Hon Reece Whitby MLA

Hon. Reece Whitby MLA is the Western Australian Minister for Police; Emergency Services; Great Southern, and Member for Baldivis.

In March 2025, Reece Whitby was tasked with the Police, Road Safety, Tourism and Great Southern portfolios. During this time, he secured the return of AFL State of Origin football to Western Australia v Victoria, obtained Australian exclusivity for the world-class Sail GP event in Fremantle, and oversaw record-breaking visitor spend international visitors in 2025 to boost WA’s tourism sector.

Reece’s priority as Police Minister is keeping Western Australia’s growing community safe, specifically overseeing the passing of Australia’s toughest gun laws in State Parliament in 2025.

He has also overseen government departments responsible for protecting Western Australia’s environment since December 2021 and regained the Racing and Gaming portfolio in December 2022. Reece has co-ordinated the State’s response to climate change while establishing a whole-of-government approach to reduce emissions.

He was Western Australia’s first Minister to attend a United Nations Climate Change Conference, addressing audiences at COP27 and meeting Ministerial counterparts from across the globe.

Reece was also tasked with implementing WA’s nation-leading Plan for Plastics and the McGowan Government’s historic decision to end native logging from 2024.

Reece was first appointed to Cabinet in the McGowan Labor Government in 2021, as the Minister for Emergency Services; Racing and Gaming; Small Business; and Volunteering.

He became the first local member for the new electorate of Baldivis in March 2017.

Prior to his election, Reece had a long-standing career in journalism, working at Seven News for two decades. He started as a cadet reporter at a country newspaper before joining the ABC, followed by a stint at Channel Nine. He often reported on battlers standing up for a fair go, which sparked his interest in politics.

Reece grew up on the outskirts of Perth, working in the family business from a young age. He has a passion for creating better, fairer communities and understands the importance of quality schools, transport, hospitals, and facilities for all Western Australians.

Reece and wife Natalie have four children – Faith, Sam, Luke and Hope.