McLarty-Watts Ministry
Encyclopedia
The McLarty-Watts Ministry was the 21st Ministry of the Government of Western Australia
, led by Liberal
Premier Sir Ross McLarty
and his deputy, Country Party
leader Arthur Watts. It succeeded the Wise Ministry
on 1 April 1947, following the defeat of the Labor
government at the 1947 election
two weeks earlier. It was significant in that it included in Florence Cardell-Oliver not only the oldest person, at age 70, to receive their first appointment to a ministerial post in Western Australia, but also the first female cabinet minister in Australia.
The ministry was followed by the Hawke Ministry
on 23 February 1953 after the Coalition lost government at the state election
held on 14 February.
, constituted the Ministry. He designated eight principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to their positions, who served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 7 October 1949. Two honorary members were also appointed.
The list below is ordered by decreasing seniority within the Cabinet, as indicated by the Government Gazette and the Hansard index. Blue entries indicate members of the Liberal Party, whilst green entries indicate members of the National Country Party. The members of the Ministry were:
, reconstituted the Ministry. He designated eight principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to their positions, who served until the Ministry was reformed on 6 April 1950 after the 1950 election. As previously, two honorary ministers were appointed, with David Brand
replacing Robert Ross McDonald in the Ministry.
, constituted the Ministry. He designated eight principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to their positions, who served until the end of the Ministry. On 24 October 1950, following the assent of the Acts Amendment (Increase in number of Ministers of the Crown) Act 1950 (No.2 of 1950), the Ministry was expanded to 10 members and the two Honorary Ministers were promoted. The listed Ministers served until the end of the Ministry on 23 February 1953.
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 Liberal
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...
Premier Sir Ross McLarty
Ross McLarty
Sir Duncan Ross McLarty KBE MM was the 17th Premier of Western Australia.-Early life:McLarty was born in Pinjarra, Western Australia, the youngest of seven children of Edward McLarty, a farmer and grazier and member of the Western Australian Legislative Council, and his wife Mary Jane, née Campbell...
and his deputy, Country Party
National Party of Western Australia
The National Party of Western Australia is a political party in Western Australia. It is affiliated with the National Party of Australia but maintains a separate structure and identity....
leader Arthur Watts. It succeeded the Wise Ministry
Wise Ministry
The Wise Ministry was the 20th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia. It succeeded the Willcock Ministry on 3 August 1945 and was led by Labor Premier Frank Wise, who had previously been Minister for Lands and Agriculture. All of the Ministers continued from the previous Ministry,...
on 1 April 1947, following the defeat of the 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...
government at the 1947 election
Western Australian state election, 1947
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 15 March 1947 to elect all 50 members to the Legislative Assembly. The result was a hung parliament—the four-term Labor government, led by Premier Frank Wise, was defeated with a swing of approximately 7%, but the Liberal-Country Party...
two weeks earlier. It was significant in that it included in Florence Cardell-Oliver not only the oldest person, at age 70, to receive their first appointment to a ministerial post in Western Australia, but also the first female cabinet minister in Australia.
The ministry was followed by the Hawke Ministry
Hawke Ministry (Western Australia)
The Hawke Ministry was the 22nd Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, led by Labor Premier Albert Hawke and deputy John Tonkin. It commenced on 23 February 1953, nine days after the McLarty-Watts Ministry, led by Premier Ross McLarty of the Liberal Party, was defeated at the 1953 election...
on 23 February 1953 after the Coalition lost government at the state election
Western Australian state election, 1953
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 14 February 1953 to elect all 50 members to the Legislative Assembly. The two-term Liberal-Country Party coalition government, led by Premier Sir Ross McLarty, was defeated by the Labor Party, led by Opposition Leader Bert Hawke.The election...
held on 14 February.
First Ministry
On 1 April 1947, the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir James MitchellJames Mitchell (Australian politician)
Sir James Mitchell GCMG was the 13th Premier of Western Australia, serving on two occasions, the Lieutenant-Governor of Western Australia for 15 years and the 22nd Governor of Western Australia....
, constituted the Ministry. He designated eight principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to their positions, who served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 7 October 1949. Two honorary members were also appointed.
The list below is ordered by decreasing seniority within the Cabinet, as indicated by the Government Gazette and the Hansard index. Blue entries indicate members of the Liberal Party, whilst green entries indicate members of the National Country Party. 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... Minister for Housing (until 5 January 1948) Minister for Forests (until 5 January 1948) Minister for the North-West |
Ross McLarty Ross McLarty Sir Duncan Ross McLarty KBE MM was the 17th Premier of Western Australia.-Early life:McLarty was born in Pinjarra, Western Australia, the youngest of seven children of Edward McLarty, a farmer and grazier and member of the Western Australian Legislative Council, and his wife Mary Jane, née Campbell... , MM, 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 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 Industrial Development Minister for Local Government |
Arthur Watts, CMG, MLA |
Minister for Native Affairs (until 5 January 1948:)
(from 5 January 1948)
|
Robert Ross McDonald, KC Queen's Counsel Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law... , LL.B. Bachelor of Laws The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree... , MLA |
|
Minister for Lands Minister for Labour Minister for Agriculture (until 5 January 1948) |
Lindsay Thorn, MLA |
Minister for Mines Minister for Health (until 5 January 1948) (from 5 January 1948:)
|
Hubert Parker Hubert Parker Hubert Stanley Wyborn Parker DSO VD was an Australian politician who represented the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of North-East Fremantle from 1930 until 1933, and one of the three Legislative Council seats for Metropolitan-Suburban Province from 1934 until 1954... , DSO, VD, MLC |
|
Minister for Works Minister for Water Supplies |
Victor Doney, MLA |
Chief Secretary (until 5 January 1948) 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... (from 5 January 1948) Minister for Health (from 5 January 1948) Minister for Fisheries |
Arthur Abbott, MLA |
Minister for Transport Minister for Railways |
Harrie Seward Harrie Seward Harrie Stephen Seward was an Australian politician. Born at Rochester, Victoria, he was educated in Ballarat at St Patrick's College. He became a bank officer, and moved to Western Australia, becoming a farmer at Pingelly from 1913. He served in the military 1915-1919... , MLA |
Honorary Minister for Supply and Shipping |
Florence Cardell-Oliver, MLA |
Honorary Minister for Agriculture |
Garnet Barrington Wood, MLC |
First Ministry (reconstituted)
On 7 October 1949, the Governor, Sir James MitchellJames Mitchell (Australian politician)
Sir James Mitchell GCMG was the 13th Premier of Western Australia, serving on two occasions, the Lieutenant-Governor of Western Australia for 15 years and the 22nd Governor of Western Australia....
, reconstituted the Ministry. He designated eight principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to their positions, who served until the Ministry was reformed on 6 April 1950 after the 1950 election. As previously, two honorary ministers were appointed, with 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:...
replacing Robert Ross McDonald in the Ministry.
| 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 Forests Minister for the North-West |
Ross McLarty Ross McLarty Sir Duncan Ross McLarty KBE MM was the 17th Premier of Western Australia.-Early life:McLarty was born in Pinjarra, Western Australia, the youngest of seven children of Edward McLarty, a farmer and grazier and member of the Western Australian Legislative Council, and his wife Mary Jane, née Campbell... , MM, 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 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 Industrial Development Minister for Housing |
Arthur Watts, CMG, MLA |
Chief Secretary Minister for Mines Minister for Police Minister for Native Affairs |
Hubert Parker Hubert Parker Hubert Stanley Wyborn Parker DSO VD was an Australian politician who represented the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of North-East Fremantle from 1930 until 1933, and one of the three Legislative Council seats for Metropolitan-Suburban Province from 1934 until 1954... , DSO, VD, MLC |
Minister for Lands Minister for Labour |
Lindsay Thorn, 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 Fisheries Minister for Prices |
Arthur Abbott, MLA |
Minister for Works Minister for Water Supplies |
Victor Doney, MLA |
Minister for Supply and Shipping Minister for Health |
Florence Cardell-Oliver, MLA |
Minister for Transport Minister for Railways |
Harrie Seward Harrie Seward Harrie Stephen Seward was an Australian politician. Born at Rochester, Victoria, he was educated in Ballarat at St Patrick's College. He became a bank officer, and moved to Western Australia, becoming a farmer at Pingelly from 1913. He served in the military 1915-1919... , MLA |
Honorary Minister for Housing, Forests and Local Government |
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:... , MLA |
Honorary Minister for Agriculture |
Garnet Barrington Wood, MLC |
Second Ministry
On 6 April 1950, the Governor, Sir James MitchellJames Mitchell (Australian politician)
Sir James Mitchell GCMG was the 13th Premier of Western Australia, serving on two occasions, the Lieutenant-Governor of Western Australia for 15 years and the 22nd Governor of Western Australia....
, constituted the Ministry. He designated eight principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to their positions, who served until the end of the Ministry. On 24 October 1950, following the assent of the Acts Amendment (Increase in number of Ministers of the Crown) Act 1950 (No.2 of 1950), the Ministry was expanded to 10 members and the two Honorary Ministers were promoted. The listed Ministers served until the end of the Ministry on 23 February 1953.
| 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... (until 24 October 1950:)
|
Ross McLarty Ross McLarty Sir Duncan Ross McLarty KBE MM was the 17th Premier of Western Australia.-Early life:McLarty was born in Pinjarra, Western Australia, the youngest of seven children of Edward McLarty, a farmer and grazier and member of the Western Australian Legislative Council, and his wife Mary Jane, née Campbell... , MM, 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 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 Child Welfare Minister for Industrial Development |
Arthur Watts, CMG, MLA |
Minister for Works Minister for Water Supplies Minister for Housing (until 24 October 1950) |
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:... , MLA |
Minister for Lands Minister for Labour Minister for Immigration |
Lindsay Thorn, 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 Police Minister for Fisheries |
Arthur Abbott, MLA |
Chief Secretary Minister for Local Government Minister for Native Affairs |
Victor Doney, MLA |
Minister for Health Minister for Supply and Shipping |
Dame Florence Cardell-Oliver, DBE, MLA |
Minister for Transport Minister for Railways Minister for Mines |
Charles Simpson, MLC |
Honorary Minister for Agriculture and North-West (until 24 October 1950) Minister for Agriculture (24 October 1950–17 January 1952) Minister for the North-West (24 October 1950–17 January 1952) |
Garnet Barrington Wood, MLC (until 3 January 1952) |
Honorary Minister for Housing and Mines (until 24 October 1950) (from 24 October 1950:)
|
Gerald Wild, MBE, MLA |
|
Minister for Agriculture |
Sir Charles Latham Charles Latham Sir Charles Latham was an Australian politician born in Hythe, Kent in England.- Biography :Latham became an orphan in early childhood when his parents Thomas Latham and Isabella died before the age of 8... , MLC (from 17 January 1952) |