Stephen Dawson is the Labor Party member of the Western Australia Legislative Council for Mining and Pastoral Region.
He was deputy leader of the Legislative Council; and Minister for Mental Health, Aboriginal Affairs and Industrial Relations in the McGowan government following the 2017 state election. In the December 2021 cabinet reshuffle, he became the Minister for Emergency Services, Innovation & the Digital Economy, Medical Research, and Volunteering. He was previously Minister for Electoral Affairs, Environment and Disability Services.
Following the resignation of Mr McGowan in June 2023, Mr Dawson became the Minister for Emergency Services, Innovation & the Digital Economy, Science, Medical Research, and the Minister Assisting the Minister for State & Industry Development, Jobs & Trade under the Cook government.
Prior to Labor's state election win in March 2017, he was Shadow Minister for Disability Services; Mental Health; Child Protection.
Mr Dawson became the first Irish-born MP in Western Australia since 1950. Before entering parliament, he was a lobbyist, corporate manager, and chief of staff to David Templeman (a minister in the Carpenter government).
