known contenders for party leadership had lost their seats at the election.

Richard Court was now in an untenable position, and was forced to retire from politics the next day, with Barnett taking the leadership in the ensuing party room ballot in which he defeated Rod Sweetman.

On 9 June 2003, Richard Court was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia.

In November 2016, Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop announced that Richard Court would be appointed as Australian Ambassador to Japan in "early 2017".