Barry MacKinnon

Barry John MacKinnon (born 29 October 1944) is a former Australian politician who was a Liberal Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1977 to 1993. He was the state leader of the Liberal Party (and thus Leader of the Opposition) from 1986 to 1992, although he led the party at only one election (in 1989). MacKinnon had earlier served as a minister in the governments of Sir Charles Court and Ray O'Connor. He worked as an accountant before entering politics, and since leaving parliament has involved himself in various community organisations.

Early life MacKinnon was born in Perth to Beryl (née Mounsey) and Keith MacKinnon, his father being a builder. His uncle, Graham MacKinnon, was a government minister and long-serving Liberal member of the WA Legislative Council, and the two served together in parliament from 1977 to 1986. MacKinnon was raised in Bridgetown (a small town in the South West), and attended Bridgetown High School before going to Perth to board at Wesley College. He later went on to the University of Western Australia, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Economics and a diploma in accounting. Before entering politics, MacKinnon worked as an accountant. He began as a clerk with Bushells (a tea company), and subsequently spent several years with a Perth-based firm before starting his own business. At the 1989 election against Dowding, he led the Liberals to a majority of the two-party vote and took four seats off Labor. However, he still came up nine seats short of becoming premier.

By 1992, the Labor government was reeling from the WA Inc scandal. With a state election due the following year, under normal circumstances MacKinnon should have been an unbackable favourite to become premier. However, while the Liberals were well ahead of Labor in opinion polling, MacKinnon consistently trailed incumbent Carmen Lawrence as preferred premier. With this in mind, deputy leader Richard Court challenged MacKinnon's leadership and won, ousting MacKinnon by 20 votes to 12. Court became Premier only nine months later.

Honours In 1997 MacKinnon was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to people with hearing impairments. He also received a Centenary Medal in 2001.