State Government of Victoria beginning 28 April 1924 - period in office of Premier Peacock, Alexander James ending on 18 July 1924
Period in office of premier (see Glossary entry for 'period in office' and related terms)
Parliamentary support during period
Coalition partner 1
Number of ministers at beginning of period (this may vary during the period)
Assembly elections contested as premier or after which became premier (see Glossary entry for 'after election')
| Election | Premier at election | Premier's party | Premier after election | Premier's party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIC 26 June 1924 | Alexander James Peacock | National Party (Nationalists) | Alexander James Peacock | National Party (Nationalists) |
| VIC 15 November 1917 | Alexander James Peacock | Liberal Party | John Bowser | National Party (Nationalists) |
| VIC 26 November 1914 | Alexander James Peacock | Liberal Party | Alexander James Peacock | Liberal Party |
Previous period in this series for VIC | Next period in this series for VIC
Notes
Change of party leader (Lawson): Beginning of Peacock's third period in office; 'In April 1924 talks were begun about the possibility of arranging another National-Country Party coalition, but Lawson's unpopularity amongst Country Party members proved an obstacle. A meeting of the National Party [Nationalists] on 23 April, while expressing its confidence in Lawson as Premier, at the same time assured him of its support if he wished to stand for the office of Speaker which was then vacant. On the 24th Lawson announced his willingness to resign and stand for the Speakership. Peacock was then elected leader of the National Party [Nationalists] and was commissioned to form the new ministry, which closely resembled its predecessor, most of the ministers having been requested by the Governor to retain their offices in the new administration.' Hughes and Graham, pp 121-122 (see 'Sources', below).
Defeat in parliament (Peacock): 'After the [Assembly] election of 26 June 1924, Peacock explored the possibility of forming another coalition with the Country Party. Finding the latter's terms unacceptable, the Government met the Assembly and was defeated on a Labor no confidence motion carried on 16 July 43-16 by the combined votes of the Country and Labor parties. Peacock immediately resigned his commission, ...' Hughes and Graham, p.122 (see 'Sources', below); Victoria Parliamentary Debates, 1924 Session, vol. 164, 16 july 1924, pp 42-56.
References: For a study of Peacock's periods in office, see John Chesterman, 'Alexander Peacock: The Laughing Pragmatist', in Strangio and Costar (editors), ch. 11, (see 'Sources', below). A survey of Peacock's career can be found in Alan Gregory, 'Peacock, Sir Alexander James (1861–1933)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 11, (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1988), on line here [accessed 31 March 2014].
Sources
Colin Hughes and B D Graham (editors), A Handbook of Australian Government and Politics 1890-1964, (Canberra: Australian National University Press, 1968, SBN 708102700); Parliament of Victoria, One Hundred Years of Responsible Government 1856-1956, (Melbourne: Government Printer, 1957, Parliamentary Paper No. 40 of 1956-58); Paul Strangio and Brian Costar (editors), The Victorian Premiers 1856-2006, (Sydney: Federation Press, 2006, ISBN 9781862876019); Raymond Wright, A People's Counsel: A History of the Parliament of Victoria 1856-1990, (Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1992, ISBN 0195533593). Victoria Hansard (Record of Parliamentary Debates) on line here .
In consulting these sources, note the difference between ministries and periods in office.