Second Hughes ministry explained

See also: Billy Hughes.

Cabinet Name:	Second Hughes ministry
Cabinet Type:	Ministry
Cabinet Number:	12th
Jurisdiction:	Australia
Flag:	Flag of Australia.svg
Flag Border:	true
Date Formed:	14 November 1916
Date Dissolved:	17 February 1917
Government Head:	Billy Hughes
State Head:	George V
Governor General:	Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson
Members Number:	11
Political Party:	National Labor
Legislature Status:	Minority government (Liberal support)
Opposition Party:	Labor
Opposition Leader:	Frank Tudor
Legislature Term:	6th
Predecessor:	First Hughes ministry
Successor:	Third Hughes ministry
State Head Title:	Monarch
Government Head Title:	Prime Minister

The Second Hughes ministry (National Labor) was the 12th ministry of the Government of Australia. It was led by the country's 7th Prime Minister, Billy Hughes. The Second Hughes ministry succeeded the First Hughes ministry, which dissolved on 14 November 1916 following the split that took place within the governing Labor Party over the issue of conscription. This led to Hughes and his supporters leaving the party to form the National Labor Party, which swiftly received parliamentary support from Joseph Cook and the Liberal Party. The ministry was replaced by the Third Hughes ministry on 17 February 1917 after National Labor and Commonwealth Liberal merged into the Nationalist Party.^[1]

Billy Hughes, who died in 1952, was the last surviving member of the Second Hughes ministry; Hughes was also the last surviving member of the Watson ministry, First Fisher ministry, Third Fisher ministry and Third Hughes ministry.

Ministry

Party		Minister	Portrait	Portfolio
		National Labor	Rt Hon Billy Hughes for West Sydney		Prime Minister Leader of the National Labor Party Attorney-General
			Hon Alexander Poynton for Grey		Treasurer
			Hon Fred Bamford for Herbert		Minister for Home and Territories
			Hon George Pearce Senator for Western Australia		Deputy Leader of the National Labor Party Minister for Defence Leader of the Government in the Senate
			Hon Jens Jensen for Bass		Minister for the Navy
			Hon Patrick Lynch Senator for Western Australia		Minister for Works and Railways
			Hon William Archibald for Hindmarsh		Minister for Trade and Customs
			Hon William Webster for Gwydir
			Hon William Spence for Darling		Vice-President of the Executive Council
			Hon Edward Russell Senator for Victoria		Assistant Minister
			Hon William Laird Smith for Denison		Assistant Minister

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ministries and Cabinets . Parliamentary Handbook . . 17 September 2010 .