The McLarty–Watts Ministry was the 21st Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, led by Liberal Premier Sir Ross McLarty and his deputy, Country Party leader Arthur Watts. It succeeded the Wise Ministry on 1 April 1947, following the defeat of the Labor government at the 1947 election two weeks earlier. It was significant in that it included in Florence Cardell-Oliver not only the oldest person, at age 70, to receive their first appointment to a ministerial post in Western Australia, but also the first female cabinet minister in Australia.
The ministry was followed by the Hawke Ministry on 23 February 1953 after the Coalition lost government at the state election held on 14 February.
First Ministry On 1 April 1947, the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir James Mitchell, constituted the Ministry. He designated eight principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to their positions, who served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 7 October 1949. Two honorary members were also appointed.Hansard Index for 1947–1949, "Legislature of Western Australia"
The list below is ordered by decreasing seniority within the Cabinet, as indicated by the Government Gazette and the Hansard index. Blue entries indicate members of the Liberal Party, whilst green entries indicate members of the National Country Party. The members of the Ministry were:
Office MinisterPremier Treasurer Minister for Housing (until 5 January 1948) Minister for Forests (until 5 January 1948) Minister for the North-West Ross McLarty, MM, MLADeputy Premier Minister for Education Minister for Industrial Development Minister for Local Government Arthur Watts, CMG, MLAMinister for Native Affairs
(until 5 January 1948:) Attorney-General Minister for Police
(from 5 January 1948) Minister for Forests Minister for Housing Robert Ross McDonald, KC, LL.B., MLAMinister for Lands Minister for Labour Minister for Agriculture (until 5 January 1948) Lindsay Thorn, MLAMinister for Mines Minister for Health (until 5 January 1948)
(from 5 January 1948:) Chief Secretary Minister for Police Hubert Parker, DSO, VD, MLCMinister for Works Minister for Water Supplies Victor Doney, MLAChief Secretary (until 5 January 1948) Attorney-General (from 5 January 1948) Minister for Health (from 5 January 1948) Minister for Fisheries Arthur Abbott, MLAMinister for Transport Minister for Railways Harrie Seward, MLAHonorary Minister for Supply and Shipping Florence Cardell-Oliver, MLAHonorary Minister for Agriculture (from 5 January 1948) Garnet Barrington Wood, MLC
First Ministry (reconstituted)
On 7 October 1949, the Governor, Sir James Mitchell, reconstituted the Ministry. He designated eight principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to their positions, who served until the Ministry was reformed on 6 April 1950 after the 1950 election. As previously, two honorary ministers were appointed, with David Brand replacing Robert Ross McDonald in the Ministry.
Office MinisterPremier Treasurer Minister for Forests Minister for the North-West Ross McLarty, MM, MLADeputy Premier Minister for Education Minister for Industrial Development Minister for Housing Arthur Watts, CMG, MLAChief Secretary Minister for Mines Minister for Police Minister for Native Affairs Hubert Parker, DSO, VD, MLCMinister for Lands Minister for Labour Lindsay Thorn, MLAAttorney-General Minister for Fisheries Minister for Prices Arthur Abbott, MLAMinister for Works Minister for Water Supplies Victor Doney, MLAMinister for Supply and Shipping Minister for Health Florence Cardell-Oliver, MLAMinister for Transport Minister for Railways Harrie Seward, MLAHonorary Minister for Housing, Forests and Local Government David Brand, MLAHonorary Minister for Agriculture Garnet Barrington Wood, MLC
Second Ministry
On 6 April 1950, the Governor, Sir James Mitchell, constituted the Ministry. He designated eight principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to their positions, who served until the end of the Ministry. On 24 October 1950, following the assent of the Acts Amendment (Increase in number of Ministers of the Crown) Act 1950 (No.2 of 1950), the Ministry was expanded to 10 members and the two Honorary Ministers were promoted. The listed Ministers served until the end of the Ministry on 23 February 1953.
Office MinisterPremier Treasurer
(until 24 October 1950:) Minister for Forests Minister for the North-West (also from 17 January 1952) Ross McLarty, MM, MLADeputy Premier Minister for Education Minister for Child Welfare Minister for Industrial Development Arthur Watts, CMG, MLAMinister for Works Minister for Water Supplies Minister for Housing (until 24 October 1950) David Brand, MLAMinister for Lands Minister for Labour Minister for Immigration Lindsay Thorn, MLAAttorney-General Minister for Police Minister for Fisheries Arthur Abbott, MLAChief Secretary Minister for Local Government Minister for Native Affairs Victor Doney, MLAMinister for Health Minister for Supply and Shipping Dame Florence Cardell-Oliver, DBE, MLAMinister for Transport Minister for Railways Minister for Mines Charles Simpson, MLCHonorary Minister for Agriculture and North-West (until 24 October 1950) Minister for Agriculture (24 October 1950 – 17 January 1952) Minister for the North-West (24 October 1950 – 17 January 1952) Garnet Barrington Wood, MLC(until 3 January 1952)On 3 January 1952, Garnet Barrington Wood died while attending a Cabinet meeting in the Treasury building. However, he formally remained a Minister until 17 January.Honorary Minister for Housing and Mines (until 24 October 1950)
(from 24 October 1950:) Minister for Housing Minister for Forests Gerald Wild, MBE, MLAMinister for Agriculture Sir Charles Latham, MLC(from 17 January 1952)
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