Third Robertson ministry | |
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15th Cabinet of the Colony of New South Wales | |
Date formed | 9 February 1875 |
Date dissolved | 21 March 1877 |
People and organisations | |
Head of state | Queen Victoria (represented by Sir Hercules Robinson) |
Head of government | John Robertson |
No. of ministers | 8 |
Member party | unaligned |
Status in legislature | Minority government |
Opposition party | unaligned |
Opposition leader | Henry Parkes |
History | |
Predecessor | First Parkes ministry |
Successor | Second Parkes ministry |
The third Robertson ministry was the fifteenth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by John Robertson. It was the third of five occasions that Robertson was Premier. Robertson was elected in the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held in March 1856.
The title of Premier was widely used to refer to the Leader of Government, but not a formal position in the ministry until 1920.
There was no party system in New South Wales politics until 1887. Under the constitution, ministers were required to resign to recontest their seats in a by-election when appointed. [1] Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested and on this occasion the ministers were all re-elected unopposed. [2]
In 1876 William Forster was appointed Agent-General for New South Wales in London and was replaced as Colonial Treasurer by Alexander Stuart. [3] In January 1877 Thomas Garrett was accused of bribery in relation to positions within the Department of Lands, and insobriety affecting his capacity to fulfill his responsibilities as minister. [4] Garrett resigned as minister and the government narrowly survived a censure motion by 29 votes to 26. [5] Ezekiel Baker replaced Garrett as Secretary for Lands. [3]
This ministry covers the period from 9 February 1875 until 21 March 1877, when Robertson was unable to obtain supply and resigned when Henry Parkes indicated that he was able to form a government. [3] [6] [7]
Portfolio | Minister | Term start | Term end | Term length |
---|---|---|---|---|
Premier Colonial Secretary | John Robertson | 9 February 1875 | 21 March 1877 | 2 years, 40 days |
Colonial Treasurer | William Forster | 7 February 1876 | 363 days | |
Alexander Stuart | 8 February 1876 | 21 March 1877 | 1 year, 41 days | |
Minister of Justice and Public Instruction Representative of the Government in the Legislative Council | Joseph Docker MLC | 9 February 1875 | 2 years, 40 days | |
Secretary for Lands | Thomas Garrett | 5 February 1877 | 1 year, 362 days | |
Ezekiel Baker | 6 February 1877 | 21 March 1877 | 43 days | |
Secretary for Public Works | John Lackey | 9 February 1875 | 2 years, 40 days | |
Attorney General | William Dalley MLC [lower-alpha 1] | |||
Secretary for Mines | John Lucas | |||
Postmaster-General | John Burns |
Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.
Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly who served in the eighth parliament of New South Wales held their seats from 1874 to 1877.</ref> The 1874–75 election was held between 8 December 1874 and 12 January 1875 with parliament first meeting on 27 January 1875. There were 72 members elected for 52 single member electorates, 6 two member electorates and 2 four member electorates. During this parliament the number of graduates of Sydney University exceeded 100 and the seat of University of Sydney was created. The maximum term of this parliament was 3 years and the assembly was dissolved after 34 months. Premiers during this parliament were Sir John Robertson 9 February 1875 till 22 March 1877 and from 17 August 1877 and Sir Henry Parkes 22 March 1877 till 17 August 1877. The Speaker was William Arnold until his death on 1 March 1875 and then George Allen.
The second Cowper ministry was the fourth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and second occasion of being led by Charles Cowper.
The third Cowper ministry was the seventh ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and third occasion of being led by Charles Cowper.
The second Parkes ministry was the sixteenth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by Sir Henry Parkes. It was the second of five occasions that Parkes was Leader of the Government.
The fourth Robertson ministry was the seventeenth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by Sir John Robertson. It was the fourth of five occasions that Robertson led the Government. Robertson was elected in the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held in March 1856.
The third Parkes ministry was the nineteenth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by Sir Henry Parkes in a coalition with Sir John Robertson. It was the third of five occasions that Parkes was Leader of the Government.
The fifth Parkes ministry was the 26th ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by the seventh Premier, Sir Henry Parkes. It was the fifth and final occasion that Parkes was Premier. The title of Premier was widely used to refer to the Leader of Government, but was not a formal position in the government until 1920. Instead the Premier was appointed to another portfolio, usually Colonial Secretary. Having served in the New South Wales Legislative Council between 1854 and 1856, Parkes was elected in the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held in 1856, however resigned from Parliament later that year. He served in the Assembly on several occasions, between 1858 and 1870, being forced to resign on 4 occasions due to his personal insolvency. He came to power as Premier on the first occasion in 1872, serving as Premier for a period of three years. However, Parkes lost the confidence of the Assembly following Governor Robinson's decision to release of the bushranger Frank Gardiner led to the defeat of the ministry in 1875.
The third Dibbs ministry, the 27th ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, was led by Sir George Dibbs, leader of the Protectionist Party, following the 1891 New South Wales election, which saw the Labour Party win seats in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and the balance of power. With no party having a majority, Sir Henry Parkes held on as Premier until October 1891 when he lost a vote in the Legislative Assembly, causing Parkes to resign as Premier and leader of the Free Trade Party. Dibbs formed the ministry on 23 October 1891, with Labour support, and comprised 10 ministers.
The Lyne ministry was the 29th ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by the 13th Premier, Sir William Lyne, KCMG.
William George Ashford was an Australian politician.
John Davies , was a member of the Parliament of New South Wales.
Thomas Garrett was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, newspaper proprietor and land agent.
Ezekiel Alexander Baker was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.
James Watson was an Australian politician, Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales 1878 to 1883.
John Fitzgerald Burns was an Australian politician, member of the Parliament of New South Wales, Postmaster-General in the 1870s and Colonial Treasurer in the 1880s.
A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Orange on 30 August 1877. The by-election was triggered because Edward Combes had been appointed Secretary for Public Works in the fourth Robertson ministry. Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested however on this occasion, only Thomas Garrett (Camden) and Ezekiel Baker were unopposed. While the other ministers, John Robertson, John Davies, John Lackey and William Long were opposed, all were re-elected.
A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Central Cumberland on 31 August 1877 because the seats of William Long and John Lackey were declared vacant as they had been appointed to positions in the fourth Robertson ministry. Long was appointed Colonial Treasurer, and Lackey was appointed Minister of Justice and Public Instruction. Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested however on this occasion, only Thomas Garrett (Camden) and Ezekiel Baker were unopposed. While the other ministers, John Robertson, John Davies and Edward Combes (Orange) were opposed, all were re-elected.
A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of West Sydney on 15 July 1877 because Sir John Robertson was appointed Colonial Secretary, forming the fourth Robertson ministry. Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested however on this occasion a poll was required in Central Cumberland, East Sydney, Orange and West Sydney. Each minister was comfortably re-elected. Only Camden and Goldfields South were uncontested.
A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Redfern on 9 March 1886 because Arthur Renwick was appointed Minister of Public Instruction in the ministry of Sir Patrick Jennings. Under the constitution, ministers in the Legislative Assembly were required to resign to recontest their seats in a by-election when appointed. Such ministerial by-elections were usually uncontested and on this occasion a poll was required for Redfern and Bathurst where Francis Suttor was easily re-elected. The 7 other ministers were re-elected unopposed.
A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Northumberland on 12 February 1877 because Charles Stevens was insolvent. Stevens had left the colony on an expedition to recover valuable property, including 2,576 ounces of gold from the General Grant, which wrecked off Auckland Island.
Preceded by First Parkes ministry | Third Robertson ministry 1875–1877 | Succeeded by Second Parkes ministry |