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

State Government of Western Australia beginning 23 December 1901 - period in office of Premier Leake, George ending on 1 July 1902

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 (Morgans): Beginning of Leake's second period in office: 'At the ministerial by-elections following the change of government, three of Morgans's ministers lost their seats and Morgans no longer commanded a majority in the Legislative Assembly', Reid and Oliver, p. 112 (see 'Sources', below). 'Ministerial re-election had hitherto been a formality but on this occasion the most highly organised and party-like campaigning the State had yet seen led to three of the six Ministers being defeated. Morgans in turn asked for a dissolution and, when this was refused, he resigned after only a month as Premier', de Garis p. 83 (see 'References', below).

Although [Leake] also lacked the support of a majority of the Legislative Assembly, he was able to reform a ministry which was almost identical with his previous one', Hughes and Graham, p. 225 (see 'Sources', below).

Death of Premier: 'In the early months of 1902 it seemed that political tranquility had returned, but in June George Leake died, unexpectedly and suddenly, at the age of only 45', de Garis, p. 83 (see 'References', below).

Ministerialists: During the 1890s, factional politics 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 (p. 224, see 'Sources', below) label the Leake ministry as 'Liberal', but the term reflects the predisposition of the Premier and his supporting group rather than a party organization.

For the emergence of political parties in Western Australia, see Brian de Garis, 'Western Australia', in P Loveday, A W Martin and R S Parker (editors), The Emergence of the Australian Party System, pp 298-354 (Sydney: Hale & Iremonger, 1977, ISBN 0908094035).

References: For a study of the style of parliamentary politics at the time, see Brian de Garis, 'Self-Government and the Emergence of Political Parties, 1890-1911', in David Black (editor), The House on the Hill: A History of the Parliament of Western Australia 1832-1990, pp 63-95, (Perth: Western Australian Parliamentary History Project, Parliament of Western Australia, 1991, ISBN 0730939839), and note C T Stannage, 'The Composition of the Western Australian Parliament 1890-1911', University Studies in History, 4 (3), 1965: 85-94.

Summary information on Western Australian premiers from 1890 to 1982 and a short essay, 'The Premiers -- An Introductory Comment', can be found in Reid and Oliver (see 'Sources', below).

For a survey of Leake's career, see B K de Garis, 'Leake, George (1856 - 1902)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10, pp 37-39, (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1986), on line at:
http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A100035b.htm?hilite=Leake

Sources

Colin A Hughes and B D Graham, A Handbook of Australian Government and Politics 1890-1964, (Canberra: Australian National University Press, 1968, SBN 708102700); John Mandy and David Black (editors),The Western Australian Parliamentary Handbook Centenary Edition, (Perth: Parliamentary History Project, Parliament of Western Australia, 1990, ISBN 0731697847); G S Reid and M R Oliver, The Premiers of Western Australia 1890-1982, (Perth: University of Western Australia Press, 1982, ISBN 0855642149).