Mia Davies

Davies was born in Perth to Leonie (née South) and Dexter Davies. Her father was also a National Party member of parliament. Davies was raised on her parents' farm in Yorkrakine, a small Wheatbelt town. She attended Wyalkatchem District High School before boarding at Methodist Ladies' College, Perth, and later completed a degree in marketing and media at Murdoch University.[http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/library/MPHistoricalData.nsf/(Lookup)/CFFAE72C529A541F48257C77000EAF75?OpenDocument Mia Jane Davies] – Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 9 July 2016. From 1999 to 2001, Davies lived and worked in London. After returning to Australia, she began working for Max Trenorden (the state leader of the National Party at the time) as an administrative assistant and research officer. She continued on in a similar role when Brendon Grylls became leader in 2005, and later ran her own consulting business.{{cite book | author = Black, David and Phillips, Harry | year = 2012 | title = Making a Difference: Women in the Western Australian Parliament 1921–2012 | location = Parliament House, Perth, Western Australia: Parliament of Western Australia |url=http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/library/MPHistoricalData.nsf/32e457f9ba7d7c5148257b5500242416/cffae72c529a541f48257c77000eaf75/$FILE/Chapter%2074.%20Mia%20Davies%20Making%20a%20Difference.pdf |pages=512–519}}

At the 2008 state election, Davies was elected to parliament in third position on the National Party ticket for Agricultural Region. Her election was challenged by Anthony Fels, a Family First candidate, and the dispute was not settled until just two days before her term was set to begin (in May 2009).[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-05-21/fels-loses-appeal-over-davies-victory/1689872 "Fels loses appeal over Davies victory"], ABC News, 21 May 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2016. She was 30 years old at the time of being sworn in, becoming the youngest member of the Legislative Council at the time (the "baby of the house"). At the 2013 state election, Davies transferred to the Legislative Assembly, winning the seat of Central Wheatbelt. Her predecessor in the seat was Brendon Grylls, the party leader, who had transferred to the seat of Pilbara. After the election, Davies was made parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Regional Development and the Minister for Lands, and also assistant minister to the Minister for State Development.[http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Parliament/Memblist.nsf/WAllMembersFlat/Davies,+Mia+Jane?opendocument Hon. Mia Jane Davies MLA BMM] – Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 9 July 2016.

In November 2013, Davies was elected deputy leader of the National Party, replacing Terry Redman (who had replaced Brendon Grylls as leader). Her only opponent for the deputy leadership was Wendy Duncan.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-26/mia-davies-chosen-as-nationals-deputy-leader/5117960 "Mia Davies chosen as Nationals deputy leader and will fill vacant Cabinet post"], ABC News, 26 November 2013. Davies was subsequently elevated to the ministry, becoming Minister for Water and Minister for Forestry. She was 35 at the time, becoming the youngest ever government minister from her party (and the eighth youngest overall).David Black (2014), [http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/ParliamentaryHandbook/23rd%20Edition%20of%20the%20Parliament%20Handbook%20-%20Final%20Version.pdf The Western Australian Parliamentary Handbook (Twenty-Third Edition)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183010/http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/ParliamentaryHandbook/23rd%20Edition%20of%20the%20Parliament%20Handbook%20-%20Final%20Version.pdf |date=3 March 2016 }}; Perth [W.A.]: Parliament of Western Australia; p. 240. In December 2014, Davies was also made Minister for Sport and Recreation, replacing Terry Waldron. She continued in cabinet until the Barnett government's landslide defeat at the 2017 state election, which also saw Brendon Grylls lose the seat of Pilbara. Despite this, Davies actually increased her share of the vote, with Central Wheatbelt becoming the safest non-government seat in the state.{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/wa-election-2017/guide/cent/|title = Central Wheatbelt - ABC News| website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation }} Following the state election in March 2017; Davies was elected the Leader of the Parliamentary National Party (WA) and Mining and Pastoral MP, Hon Jacqui Boydell MLC became the Deputy Leader.

In 2021 after the political wipeout of the WA Liberal Party, she became State Opposition Leader, the first time the Nationals had been the official opposition since 1947. She became the third woman to be WA Opposition Leader and each from a different party after former Labor Premier Carmen Lawrence and former Liberal leader Liza Harvey.

Although the Nationals were one seat short of official status in the legislature, Premier Mark McGowan promised that Davies and the Nationals would receive the resources entitled to them as an opposition.{{cite news|url=https://7news.com.au/politics/labor-pulls-ahead-in-blue-ribbon-wa-seats-c-2381177|title=Labor pulls ahead in blue-ribbon WA seats|author1=Michael Ramsey|publisher=Australian Associated Press|work=Seven News|date=18 March 2021}} On 19 April 2021, the Nationals formed a formal opposition alliance with the remains of the Liberals, led by David Honey. The Nationals would be the senior partner, and Davies appointed Honey and two other Liberals to her shadow cabinet.{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalswa.com/opposition-alliance-agreement-finalised/|title=Opposition Alliance Agreement Reached|publisher=The Nationals WA|date=19 April 2021|access-date=4 May 2021}} Each party maintained their independence, and could speak out on their own when there were disagreements with the other partner.{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-19/wa-liberals-and-nationals-enter-alliance-not-formal-coalition/100025454|title=WA Liberals and Nationals enter alliance instead of formal coalition following electoral wipeout|publisher=ABC News|date=19 April 2021|access-date=4 May 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/western-australia/wa-nationals-liberals-form-alliance-for-opposition-just-don-t-call-it-a-coalition-20210419-p57kge.html|title=WA Nationals, Liberals form alliance for opposition – just don't call it a coalition|publisher=WA Today|date=20 April 2021|access-date=4 May 2021}}

In January 2023, she resigned as leader of the opposition and leader of the National Party and was succeeded by Shane Love.{{cite web |last1=Perpitch |first1=Nicolas |last2=Bourke |first2=Keane |last3=Burmas |first3=Grace |title=Shane Love is WA's new opposition leader, as Libby Mettam takes over Liberal party leadership |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-30/david-honey-libby-mettam-wa-liberal-leadership/101904478 |website=ABC News |access-date=30 January 2023 |date=30 January 2023}}

She stood down at the 2025 Western Australian state election and was succeeded by fellow National Party candidate Lachlan Hunter.{{Cite web |title=Hunter’s on for central Wheatbelt spot - Echo Newspaper |url=https://echonewspaper.com.au/news/hunters-on-for-central-wheatbelt-spot/ |access-date=2025-03-09 |language=en-US}}

She was a candidate for the Division of Bullwinkel in the 2025 Australian federal election.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-03 |title=Divided loyalties emerge in Bullwinkel race |url=https://thewest.com.au/politics/federal-election-2025/federal-election-2025-divided-loyalties-as-libs-and-nats-battle-each-other-and-labor-for-was-newest-seat-c-18566734 |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=The West Australian |language=en}}

Davies supports the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.{{cite web | url=https://thewest.com.au/politics/wa-nationals-support-indigenous-voice-c-9001981 | title=WA Nationals support Indigenous voice | date=29 November 2022 }}

• Women in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
• Women in the Western Australian Legislative Council

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Category:1978 births

Category:Living people

Category:Murdoch University alumni

Category:National Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Western Australia

Category:People educated at Methodist Ladies' College, Perth

Category:Politicians from Perth, Western Australia

Category:21st-century Australian women politicians

Category:Women members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly

Category:Women members of the Western Australian Legislative Council

Category:Leaders of the opposition in Western Australia