The Willcock Ministry was the 19th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, and was led by Labor Premier John Willcock. It succeeded the Second Collier Ministry on 27 August 1936, upon the resignation of Philip Collier as Premier on ill health grounds. It became the longest-serving Labor ministry in Western Australia.

The ministry was followed by the Wise Ministry on 3 August 1945, four days after Willcock resigned as Premier and handed over to the Deputy Premier, Frank Wise.

First Ministry

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The following ministers served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 21 April 1939, following the 1939 state election. Selby Munsie, in parliament since 1911, died on 12 March 1938, creating a vacancy for Alexander Panton to be brought into the ministry. At the end of the term, Frank Troy, who had spent 35 years in Parliament as the member for Mount Magnet, was appointed Agent-General for Western Australia in London. He resigned from the Ministry on 3 March 1939, but the Ministry was not reshuffled due to the impending election on 18 March, and Frank Wise adopted Troy's roles in an acting capacity.

Office Minister

Premier
Colonial Treasurer
Minister for Forests

John Willcock, MLA

Minister for Lands
Minister for Immigration

Frank Troy, MLA

Minister for Mines
Minister for Health

Selby Munsie, MLA
(until 12 March 1938)

Minister for Works
Minister for Water Supplies

Harry Millington, MLA

Minister for Agriculture
Minister for Education
Minister for Police

Frank Wise, MLA

Minister for Employment
Minister for Labour

Bert Hawke, MLA

Chief Secretary

William Kitson, MLC

Minister for Justice
Minister for Railways

Frederick Smith, MLA

Minister for Mines
Minister for Health

Alexander Panton, MLA
(from 24 March 1938)
Minister without portfolio Edmund Gray, MLC

Second Ministry

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On 18 April 1939, the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir James Mitchell, designated 8 principal executive offices of the Government under section 43(2) of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899 and appointed the ministers to the positions.[1] They then served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 9 December 1943, following the 1943 state election.

Office Minister

Premier
Colonial Treasurer
Minister for Forests

John Willcock, MLA

Minister for Works
Minister for Water Supplies
Minister for Employment

Harry Millington, MLA

Minister for Lands
Minister for Agriculture

Frank Wise, MLA

Minister for Labour
Minister for Industrial Development
Minister for Post-War Reconstruction
  (from 10 February 1943)

Bert Hawke, MLA

Minister for Mines
Minister for Health

Alexander Panton, MLA

Chief Secretary
Minister for Education

William Kitson, MLC

Minister for Justice
Minister for Railways

Emil Nulsen, MLA

Minister for the North-West

Aubrey Coverley, MLA
Minister without portfolio Edmund Gray, MLC

Third Ministry

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On 9 December 1943, the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir James Mitchell, designated 8 principal executive offices of the Government under section 43(2) of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899 and appointed the ministers to the positions.[2] They then served until the end of the Ministry on 3 August 1945, following the resignation of John Willcock.

Office Minister

Premier
Colonial Treasurer

John Willcock, MLA
(until 31 July 1945)

Minister for Lands
Minister for Agriculture

Frank Wise, MLA

Minister for Works
Minister for Water Supplies
Minister for Industrial Development

Bert Hawke, MLA

Minister for Mines
Minister for Health

Alexander Panton, MLA

Chief Secretary
Minister for Police

William Kitson, MLC

Minister for Justice
Minister for Railways

Emil Nulsen, MLA

Minister for the North-West
Minister for Forests

Aubrey Coverley, MLA

Minister for Education
Minister for Social Services

John Tonkin, MLA
Minister without portfolio Edmund Gray, MLC

References

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  • Black, David; Bolton, Geoffrey (2001). Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia, Volume One, 1870–1930 (Revised ed.). Parliament House: Parliament of Western Australia. ISBN 0730738140.
  • Hansard Indexes for 1936-1945, "Legislature of Western Australia"
  • "Special". Western Australia Government Gazette. 27 August 1936. p. 1933:1936. Also 1938:462 (24 March 1938)
  1. ^ "Special". Western Australia Government Gazette. 21 April 1939. p. 1939:685.
  2. ^ "Special". Western Australia Government Gazette. 9 December 1943. p. 1943:1151.
Preceded by Willcock Ministry
1936–1945
Succeeded by