Fuller ministry (1922–1925) explained

Cabinet Name:Fuller ministry
Cabinet Number:41st
Jurisdiction:the State of New South Wales
Flag Border:true
Date Formed:13 April 1922
Date Dissolved:17 June 1925
Government Head:Sir George Fuller
Government Head Title:Premier
State Head:George V
State Head Title:Monarch
Governor: /
Members Number:12
Legislature Status:Majority government
Opposition Leader:James Dooley / Greg McGirr / Bill Dunn / Jack Lang
Election:1922 New South Wales election
Previous:Dooley ministry (1921–1922)
Successor:Lang ministry (1925–1927)

The Fuller ministry (1922–1925) or Second Fuller ministry was the 41st ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 22nd Premier, Sir George Fuller. This ministry was the second of two occasions where Fuller was Premier.

Fuller was first elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1889, defeated in 1894, elected to the House of Representatives in 1901, defeated in 1914, and re-elected to the Assembly in 1917 and serving until 1928.[1] Fuller becoming leader of the Nationalist Party following the 1920 state election. 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.[2]

James Dooley became Premier following the death of John Story. In December 1921 Fuller indicated to Levy that it was likely he could form a coalition with the Progressives and Levy resigned as speaker on 12 December 1921. Levy was replaced by Labor's Simon Hickey and the government was defeated on the floor of the house 44 votes to 45.[3] The Dooley ministry resigned and as a result Fuller was asked by Governor Sir Walter Davidson to form a government. The coalition did not have complete support, with Nationalists William Ashford and William Bagnall reportedly dissatisfied, while formal coalition was opposed by the True Blue members of the Progressive party, led by Michael Bruxner and Ernest Buttenshaw.[4] It is not clear who Fuller hoped would take the role of speaker, however when the Legislative Assembly resumed, Bagnall offered to accept the role of speaker. Rather than have Bagnall as speaker, Levy agreed to return to the role.[5] Fuller sought an early election, which was refused and the ministry resigned, seven hours after it was commissioned.[6]

Davidson commissioned Dooley to form a second ministry that lasted until the 1922 state election when Fuller was successful in defeating Dooley, with the Nationalists winning 41 seats, the Progressive Party 9 and Labor having 36 seats.[7]

The ministry covers the period from 13 April 1922 until 17 June 1925 when Fuller was defeated by Labor's Jack Lang at the 1925 state election.

Composition of ministry

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Fuller on 13 April 1922.

PortfolioMinisterPartyTerm commenceTerm endTerm of office
Premier 13 April 192217 June 1925
Chief Secretary
Minister of Public Health
, MLC
Treasurer14 February 1925
24 February 192517 June 1925
Attorney General, KC13 April 1922
Secretary for Lands
Minister for Forests
Secretary for Public Works
Minister for Railways
Minister for Housing
19 June 1922
28 June 192217 June 1925
Minister for Agriculture13 April 192228 June 1922
28 June 192217 June 1925
Minister of Justice13 April 1922
Minister of Public Instruction
Secretary for Mines
Minister for Local Government
John Fitzpatrick
Vice-president of the Executive Council
Representative of the Government in Legislative Council
, MLC
Minister for Labour and IndustryErnest Farrar, MLC
Honorary Minister, MLC4 March 1924
 Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.

See also

References

 

Notes and References

  1. Sir George Warburton Fuller (1861–1940) . 1075 . Yes . 11 May 2019.
  2. Election of speaker . PDF . New South Wales . Legislative Assembly . 27 April 1920 . 18 . 33 . Fitzpatrick, John . John Fitzpatrick (New South Wales politician) . 2021-11-02.
  3. Resignation of speaker . PDF . New South Wales . Legislative Assembly . 12 December 1921 . 2598 . 2602 . 2021-11-02.
  4. News: Why the progressives refuse to join the coalition . . 3 February 1922 . 3 November 2021 . 2 . Trove.
  5. New ministry . PDF . New South Wales . Legislative Assembly . 20 December 1921 . 2617 . 2622 . 2021-11-02.
  6. News: State politics . . 22 December 1921 . 3 November 2021 . 2 . Trove.
  7. 1922 election totals . Totals . 1922 . 2021-11-15.