He was a National Party Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1976 to 1995, representing the electorate of Orange.

He held several Ministerial positions in the Nick Greiner and then John Fahey Liberal–National coalition Government.

[1] West was one of the early members of the NSW Branch of the Young Australian Country Party, later to become the Young Nationals (Australia)-NSW, elected as State Chairman (1972–1973) and Federal Chairman (1973–1976).

[1][2] Following the retirement of Sir Charles Cutler, West, aged 27 years, sought and gained endorsement as the Country Party candidate for the seat of Orange and was elected at a by-election held on 14 February 1976 in a three-corned contest between the Country, Liberal and Labor parties after being forced to preferences.

[3] Less than three months later, West was reelected at the 1976 State elections, despite the Liberal–National coalition losing to Neville Wran's Labor Party.