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

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.
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:
OfficeMinister

Premier

Treasurer

Minister for Child Welfare

Minister for Industrial Development
Albert Hawke, MLA

Deputy Premier

Minister for Education

Minister for Works

Minister for Water Supplies
John Tonkin, Dip.Tchg., FAIA, MLA

Minister for Education

Minister for Labour

Minister for Native Welfare

Minister for Prices
Bill Hegney, MLA

Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council

Chief Secretary

Minister for Local Government and Town Planning
Gilbert Fraser, MLC

Minister for Lands

Minister for Agriculture
Ernest Hoar, MLA

Minister for Railways

Minister for Transport

Minister for Police
Herbert Styants, MLA

Minister for Health

Minister for Justice
Emil Nulsen, MLA

Minister for Housing

Minister for Forests
Herb Graham, MLA

Minister for Mines

Minister for Tourism

Minister for Fisheries

Minister for Industrial Development
Lionel Kelly, MLA

Minister for the North-West

Minister for Supply and Shipping
Harry Strickland, MLC

Second Ministry

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. 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:
OfficeMinister

Premier

Treasurer

Minister for Child Welfare

Minister for Industrial Development

Albert Hawke, MLA

Deputy Premier

Minister for Works

Minister for Water Supplies
John Tonkin, Dip.Tchg., FAIA, MLA

Minister for Transport

Minister for Housing

Minister for Forests
Herb Graham, MLA

Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council

Chief Secretary

Minister for Local Government and Town Planning
Gilbert Fraser, MLC

Minister for Lands

Minister for Agriculture
Ernest Hoar, MLA

Minister for Health

Minister for Justice
Emil Nulsen, MLA

Minister for Education

Minister for Labour
Bill Hegney, MLA

Minister for Fisheries
Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council


Minister for Railways

Minister for the North-West

Minister for Supply and Shipping
Harry Strickland, MLC

Minister for Police

Minister for Native Welfare
John Brady, MLA

Minister for Mines

Chief Secretary
Arthur Moir, MLA

Minister for Industrial Development

Minister for Local Government and Town Planning
Frank Wise, MLC