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Sourced positions
A verified position is the member's own stated view or vote, supported by the listed sources. This page records public statements and conduct only — see methodology.
Voluntary assisted dying verified
Reece Whitby voted FOR the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2019 in the WA Legislative Assembly. On the conscience (free) vote, the member is recorded in the Ayes at the bill's second reading on 3 September 2019 (passed 44-12) and at the third reading on 24 September 2019 (passed 45-11).
Drugs & law and order verified
Whitby is Minister for Police; Road Safety; Tourism; Great Southern in the Cook Labor Government, overseeing the Western Australia Police Force. His portfolio includes enforcement of WA's knife and edged-weapon laws, which took effect on 20 December 2024 under the Police Legislation Amendment Act 2024. Those laws define 'edged weapons' to include knives, machetes, sickles, scythes and axes, make carrying an edged weapon without lawful excuse an offence (max 3 years jail and $36,000 fine), bar sale/supply to under-18s, and empower metal-detector ('wanding') searches, with 'personal defence' explicitly excluded as a lawful excuse.
Native forest logging verified
As WA Minister for Environment and Climate Action, Whitby (ALP) supported the WA Labor government's decision to end commercial native forest logging (effective 1 Jan 2024), stating: 'This decision is a historic moment for WA. Our State is now one of the first in Australia to end native logging.'
Environment & water verified
As WA Minister for Environment and Climate Action (Labor, Cook Government), Reece Whitby introduced the Climate Change Bill 2023 setting a long-term target of net zero emissions by 2050 and requiring the minister to report annually to Parliament on progress. He later led the Cook Government's Environmental Protection Amendment Bill 2024 overhauling WA's environmental approvals, which he defended as balanced: 'These reforms will ensure WA's high environmental protection standards are upheld while supporting efficient processes for business.' The reforms were criticised by conservation groups after the government indicated it would no longer impose greenhouse-gas emissions conditions on major fossil fuel projects.
Record last updated 2026-08-13.