Nevanas affair
Encyclopedia
The Nevanas affair was a political scandal in Western Australia
that was partly responsible for the downfall of John Scaddan
's Labor
government
.
Early in 1914, Scaddan and one of his ministers signed a contract with the London
financier S. V. Nevanas, for the erection of a meat works in Wyndham
at an estimated cost of £155,000. They did so without consulting the rest of the cabinet
, and against the advice of officers of the Public Works Department, who felt that the price was unrealistically low. Shortly afterwards, the government cancelled the contract on the grounds that the company had not complied with the conditions of the contract. However Nevanas received substantial financial compensation for the cancellation.
Many members of the Labor
party were angered at the failure to call for public tenders, and the opposition were unsatisfied with the government's explanation for the cancellation. Eventually, a Select Committee was set up to inquire into the matter. The committee's report revealed, amongst other findings, that Scaddan had written to Nevanas offering him management of the works. The report triggered an extensive and acrimonious debate in the Legislative Assembly
in November 1915, during which the government was strongly opposed by three of its backbench members, Edward Heitmann
, Bertie Johnston and George Taylor. The government survived a no-confidence vote by a single vote, and only by promising its backbench critics a leadership spill.
Despite this promise, caucus subsequently voted to confirm the existing ministry. In response, Bertie Johnston resigned from the party and parliament. He then contested the subsequent by-election as an independent, and won. This left the government with only 24 seats in a house of 50, and shortly afterwards the Scaddan government was defeated and forced to resign.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
that was partly responsible for the downfall of John Scaddan
John Scaddan
John Scaddan, CMG , popularly known as "Happy Jack", was Premier of Western Australia from 7 October 1911 until 27 July 1916.- Biography :...
's 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
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...
.
Early in 1914, Scaddan and one of his ministers signed a contract with the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
financier S. V. Nevanas, for the erection of a meat works in Wyndham
Wyndham, Western Australia
Wyndham is the oldest and northernmost town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, located on the Great Northern Highway, northeast of Perth. It was established in 1885 as a result of a gold rush at Halls Creek, and it is now a port and service centre for the east Kimberley with a...
at an estimated cost of £155,000. They did so without consulting the rest of the cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
, and against the advice of officers of the Public Works Department, who felt that the price was unrealistically low. Shortly afterwards, the government cancelled the contract on the grounds that the company had not complied with the conditions of the contract. However Nevanas received substantial financial compensation for the cancellation.
Many members 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...
party were angered at the failure to call for public tenders, and the opposition were unsatisfied with the government's explanation for the cancellation. Eventually, a Select Committee was set up to inquire into the matter. The committee's report revealed, amongst other findings, that Scaddan had written to Nevanas offering him management of the works. The report triggered an extensive and acrimonious debate in the 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....
in November 1915, during which the government was strongly opposed by three of its backbench members, Edward Heitmann
Edward Heitmann
Edward Ernest Heitmann , Australian politician, was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1904 to 1917, then a member of the Australian House of Representatives until 1919....
, Bertie Johnston and George Taylor. The government survived a no-confidence vote by a single vote, and only by promising its backbench critics a leadership spill.
Despite this promise, caucus subsequently voted to confirm the existing ministry. In response, Bertie Johnston resigned from the party and parliament. He then contested the subsequent by-election as an independent, and won. This left the government with only 24 seats in a house of 50, and shortly afterwards the Scaddan government was defeated and forced to resign.