Peter Tinley

Peter Charles Tinley AM (born 9 July 1962) is an Australian politician and former soldier. Peter was a Labor Party member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly between November 2009 and February 2025, representing the now-abolished electorate of Willagee.

The Honourable Peter Tinley AM
Member of the Western Australian Parliament for Willagee
In office 28 November 2009 – 5 February 2025
Preceded by	Alan Carpenter
Succeeded by	District abolished
Personal details
Born	Peter Charles Tinley (1962-07-09) 9 July 1962 (age 63) Karrinyup, Western Australia
Political party	Labor Party
Alma mater	University of New England Royal Military College, Duntroon
Occupation	Soldier, businessman
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Branch/service	Australian Army
Years of service	1981–2006
Rank	Major
Unit	Special Air Service Regiment
Battles/wars	Iraq War
Awards	Member of the Order of Australia

Early life and military career

Born in the northern Perth suburb of Karrinyup, Tinley joined the Australian Army in 1981 and graduated from Royal Military College, Duntroon, earning the Queen's Medal as the cadet graduating top of his class.^[1] He spent 17 of his 25 years in the army in the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR). In 2002, he was the lead tactical planner for Australia's special forces advising the United States, and in 2003 he served as Deputy Commander for the Special Forces Task Group in Iraq. In the same year, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the military division for "dynamic leadership and consistent professional excellence".^[1][2][3]

In late 2006, after leaving the army with the rank of major, Tinley spoke out against the decision of the Howard government to support the US and British initiative to invade Iraq on the basis of purported evidence of the country's possession of weapons of mass destruction. He also called for the immediate withdrawal of Australian troops.^[2][4]

In the meantime, Tinley conducted strategic planning and leadership workshops. Among other clients, he worked with the West Coast Eagles Football Club coaching staff.^[5] He also ran a small business.

Political career

In 2006, former federal opposition leader Kim Beazley approached Tinley to run for the federal Division of Stirling as the Labor Party's endorsed candidate at the 2007 election.^[6] The sitting member, Liberal MP Michael Keenan, retained the seat with a slightly reduced majority.^[7]

Upon the resignation of former premier Alan Carpenter from the safe Labor state seat of Willagee, Tinley was preselected to run for Labor at the resulting by-election on 28 November 2009. He was ultimately elected as the member for Willagee with over 60% of the two-party-preferred vote against the Greens' Hsien Harper.^[1][8]

Upon Labor's election to government at the 2017 state election, Tinley was appointed to the McGowan Ministry as minister for mines and petroleum, Veterans Issues, and Youth on 17 March. Five days later on 22 March, Tinley resigned as Mines and Petroleum minister, to avoid any claim of conflict of interest due to a family member working in the industry, and exchanged the Housing portfolio with Bill Johnston.^[9] Tinley later became Western Australia's Asian Engagement Minister.^[10]

On 19 March 2021, after the 2021 state election, Tinley was unexpectedly removed from cabinet.^[11][12] After spending almost three years as a backbencher, on 14 March 2024 Tinley announced that he would not seek re-election at the 2025 state election.^[13]