State Government of Western Australia beginning 31 July 1945 - period in office of Premier Wise, Frank Joseph Scott ending on 1 April 1947
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WA 15 March 1947 | Frank Joseph Scott Wise | Australian Labor Party | Duncan Ross McLarty | Liberal Party |
Previous period in this series for WA | Next period in this series for WA
Notes
Change of party leader: Beginning of Wise's period in office: 'Willcock resigned as party leader on 31 July 1945 on grounds of ill-health. Caucus elected Wise leader and filled the vacancy in the ministry', Hughes and Graham, p. 234 (see 'Sources', below).
Loss of general election: 'Following the election on 15 March 1947 there was a possible deadlock in the Legislative Assembly. ... On 28 March it was confirmed that the two Opposition parties would have an absolute majority [when supported by at least one of the two Independent members], and on 1 April Wise resigned and the Governor sent for McLarty', Hughes and Graham, p. 235 (see 'Sources', below).
References: For a study of the style of parliamentary politics at the time, see David Black, 'Factionalism and Stability, 1911-1947', in David Black (editor), The House on the Hill: A History of the Parliament of Western Australia 1832-1990, pp 97-151, (Perth: Western Australian Parliamentary History Project, Parliament of Western Australia, 1991, ISBN 0730939839).
Note also, R F Pervan, 'Cabinet and Caucus: Labor in Western Australia, 1933-1947', University Studies in History, [University of Western Australia], 5(1) 1967: 1-37.
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).
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).