Daglish ministry
Encyclopedia
The Daglish Ministry was the 7th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia
and was led by Labor
Premier
Henry Daglish
. It succeeded the James Ministry
on 10 August 1904 after the 1904 election boosted Labor's seat count from 8 to 22 in the 50-seat Legislative Assembly
. As such it was a minority government and relied on the support of four independents.
The resulting Ministry was interesting for various reasons. It was the first Labor Ministry in Western Australia and one of the first in Australia. Unlike all previous Ministries, it consisted almost entirely of men who had immigrated to Western Australia in the previous two decades. Some hurdles needed to be overcome. A constitutional requirement that the Ministry include at least one member of the Legislative Council
was met when John Drew, an Independent member of that chamber, agreed to serve. Additionally, as Labor contained no lawyers within its ranks, the role of Attorney-General
as chief law officer of the State lapsed, and Robert Hastie
was named Minister for Justice instead.
Just over a year later, the Government lost support on the floor of the house and fell on a vote of no confidence. On 25 August 1905, it was followed by the Rason Ministry
led by Hector Rason, a former Minister in the James Ministry.
, designated 6 principal executive offices of the Government under section 43(2) of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899. The following ministers were then appointed to the positions, and served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 7 June 1905.
On 7 June 1905, a reshuffle took place with a new Ministry being sworn in. The following ministers served until the end of the Ministry on 25 August 1905.
Government of Western Australia
The formation of the Government of Western Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1890, although it has been amended many times since then...
and was led by Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
Premier
Premier of Western Australia
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions...
Henry Daglish
Henry Daglish
Henry Daglish was the sixth Premier of Western Australia and the state's first Labor Premier.Henry Daglish was born in Ballarat West, Victoria on 18 November 1866. He was educated in Geelong, and attended Melbourne University...
. It succeeded the James Ministry
James ministry
The James Ministry was the sixth Ministry of the Government of Western Australia and was led by Premier Walter James. It succeeded the Second Leake Ministry on 1 July 1902 following the death of the previous Premier, George Leake, on 24 June 1902...
on 10 August 1904 after the 1904 election boosted Labor's seat count from 8 to 22 in the 50-seat Legislative Assembly
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
. As such it was a minority government and relied on the support of four independents.
The resulting Ministry was interesting for various reasons. It was the first Labor Ministry in Western Australia and one of the first in Australia. Unlike all previous Ministries, it consisted almost entirely of men who had immigrated to Western Australia in the previous two decades. Some hurdles needed to be overcome. A constitutional requirement that the Ministry include at least one member of the Legislative Council
Western Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the Legislative Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state...
was met when John Drew, an Independent member of that chamber, agreed to serve. Additionally, as Labor contained no lawyers within its ranks, the role of Attorney-General
Attorney-General of Western Australia
The Attorney-General of Western Australia is the member of the Government of Western Australia responsible for maintenance and improvement of Western Australia's system of law and justice. Before the advent of representative government in 1870, the title was Advocate-General of Western Australia...
as chief law officer of the State lapsed, and Robert Hastie
Robert Hastie
Robert Hastie was an Australian politician. He was the Labor member for Kanowna in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1901 to 1905. He was Minister for Justice and Mines from 1904 to 1905 and Minister for Justice and Labour in 1905....
was named Minister for Justice instead.
Just over a year later, the Government lost support on the floor of the house and fell on a vote of no confidence. On 25 August 1905, it was followed by the Rason Ministry
Rason Ministry
The Rason Ministry was the 8th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia and was led by Ministerialist Premier Hector Rason. It succeeded the Daglish Ministry on 25 August 1905 after the previous Labor minority administration fell on a vote of no confidence...
led by Hector Rason, a former Minister in the James Ministry.
The Ministry
On 10 August 1904, the Governor, Admiral Sir Frederick BedfordFrederick Bedford
Admiral Sir Frederick George Denham Bedford GCB, GCVO was Governor of Western Austria from 24 March 1903 to 22 April 1909.-Naval career:Bedford joined the Royal Navy at the age of 14, and later served in the Crimean War....
, designated 6 principal executive offices of the Government under section 43(2) of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899. The following ministers were then appointed to the positions, and served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 7 June 1905.
| Office | Minister |
|---|---|
Premier Premier of Western Australia The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions... Colonial Treasurer Treasurer of Western Australia The Treasurer of the State of Western Australia is the title held by the Cabinet Minister who is responsible for the management of Western Australia's public sector finances, and for preparing and delivering the annual State Budget... Minister for Education Minister for Education (Western Australia) The Minister for Education of Western Australia is the member of the Government of Western Australia responsible for maintenance and improvement of Western Australia's system of education, and is answerable to the Parliament for all actions taken by the Department of Education and Training under... |
Henry Daglish Henry Daglish Henry Daglish was the sixth Premier of Western Australia and the state's first Labor Premier.Henry Daglish was born in Ballarat West, Victoria on 18 November 1866. He was educated in Geelong, and attended Melbourne University... , MLA |
| Minister for Lands | John Drew, MLC |
| Colonial Secretary Colonial Secretary of Western Australia The Colonial Secretary of Western Australia was one of the most important and powerful public offices in Western Australia, in the time when Western Australia was a British colony. The Colonial Secretary was the representative of the British Colonial Office in Western Australia, and was usually... |
George Taylor, MLA |
Minister for Justice Minister for Mines |
Robert Hastie Robert Hastie Robert Hastie was an Australian politician. He was the Labor member for Kanowna in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1901 to 1905. He was Minister for Justice and Mines from 1904 to 1905 and Minister for Justice and Labour in 1905.... , MLA |
Minister for Labour Minister for Railways |
John Holman, MLA |
| Minister for Works | William Johnson, MLA |
| Minister without portfolio | William Angwin William Angwin William C. "Bill" Angwin was an Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League . Angwin played three games for Melbourne early in the 1913 VFL season before switching to St Kilda later in the season, playing six games and kicking one goal in the year and a half he was at... , MLA |
On 7 June 1905, a reshuffle took place with a new Ministry being sworn in. The following ministers served until the end of the Ministry on 25 August 1905.
| Office | Minister |
|---|---|
Premier Premier of Western Australia The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions... Colonial Treasurer Treasurer of Western Australia The Treasurer of the State of Western Australia is the title held by the Cabinet Minister who is responsible for the management of Western Australia's public sector finances, and for preparing and delivering the annual State Budget... |
Henry Daglish Henry Daglish Henry Daglish was the sixth Premier of Western Australia and the state's first Labor Premier.Henry Daglish was born in Ballarat West, Victoria on 18 November 1866. He was educated in Geelong, and attended Melbourne University... , MLA |
Minister for Education Minister for Education (Western Australia) The Minister for Education of Western Australia is the member of the Government of Western Australia responsible for maintenance and improvement of Western Australia's system of education, and is answerable to the Parliament for all actions taken by the Department of Education and Training under... Minister for Lands |
Thomas Bath, MLA |
| Colonial Secretary Colonial Secretary of Western Australia The Colonial Secretary of Western Australia was one of the most important and powerful public offices in Western Australia, in the time when Western Australia was a British colony. The Colonial Secretary was the representative of the British Colonial Office in Western Australia, and was usually... |
John Drew, MLC |
Minister for Justice Minister for Labour |
Robert Hastie Robert Hastie Robert Hastie was an Australian politician. He was the Labor member for Kanowna in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1901 to 1905. He was Minister for Justice and Mines from 1904 to 1905 and Minister for Justice and Labour in 1905.... , MLA |
Minister for Mines Minister for Railways |
William Johnson, MLA |
| Minister for Works | Patrick Lynch Patrick Lynch (Australian politician) Patrick Joseph Lynch was an Australian politician.Lynch was born in Skeark, County Meath, Ireland and educated at Cormeen National School and Bailieborough Model School, County Cavan. He migrated to Queensland in 1886 and cut railway sleepers near Charleville and then travelled to the Croydon... , MLA (until 4 August 1905) |
| Minister without portfolio | William Angwin William Angwin William C. "Bill" Angwin was an Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League . Angwin played three games for Melbourne early in the 1913 VFL season before switching to St Kilda later in the season, playing six games and kicking one goal in the year and a half he was at... , MLA |