Tonkin Ministry (Western Australia)
Encyclopedia
The Tonkin Ministry was the 25th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia
, led by Labor
Premier John Tonkin
and deputy Herb Graham
(Alexander Taylor replaced Graham following his resignation on 30 May 1973). It commenced on 3 March 1971, eleven days after the Brand-Nalder Ministry
, led by Premier David Brand
of the Liberal Party
, was defeated at the 1971 election
. The ministry was followed by the Court-McPharlin Ministry
on 8 April 1974 after the Labor Party lost government at the state election
held on 31 March.
As was the norm for Labor ministries, the caucus consisting of all parliamentary members elected the ministers, and the Premier then allocated portfolios.
, constituted the Ministry. He designated 12 principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to their positions, who served until a reshuffle on 30 May 1973. Four reshuffles took place—on 12 October 1971, following the resignation of Ron Bertram; a minor reshuffle amongst existing ministers on 6 July 1972; on 7 February 1973 following the resignation of William Willesee due to ill health; and on 30 May 1973 following the resignation of Deputy Premier Herb Graham
to chair the Licensing Board.
The list below is ordered by decreasing seniority within the Cabinet, as indicated by the Government Gazette and the Hansard index. The members of the Ministry were:
, a major reshuffle took place on 30 May 1973. These 12 ministers served until the end of the Tonkin Ministry on 8 April 1974.
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...
, 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 John Tonkin
John Tonkin
John Trezise Tonkin AC , popularly known as "Honest John", was the 20th Premier of Western Australia , taking power after the almost 12 year term of Liberal Sir David Brand....
and deputy Herb Graham
Herb Graham
-Biography:Graham was born in Narrogin, Western Australia on 6 April 1911 to parents from South Australia. Graham attended school in Narrogin and Northam....
(Alexander Taylor replaced Graham following his resignation on 30 May 1973). It commenced on 3 March 1971, eleven days after the Brand-Nalder Ministry
Brand-Nalder Ministry
The Brand-Nalder Ministry was the 24th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, led by Liberal Premier David Brand and his deputy, Country Party leader Crawford Nalder. It succeeded the Brand-Watts Ministry on 1 February 1962 following the Deputy Premier's retirement from politics...
, led by Premier David Brand
David Brand
Sir David Brand KCMG was the 19th and longest serving Premier of Western Australia and a Member of the Legislative Assembly from 1945 to 1975.-Early life:...
of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
, was defeated at the 1971 election
Western Australian state election, 1971
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 20 February 1971 to elect all 51 members to the Legislative Assembly and 15 members to the 30-seat Legislative Council...
. The ministry was followed by the Court-McPharlin Ministry
Court-McPharlin Ministry
The Court-McPharlin Ministry was the 26th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, and was led by Liberal Premier Sir Charles Court and his deputy, National Country Party leader Ray McPharlin. It succeeded the Tonkin ministry on 8 April 1974, following the defeat of the Labor government at...
on 8 April 1974 after the Labor Party lost government at the state election
Western Australian state election, 1974
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 30 March 1974 to elect all 51 members to the Legislative Assembly and 15 members to the 30-seat Legislative Council...
held on 31 March.
As was the norm for Labor ministries, the caucus consisting of all parliamentary members elected the ministers, and the Premier then allocated portfolios.
First Ministry
On 3 March 1971, the Governor, Major-General Sir Douglas KendrewDouglas Kendrew
Major General Sir Douglas Anthony Kendrew, KCMG, CB, CBE, DSO & Three Bars, was a British rugby player and military officer, who became Governor of Western Australia 1963-1974.- Early years :...
, constituted the Ministry. He designated 12 principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to their positions, who served until a reshuffle on 30 May 1973. Four reshuffles took place—on 12 October 1971, following the resignation of Ron Bertram; a minor reshuffle amongst existing ministers on 6 July 1972; on 7 February 1973 following the resignation of William Willesee due to ill health; and on 30 May 1973 following the resignation of Deputy Premier Herb Graham
Herb Graham
-Biography:Graham was born in Narrogin, Western Australia on 6 April 1911 to parents from South Australia. Graham attended school in Narrogin and Northam....
to chair the Licensing Board.
The list below is ordered by decreasing seniority within the Cabinet, as indicated by the Government Gazette and the Hansard index. The members of the Ministry were:
| 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... 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... (from 12 October 1971) 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... (until 12 October 1971) Minister for Environmental Protection (until 12 October 1971) Minister for Cultural Affairs |
John Tonkin John Tonkin John Trezise Tonkin AC , popularly known as "Honest John", was the 20th Premier of Western Australia , taking power after the almost 12 year term of Liberal Sir David Brand.... , Dip.Tchg., FAIA, MLA |
Deputy Premier Deputy Premier of Western Australia The Deputy Premier of Western Australia is a role in the Government of Western Australia assigned to a responsible Minister in the Australian state of Western Australia. It has second ranking behind the Premier of Western Australia in Cabinet, and its holder serves as Acting Premier during absence... Minister for Industrial Development and Decentralisation Minister for Town Planning (until 6 July 1972) Minister for the North-West (from 12 October 1971) |
Herb Graham Herb Graham -Biography:Graham was born in Narrogin, Western Australia on 6 April 1911 to parents from South Australia. Graham attended school in Narrogin and Northam.... , MLA |
(until 12 October 1971:)
(from 12 October 1971:)
Minister for Recreation (from 6 July 1972) |
Tom Evans, LL.B., MLA |
Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council Minister for Community Welfare |
William Willesee, Dip.Acctg., MLC (until 7 February 1973) |
Minister for Police Minister for Transport Minister for Railways (from 12 October 1971) Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council (from 7 February 1973) |
Jerry Dolan Jerry Dolan John "Jerry" Dolan was an Australian rules footballer and coach in the West Australian Football League before becoming a politician. He played for as well as coached East Fremantle and was also a coach at East Perth... , MLC |
Minister for Mines Minister for the North-West (until 12 October 1971) Minister for Electricity (from 12 October 1971) Minister for Fuel (from 6 July 1972) |
Donald May, MLA |
Minister for Works Minister for Water Supplies Minister for Electricity (until 12 October 1971) Minister for Traffic Safety (from 6 July 1972) |
Colin Jamieson Colin Jamieson Colin John Jamieson, AO JP , was a politician in Western Australia. A member of the Australian Labor Party, he served as a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1953 until 1986, as the Minister for Works and Water Supplies in the Tonkin Ministry and as Leader of the Opposition... , MLA |
Minister for Lands Minister for Agriculture Minister for Immigration (until 7 February 1973) Minister for Forests (from 12 October 1971) |
David Evans, BA, MLA |
Minister for Health Minister for Environmental Protection (from 12 October 1971) Minister for Fisheries and Fauna (until 6 July 1972) Minister for Town Planning (from 6 July 1972) (until 12 October 1971:)
|
Ron Davies Ron Davies (Western Australian politician) Ronald "Ron" Davies was an Australian politician, who was an Australian Labor Party member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for the electoral district of Victoria Park from 1961 to 1986.... , MLA |
|
Minister for Labour Minister for Housing (until 12 October 1971) Minister for Immigration (from 7 February 1973) (from 12 October 1971:)
|
Alexander Taylor, BA, DipEd, MLA |
|
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... Minister for Railways |
Ron Bertram, LL.B., Dip.Acctg., AASA, MLA (until 1 October 1971) |
Chief Secretary Minister for Local Government |
Robert Stubbs, MLC |
Minister for Housing Minister for Fuel (until 6 July 1972) Minister for Fisheries and Fauna (from 6 July 1972) |
Arthur Bickerton, MLA (from 12 October 1971) |
Minister for Community Welfare |
Ronald Thompson, MLC (from 7 February 1973) |
Second Ministry
Following the resignation of Deputy Premier Herb GrahamHerb Graham
-Biography:Graham was born in Narrogin, Western Australia on 6 April 1911 to parents from South Australia. Graham attended school in Narrogin and Northam....
, a major reshuffle took place on 30 May 1973. These 12 ministers served until the end of the Tonkin Ministry on 8 April 1974.
| 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... 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 Cultural Affairs |
John Tonkin John Tonkin John Trezise Tonkin AC , popularly known as "Honest John", was the 20th Premier of Western Australia , taking power after the almost 12 year term of Liberal Sir David Brand.... , Dip.Tchg., FAIA, MLA |
Deputy Premier Deputy Premier of Western Australia The Deputy Premier of Western Australia is a role in the Government of Western Australia assigned to a responsible Minister in the Australian state of Western Australia. It has second ranking behind the Premier of Western Australia in Cabinet, and its holder serves as Acting Premier during absence... Minister for Development and Decentralisation |
Alexander Taylor, BA, DipEd, MLA |
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... Assistant to the Treasurer Minister for Recreation |
Tom Evans, LL.B., MLA |
Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council 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 Transport Minister for Railways |
Jerry Dolan Jerry Dolan John "Jerry" Dolan was an Australian rules footballer and coach in the West Australian Football League before becoming a politician. He played for as well as coached East Fremantle and was also a coach at East Perth... , MLC |
Minister for Mines Minister for Electricity Minister for Fuel |
Donald May, MLA |
Minister for Works Minister for Water Supplies Minister for Traffic Safety |
Colin Jamieson Colin Jamieson Colin John Jamieson, AO JP , was a politician in Western Australia. A member of the Australian Labor Party, he served as a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1953 until 1986, as the Minister for Works and Water Supplies in the Tonkin Ministry and as Leader of the Opposition... , MLA |
Minister for Lands Minister for Agriculture Minister for Forests |
David Evans, BA, MLA |
Minister for Environmental Protection Minister for Health Minister for Town Planning |
Ron Davies Ron Davies (Western Australian politician) Ronald "Ron" Davies was an Australian politician, who was an Australian Labor Party member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for the electoral district of Victoria Park from 1961 to 1986.... , MLA |
Chief Secretary Minister for Local Government |
Robert Stubbs, MLC |
Minister for Housing Minister for Fisheries and Fauna Minister for the North-West |
Arthur Bickerton, MLA |
Minister for Police Minister for Community Welfare Minister for Tourism |
Ronald Thompson, MLC |
Minister for Labour Minister for Immigration Minister for Prices Control Minister for Consumer Protection |
John Harman, MLA |