Eric Ripper

Eric Ripper
Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia
In office
23 September 2008 – 23 January 2012
PremierColin Barnett
DeputyRoger Cook
Preceded byColin Barnett
Succeeded byMark McGowan
Leader of the Western Australian
Labor Party
In office
16 September 2008 – 23 January 2012
Preceded byAlan Carpenter
Succeeded byMark McGowan
Member of the Western Australian Parliament
for Belmont
In office
4 February 1989 – 9 March 2013
Preceded byConstituency re-established
Succeeded byGlenys Godfrey
Member of the Western Australian Parliament
for Ascot
In office
19 March 1988 – 4 February 1989
Preceded byMal Bryce
Succeeded byConstituency abolished
Personal details
Born
Eric Stephen Ripper

(1951-09-13) 13 September 1951 (age 73)
Subiaco, Western Australia
Political partyLabor Party
Spouse
Patricia Y. Pearce
(m. 1982, divorced)
Domestic partnerLjiljanna Ravlich
Children2 sons
RelativesBob Pearce MP (ex brother-in-law)
Alma materUniversity of Western Australia
ProfessionTeacher

Eric Stephen Ripper AM (born 13 September 1951) is a retired Australian politician. From 2008 to 2012 he was Leader of the Opposition and leader of the Labor Party in Western Australia.

He grew up on a wheat/sheep farm near Nyabing. Ripper later attended Churchlands Senior High School and the University of Western Australia, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Education. Before entering politics, Ripper had a career as a teacher.