Tonkin Ministry (Western Australia)

The Tonkin Ministry was the 25th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, led by Labor Premier John Tonkin and deputy Herb Graham (Don 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.

First Ministry

On 3 March 1971, the Governor, Major-General Sir Douglas Kendrew, 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.[1][2] Four reshuffles took place—on 12 October 1971, following the resignation of Ron Bertram (due to ill health);[3][4] a minor reshuffle amongst existing ministers on 6 July 1972;[5] on 7 February 1973 following the resignation of William Willesee (also due to ill health);[6] and on 30 May 1973 following the resignation of Deputy Premier Herb Graham to chair the Licensing Board.[7]

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
Treasurer (from 12 October 1971)
Minister for Education (until 12 October 1971)
Minister for Environmental Protection (until 12 October 1971)
Minister for Cultural Affairs

John Tonkin, Dip.Tchg., FAIA, MLA

Deputy Premier
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, MLA

(until 12 October 1971:)

Treasurer
Minister for Forests
Minister for Tourism

(from 12 October 1971:)

Minister for Education
Attorney-General
Assistant to the Treasurer

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, 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, 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:)

Minister for Prices Control
Minister for Consumer Protection
Ron Davies, MLA

Minister for Labour
Minister for Housing (until 12 October 1971)
Minister for Immigration (from 7 February 1973)

(from 12 October 1971:)

Minister for Prices Control
Minister for Consumer Protection
Minister for Tourism
Don Taylor, BA, DipEd, MLA

Attorney-General
Minister for Railways

Ron Bertram, LL.B., Dip.Acctg., AASA, MLA
(until 1 October 1971)[3]

Chief Secretary
Minister for Local Government

Claude 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

Ron Thompson, MLC
(from 7 February 1973)

Second Ministry

Following the resignation of Deputy Premier Herb Graham, 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
Treasurer
Minister for Cultural Affairs

John Tonkin, Dip.Tchg., FAIA, MLA

Deputy Premier
Minister for Development and Decentralisation

Don Taylor, BA, DipEd, MLA

Attorney-General
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 Transport
Minister for Railways

Jerry Dolan, 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, 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, MLA

Chief Secretary
Minister for Local Government

Claude 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

Ron Thompson, MLC

Minister for Labour
Minister for Immigration
Minister for Prices Control
Minister for Consumer Protection

John Harman, MLA

Shadow Ministry

While serving no formal status, the Tonkin shadow ministry was a Shadow Cabinet led by the Opposition Leader and leader of the Labor Party, John Tonkin, in the Parliament of Western Australia. It lasted from March 1974 until 15 April 1976, when Tonkin stepped down at the age of 74. The Tonkin shadow ministry was the first of its kind in Western Australia.

References

  1. "Premier's Department". Western Australia Government Gazette. 3 March 1971. p. 1971:671-672.
  2. Hansard Index for 1971–1973, "Legislature of Western Australia"
  3. "Premier's Department". Western Australia Government Gazette. 1 October 1971. p. 1971:3947. Tom Evans became acting Attorney-General on this date, while Donald May became the acting Minister for Railways.
  4. "Premier's Department". Western Australia Government Gazette. 12 October 1971. p. 1971:4014-4015.
  5. "Premier's Department". Western Australia Government Gazette. 6 July 1972. p. 1972:2312.
  6. "No.12 (Special)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 7 February 1973. p. 1973:339-340.
  7. "No.39 (Special)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 30 May 1973. p. 1973:1783-1784.
Preceded by
Brand–Nalder Ministry
Tonkin Ministry
1971-1974
Succeeded by
Court–McPharlin Ministry
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