Australian Politics and Elections Archive 1856-2018
The University of Western Australia

State Government of Tasmania beginning 14 April 1894 - period in office of Premier Braddon, Edward Nicholas Coventry ending on 12 October 1899

Period in office of premier (see Glossary entry for 'period in office' and related terms)

Parliamentary support during period

Number of ministers at beginning of period (this may vary during the period)

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Notes

Defeat in Parliament (Dobson): 'When Dobson's financial measures were rejected by the Legislative Council he obtained a dissolution. The December 1893 elections produced few changes and after one adverse vote during the second reading of the Land Tax Bill Dobson resigned on the ground that he could not carry on the government efficiently, advising the Governor to send again for Fysh. Fysh declined and Braddon, Leader of the Opposition in the House, was then commissioned. Braddon held a meeting of his supporters which elected the members of the cabinet', Hughes and Graham, p. 254 (see 'Sources', below).

Defeat in Parliament (Braddon): 'On 6 October 1899 Braddon's ministery was defeated 18-17 on a mtion of no confidence arising from the report of a select committee on the Strahan Marine Board, and he resigned. ... Bird, who had moved the motion, was not prepared to take office himself, but held a party meeting on 10 October which chose the cabinet, and then advised the Governor to send for Lewis, who was commissioned', Hughes and Graham, p. 254 (see 'Sources', below).

Ministerialists: During the 1890s, the factional politics of previous years began to give way to political groupings and electoral organizations which foreshadowed the emergence of modern political parties. But these groupings were still fluid. The term ministerialists is often applied to groupings which, for a variety of reasons, supported a particular government. Hughes and Graham label the Braddon ministry as Liberal (p. 254, see 'Sources', below) but the term reflects the predisposition of the premier rather than a party organization.

For the emergence of political parties in Tasmania, see Patrick Weller, 'Tasmania' in P Loveday, A W Martin and R S Parker (editors), The Emergence of the Australian Party System, pp 355-382 (Sydney: Hale & Iremonger, 1977, ISBN 0908094035), and R P Davis, 'Tasmania', in D J Murphy (editor), Labor in Politics: The State Labor Parties in Australia 1880-1920, pp 389-445, (St Lucia, Qld: University of Queensland Press, 1975, ISBN 0702209392).

References: For a description of the style of parliamentary government in this period, see John Reynolds, 'Premiers and Political Leaders', in F C Green (editor), Tasmania: A Century of Responsible Government 1856-1956, pp 192-203, (Hobart: L G Shea, Government Printer, [1956]), and note Terry Newman, Tasmanian Premiers 1856-1988: A Biographical Handbook, (Hobart: Tasmanian Parliamentary Library, [1988]).

For a survey of Braddon's career, see Scott Bennett, 'Braddon, Sir Edward Nicholas Coventry (1829 - 1904)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 7, pp 378-380, (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1979), on line at: http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A070389b.htm

Sources

'Ministries: Names of the Members of Successive Ministries which have held Office in Tasmania since the inauguration of Responsible Government, together with the Dates of Appointment and Retirement', Journal of House of Assembly, Second Session of the Forty-Fifth Parliament of Tasmania, Anno LIII and LV Eliz II; Session 2 of the 45th Parliament, Volume 251, 2004-2006, (Hobart: Government Printer, Tasmania); and Colin A Hughes and B D Graham, A Handbook of Australian Government and Politics 1890-1964, (Canberra: Australian National University Press, 1968, SBN 708102700).