Dooley ministry (1921–1922)

Dooley ministry

40th Cabinet of the State of New South Wales
Premier James Dooley
Date formed20 December 1921 (1921-12-20)
Date dissolved13 April 1922 (1922-04-13)
People and organisations
MonarchGeorge V
GovernorSir Walter Davidson
Head of governmentJames Dooley
No. of ministers13
Member partyLabor
Status in legislatureMinority government
Opposition partyNationalist
Opposition leaderGeorge Fuller
History
Outgoing election1920 New South Wales election
PredecessorFirst Fuller ministry
SuccessorSecond Fuller ministry

The Dooley ministry (1921–1922) or the Second Dooley ministry was the 40th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 21st Premier, James Dooley.

Dooley was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1907, serving until 1927, when he fell out with the Labor leadership, lost Labor preselection, and stood unsuccessfully as an Independent Labor candidate for the Senate in the 1931 federal election. Dooley served as Deputy Labor leader to Ernest Durack and then John Storey,[1] when Labor came to power at the 1920 state election, with what Storey called "half a mandate".[2] The assembly was evenly divided, with Labor having 43 seats and the support of Percy Brookfield (Socialist Labor) and Arthur Gardiner (Independent Labor), while the Nationalists had 28 seats and the support of 15 seats of Progressive Party and 2 independent Nationalists. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly did not vote unless there was a tie which meant whichever side provided the speaker was unable to command a majority. Nationalist Daniel Levy controversially accepted re-election as speaker, giving Labor an effective majority,[3][4] Storey died in office on 5 October 1921.[2]

On Storey's death in 1921, Dooley became Leader and Premier, reconstituting the ministry, however, his hold in power was tenuous. Levy had resigned as speaker on 12 December 1921, replaced by Labor's Simon Hickey and the government was defeated on the floor of the house 44 votes to 45.[5][6] Levy was re-elected as speaker, which meant new Premier George Fuller could not command a majority in the house and resigned within seven hours of his appointment. Levy remained as speaker as the only way to have a workable parliament,[3] allowing Dooley to regain power.[1] The ministry was virtually unchanged, with the Labour portfolio moving from Greg McGirr to Edward Kavanagh.[7]

The ministry covers the period from 20 December 1921 until 13 April 1922, when Labor led by Dooley was defeated by a Nationalist coalition, led by Fuller, at the 1922 state election.[1]

Composition of ministry

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The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Dooley on 20 December 1921 and covers the period up to 13 April 1922, when the ministry was dissolved as a result of the 1922 state election.

Portfolio Minister Party Term commence Term end Term of office
Premier
Chief Secretary
James Dooley   Labor     20 December 1921 13 April 1922 114 days
Treasurer Jack Lang
Attorney-General Edward McTiernan
Secretary for Lands
Minister for Forests
Peter Loughlin
Secretary for Public Works
Minister for Railways
John Estell
Minister of Justice William McKell
Minister of Public Instruction Thomas Mutch
Secretary for Mines
Minister for Local Government
George Cann
Solicitor General Robert Sproule MLC
Minister for Agriculture Bill Dunn
Minister for Labour
Vice-President of the Executive Council
Representative of the Government in Legislative Council
Edward Kavanagh MLC
Minister for Public Health and Motherhood Greg McGirr
Minister for State Industrial Enterprises Carlo Lazzarini

  Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Cunneen, Chris. "Dooley, James Thomas (1877–1950)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Nairn, Bede. "Storey, John (1869–1921)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b Fredman, L E. "Levy, Sir Daniel (1872–1937)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  4. ^ Fitzpatrick, John (27 April 1920). "Election of speaker" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). New South Wales: Legislative Assembly. pp. 18–33. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Resignation of speaker" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). New South Wales: Legislative Assembly. 12 December 1921. pp. 2598–2602. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  6. ^ As the speaker did not vote, with Hickey as speaker Labor was reduced to 43 votes, plus the support of Arthur Gardiner (Independent Labor).[5]
  7. ^ "Part 6 Ministries since 1856" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 November 2021.

 

Preceded by Dooley ministry
1921 – 1922
Succeeded by