Dibbs ministry (1891–94)

The third Dibbs ministry, the 27th ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, was led by 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. The ministry was formed on 23 October 1891, with Labour support, and comprised 10 ministers.

Third Dibbs ministry
27th Cabinet of the Colony of New South Wales
Premier Sir George Dibbs and the Colony of New South Wales (1863–1900)
Date formed23 October 1891 (1891-10-23)
Date dissolved2 August 1894 (1894-08-02)
People and organisations
Head of stateQueen Victoria (represented by The Earl of Jersey, and subsequently Sir Robert Duff)
Head of governmentSir George Dibbs
No. of ministers10
Member partyProtectionist Party
Status in legislatureMinority government
Opposition partyFree Trade Party
Opposition leaderGeorge Reid
History
PredecessorFifth Parkes ministry
SuccessorReid ministry

In December 1893, Dibs suffered a vote of censure in the Legislative Assembly, and persuaded Governor Robert Duff on 8 December 1893 to prorogue parliament. The Legislative Assembly was dissolved on 25 June 1894, and a general election was held on 27 July 1894, at which Dibb failed to carry the vote. Although he had lost control of the Assembly, Dibbs said he would not resign until after parliament had reconvened, but the Governor forced his hand. Dibbs sought the appointment of several persons by the Governor to the then fully appointed Legislative Council, which Duff refused to do, on the ground that the ministry had been condemned by the colony. In consequence, Dibbs and the ministers resigned on 2 August 1894.[1][2]

Dibbs was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1874 and served as Premier on three occasions. This was the third and final occasion that Dibbs led a ministry. Dibbs took over as premier on the first occasion in October 1885 following the resignation of Alexander Stuart due to ill-health, with his ministry lasting for 75 days. This was a period of great financial stress for the colony. Dibbs served as colonial secretary in the Jennings ministry, before it too suffered budgetary pressures. It was during this time that the party system was formed in New South Wales with Dibbs aligning himself with the Protectionist Party. His second term as premier lasted for just 49 days.[1][3][4]

The third Dibbs ministry was followed by the Reid ministry, led by George Reid, leader of the Free Trade Party.[5][6] The new parliament opened on 7 August.

Composition of ministry
Portfolio Minister Party Term start Term end Term length
Premier
Colonial Secretary
Registrar of Records		 Sir George Dibbs KCMG, MLA   Protectionist 23 October 1891 2 August 1894 2 years, 283 days
Colonial Treasurer
Collector of Internal Revenue		 John See MLA   Protectionist
Attorney General Edmund Barton QC, MLA   Protectionist 14 December 1893 2 years, 52 days
Charles Heydon MLC   Protectionist 15 December 1893 2 August 1894 230 days
Secretary for Lands Henry Copeland MLA   Protectionist 23 October 1891 2 years, 283 days
Secretary for Public Works William Lyne MLA   Protectionist
Minister of Justice Richard O'Connor MLC   Protectionist 14 December 1893 2 years, 52 days
Thomas Slattery MLA   Protectionist 15 December 1893 2 August 1894 230 days
Secretary for Mines and Agriculture 23 October 1891 2 years, 283 days
Minister of Public Instruction Francis Suttor MLA   Protectionist
Postmaster-General John Kidd MLA   Protectionist 27 October 1891 2 years, 279 days
Vice-President of the Executive Council
Representative of the Government in Legislative Council		 Sir Julian Salomons QC, MLC   Protectionist 23 October 1891 26 January 1893 1 year, 95 days
Normand MacLaurin MLC   Protectionist 5 April 1893 2 August 1894 1 year, 119 days

See also

References
  1. Mansfield, Bruce E. "Dibbs, Sir George Richard (1834–1904)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Melbourne University Press. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 20 August 2019 – via National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  2. "Part 6 Ministries since 1856" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  3. "Sir George Richard Dibbs (1834–1904)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  4. Serle, Percival (1949). "Dibbs, Sir George Richard (1834–1904)". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus and Robertson. Retrieved 18 July 2011.
  5. "Sir George Houston Reid (1845–1918)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  6. "Part 6: Ministries 1856 to the present" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
Preceded by
Fifth Parkes ministry		 Third Dibbs ministry
1891–1894		 Succeeded by
Reid ministry
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