The Dowding Ministry was the 30th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, and was led by Labor Premier Peter Dowding and his deputy, David Parker. It succeeded the Burke Ministry on 25 February 1988, upon the retirement of Brian Burke from politics on the fifth anniversary of his becoming Premier.

The Ministry was reconstituted on 28 February 1989 following the 1989 election, due in part to the defeat of one minister, Barry Hodge (MLA for Melville), and the Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet, John Read (MLA for Mandurah), by opposition Liberal candidates.

The second term of the Ministry was a particularly difficult one due to ongoing revelations relating to the government's past dealings with relation to WA Inc, and with a federal election approaching, considerable pressure was being exerted on the State Government. On 7 February 1990, a majority of the 47-member Labor caucus signed an open letter calling on Dowding to step down, and in a caucus meeting on 12 February 1990, Dowding and Parker resigned[citation needed]. The Ministry was succeeded six days later by the Lawrence Ministry led by the Minister for Education and Aboriginal Affairs, Dr Carmen Lawrence, and her deputy, Ian Taylor[citation needed].

Members

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First Ministry

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On 25 February 1988, the Governor, Gordon Reid, designated 17 principal executive offices of the Government under section 43(2) of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899. The following ministers were then appointed to the positions, and served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 28 February 1989.

The members of the First Dowding Ministry were:

Office Minister

Premier and Treasurer
Minister for Productivity
Minister for Public Sector Management
Minister for Women's Interests

Peter Dowding, LL.B., MLA

Deputy Premier
Minister for Economic Development and Trade

David Parker, BA, JP, MLA

Attorney-General
Minister for Budget Management
Minister for Corrective Services
Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council

Joe Berinson, LL.B., QC, MLC

Minister for Community Services
Minister for the Family
Minister for Youth
Minister for the Aged
Minister assisting the Minister for Women's Interests
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council

Kay Hallahan, BSW, JP, MLC

Minister for Mines
Minister for Local Government
Minister for Regional Development

Jeff Carr, BA, JP, MLA

Minister for Transport
Minister for Planning
Minister for Parliamentary and Electoral Reform
Minister for Intergovernmental Relations
Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly

Bob Pearce, BA, DipEd, JP, MLA

Minister for the Environment
Minister for Conservation and Land Management
Minister for Waterways

Barry Hodge, MLA [2]

Minister for Agriculture
Minister for the South-West
Minister for Fisheries
Minister assisting the Minister
   for Economic Development and Trade [1]

Julian Grill, LL.B., JP, MLA
Minister for Health Rev Keith Wilson, MLA

Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Minister assisting the Treasurer

Ian Taylor, B.Econ (Hons), JP, MLA

Minister for Housing
Minister for Tourism
Minister for Racing and Gaming

Pam Beggs, JP, MLA

Minister for Labour
Minister for Works and Services
Minister assisting the Minister
   for Productivity and Public Sector Management

Gavan Troy, B Bus, FAIM, JP, MLA

Minister for Water Resources
Minister for Small Business
Minister for the North-West
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs

Ernie Bridge, MLA

Minister for Employment and Training
Minister for Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs
Minister assisting the Minister of Education with TAFE

Gordon Hill, JP, MLA

Minister for Consumer Affairs
Minister for Sport and Recreation

Graham Edwards, MLC

Minister for Lands
Minister for the Arts

Yvonne Henderson, BA, DipEd, JP, MLA
Minister for Education Dr Carmen Lawrence, BPsych, PhD, MLA
1 On 7 June 1988, Julian Grill became, in addition to his earlier responsibilities, Minister assisting the Minister for Economic Development and Trade.
2 On 4 February 1989, Barry Hodge ceased to be a Member of the Legislative Assembly, having lost the seat of Melville, but continued to hold a position in the Ministry until a caucus meeting was held to reconstitute the Ministry.

Second Ministry

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On 28 February 1989, the Governor, Gordon Reid, reconstituted the Ministry. He designated 17 principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to the positions, who served until the Lawrence Ministry was established on 19 February 1990.

On 12 February 1990, Premier Peter Dowding resigned all of his ministerial portfolios, being replaced in them temporarily by Carmen Lawrence, who retained Education and Aboriginal Affairs. Deputy Premier David Parker resigned purely as Deputy Premier, retaining the Treasury, Resources Development and the Arts; Ian Taylor became Deputy Premier and retained Police and Emergency Services, Conservation and Land Management and Waterways.

The members of the Ministry were:

Office Minister

Premier
Minister for Public Sector Management
Minister for Women's Interests

Peter Dowding, LL.B., MLA

Deputy Premier and Treasurer
Minister for Economic Development and Trade
Minister for the Arts

David Parker, BA, JP, MLA

Attorney-General
Minister for Budget Management
Minister for Corrective Services
Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council

Joe Berinson, LL.B., QC, MLC

Minister for Local Government
Minister for Lands
Minister for the Family
Minister for the Aged
Minister assisting the Minister for Women's Interests
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council

Kay Hallahan, BSW, JP, MLC

Minister for Housing
Minister for Planning

Pam Beggs, JP, MLA

Minister for Agriculture
Minister for Water Resources
Minister for the North-West

Ernie Bridge, MLA

Minister for Mines
Minister for Fuel and Energy
Minister for the Mid-West

Jeff Carr, BA, JP, MLA

Minister for Racing and Gaming
Minister for Sport and Recreation
Minister for Youth

Graham Edwards, MLC

Minister for Economic Development and Trade
Minister for Tourism

Julian Grill, LL.B., JP, MLA

Minister for Consumer Affairs
Minister for Works and Services

Yvonne Henderson, BA, DipEd, JP, MLA

Minister for Regional Development
Minister for Fisheries
Minister for Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs

Gordon Hill, JP, MLA

Minister for Education
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs

Dr Carmen Lawrence, BPsych, PhD, MLA

Minister for Transport
Minister for the Environment
Minister for Parliamentary and Electoral Reform
Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly

Bob Pearce, BA, DipEd, JP, MLA

Minister for Community Services
Minister for Justice
Minister for the South-West

David Smith, LL.B., JP, MLA

Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Minister for Conservation and Land Management
Minister for Waterways

Ian Taylor, B.Econ (Hons), JP, MLA

Minister for Labour
Minister for Employment and Training
Minister for Productivity
Minister assisting the Minister of Education with TAFE

Gavan Troy, B Bus, FAIM, JP, MLA
Minister for Health Rev Keith Wilson, MLA

References

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  • Hansard Indexes for 1988–1990, "Legislature of Western Australia"
  • "No.20 (Special)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 26 February 1988. p. 1988:589-597.
  • "Department of the Premier". Western Australia Government Gazette. 10 June 1988. p. 1988:1899.
  • "No.21 (Special)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 2 March 1989. p. 1989:663-664.
  • "No.20 (Special)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 26 February 1988. p. 1988:589-597.
  • "Department of the Premier". Western Australia Government Gazette. 10 June 1988. p. 1988:1899.
  • "No.21 (Special)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 2 March 1989. p. 1989:663-664.
  • "No.14 (Special)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 13 February 1990. p. 1990:943.
  • Oswald, Franz (December 1990). "Australian Political Chronicle: January-June 1990". Australian Journal of Politics and History. 36 (3): 447. ISSN 0004-9522.
Preceded by Dowding Ministry
1988-1990
Succeeded by