Lawrence Ministry
The Lawrence Ministry was the 31st Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, and was led by Labor Premier Dr Carmen Lawrence and her deputy Ian Taylor. It succeeded the Dowding Ministry on 18 February 1990, following the resignation of Peter Dowding six days earlier following an open letter signed by a majority of the 47-member Labor caucus. The ministry was in turn succeeded by the Court–Cowan Ministry on 16 February 1993 after the Labor Party lost government at the state election held on 6 February.
Overview
Of the former Dowding ministry, 15 of the 17 ministers retained office—Peter Dowding and Julian Grill were not reappointed, and backbenchers Pam Buchanan and Dr Geoff Gallop took their place. Two months later, former Deputy Premier David Parker resigned from both the Ministry and from Parliament.At a caucus meeting held on 29 January 1991, a spill motion was carried which created three vacancies in the Ministry. On 5 February, Jeff Carr, Gavan Troy and Pam Buchanan were removed as Ministers, whilst Eric Ripper, Dr Judyth Watson and Jim McGinty were sworn in. A major crisis was precipitated when Carr resigned from Parliament, with his seat of Geraldton being won by a Liberal at a by-election, whilst Troy ceased to attend caucus meetings and Buchanan resigned from the party, sitting as an Independent. With the resignation of left-wing MLA Dr Ian Alexander a month later, the Government was forced to depend on independents in the Legislative Assembly to maintain supply—the first time Western Australia had had minority government since 1905.
First Ministry
On 16 February 1990, the Lieutenant-Governor and Administrator, Sir Francis Burt, constituted the Ministry. He designated 17 principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to their positions, and served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 5 February 1991. 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 and Treasurer Minister for Public Sector Management Minister for the Family Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Minister for Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Minister for Women's Interests | Dr Carmen Lawrence, BPsych, PhD, MLA |
Deputy Premier Minister for Finance and Economic Development Minister for Trade Minister for State Development Minister for the Goldfields Minister for the Mid-West | Ian Taylor, B.Econ, JP, MLA |
Attorney-General Minister for Resources Minister for Corrective Services Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council | Joe Berinson, LL.B., QC, MLC |
Minister for Planning Minister for Lands Minister for Heritage Minister for the Arts Minister assisting the Minister for Women's Interests Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council | Kay Hallahan, BSW, JP, MLC |
Minister for Mines Minister for Fuel and Energy Minister for the Mid-West Minister for Small Business | Jeff Carr, BA, JP, MLA |
Minister for Resources and Trade Minister for the Arts | David Parker, BA, JP, MLA |
Minister for the Environment Minister for Conservation and Land Management Minister for Waterways Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly | Bob Pearce, BA, DipEd, JP, MLA |
| Minister for Health | Rev Keith Wilson, MLA |
Minister for Productivity and Labour Relations Minister assisting the Minister for Education with TAFE Minister assisting the Minister for Public Sector Management | Gavan Troy, B Bus, FAIM, JP, MLA |
Minister for Transport Minister for Racing and Gaming Minister for Tourism | Pam Beggs, JP, MLA |
Minister for Agriculture Minister for Water Resources Minister for the North-West | Ernie Bridge, JP, MLA |
Minister for Local Government Minister for Fisheries Minister for Sport and Recreation Minister for Youth | Gordon Hill, JP, MLA |
Minister for Police Minister for Emergency Services Minister for the Aged | Graham Edwards, MLC |
Minister for Housing Minister for Consumer Affairs | Yvonne Henderson, BA, DipEd, JP, MLA |
Minister for Community Services Minister for Justice Minister for the South-West | David Smith, LL.B., JP, MLA |
Minister for Works and Services Minister for Regional Development Minister assisting the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs | Pam Buchanan, JP, MLA |
Minister for Education Minister for Parliamentary and Electoral Reform Minister assisting the Treasurer | Dr Geoff Gallop, BEc, MA, MPhil, D.Phil., MLA |
Second Ministry
On 5 February 1991, the Governor, Sir Francis Burt, reconstituted the Ministry. He designated 16 principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the ministers to their positions. The appointed members remained Ministers until the end of the Lawrence Ministry on 16 February 1993.| Office | Minister |
Premier and Treasurer Deputy Premier Minister for Health Minister for State Development Minister for the Goldfields Minister for the Mid-West | Ian Taylor, B.Econ, JP, MLA |
Attorney-General Minister for Corrective Services Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council | Joe Berinson, LL.B., QC, MLC |
Minister for Education Minister for Employment and Training Minister for Training Minister for the Arts Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council | Kay Hallahan, BSW, JP, MLC |
Minister for the Environment Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly | Bob Pearce, BA, DipEd, JP, MLA |
| Minister for Health | Rev Keith Wilson, MLA |
Minister for Transport Minister for Racing and Gaming Minister for Tourism | Pam Beggs, JP, MLA |
Minister for Agriculture Minister for Water Resources Minister for the North-West | Ernie Bridge, JP, MLA |
Minister for Mines Minister for Small Business Minister for Fisheries Minister for Sport and Recreation Minister for the Mid-West Minister assisting the Minister for State Development Minister assisting the Minister for Trade and Investment | Gordon Hill, JP, MLA |
Minister for Police Minister for Emergency Services Minister for the Aged Minister for Sport and Recreation | Graham Edwards, MLC |
Minister for Productivity and Labour Relations Minister for Consumer Affairs | Yvonne Henderson, BA, DipEd, JP, MLA |
Minister for Lands Minister for Planning Minister for Justice Minister for Local Government Minister for the South-West | David Smith, LL.B., JP, MLA |
Minister for Fuel and Energy Minister for Microeconomic Reform Minister for Parliamentary and Electoral Reform Minister assisting the Treasurer | Dr Geoff Gallop, BEc, MA, MPhil, D.Phil., MLA |
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Minister for Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Minister for Seniors Minister assisting the Minister for Women's Interests Minister for Women's Interests | Dr Judyth Watson, Cert.Nurs.Ed., BSc, PhD, JP, MLA |
Minister for Community Services Minister for Disability Services Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly | Eric Ripper, BA, DipEd, MLA |
Minister for the Environment Minister for Housing Minister for Construction Minister for Services Minister for Heritage | Jim McGinty, BA, BJuris, JP, MLA |
Minister for Services Minister for the Goldfields Minister for the Mid-West | Tom Stephens, BA, MLC |
Parliamentary Secretaries | John Halden, MLC Mark Nevill, BSc, MLC Tom Stephens, BA, MLC |