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. The ministry was followed by the Brand–Watts Ministry on 2 April 1959 after the Labor Party lost government at the state election held on 21 March.
First ministry
[edit]On 23 February 1953, the Governor, Sir Charles Gairdner, constituted the ministry. He designated 10 principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to their positions, who served until the reconstitution of the Ministry following the 1956 state election.[1]
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 | Albert Hawke, MLA |
| Deputy Premier (from 7 December 1955) | John Tonkin, Dip.Tchg., FAIA, MLA |
| Minister for Education (from 13 May 1954) | Bill Hegney, MLA |
| Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council | Gilbert Fraser, MLC |
| Ernest Hoar, MLA | |
| Minister for Railways | Herbert Styants, MLA |
| Minister for Health | Emil Nulsen, MLA |
| Minister for Housing | Herb Graham, MLA |
| Minister for Mines | Lionel Kelly, MLA |
| Minister for the North-West | Harry Strickland, MLC |
Second ministry
[edit]On 20 April 1956, the Governor, Sir Charles Gairdner, reconstituted the ministry. He designated 10 principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to their positions, who served until the end of the ministry.[2] During the term, Ernest Hoar was appointed Agent-General for Western Australia in London, and Gilbert Fraser died on 1 November 1958.
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 | Albert Hawke, MLA |
| Deputy Premier | John Tonkin, Dip.Tchg., FAIA, MLA |
| Minister for Transport | Herb Graham, MLA |
| Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council | Gilbert Fraser, MLC (until 1 November 1958) |
| Ernest Hoar, MLA (until 17 December 1957) | |
| Minister for Health | Emil Nulsen, MLA |
| Bill Hegney, MLA | |
| Minister for Fisheries (until 19 December 1957:)
(from 19 December 1957:) | Lionel Kelly, MLA |
| Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council | Harry Strickland, MLC |
| Minister for Police | John Brady, MLA |
| Minister for Mines | Arthur Moir, MLA (from 19 December 1957) |
| Minister for Industrial Development | Frank Wise, MLC (from 13 November 1958) |
