State Government of Victoria beginning 29 April 1857 - period in office of Premier Haines, William Clark ending on 10 March 1858
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 23 September 1856 | William Clark Haines | Support from parliamentary factions and independents |
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Notes
Defeat in parliament (O'Shanassy): Beginning of Haines second period in office; 'When parliament reassembled in Mid-April the numbers were against the government. A group led by Michie and McCulloch -- largely of mercantile non-conformist liberals, all abolitionists of state aide to religion -- which had voted against Haines, now rejoined him and arranged a new ministry', Serle, p.262 (see 'References', below). The government was defeated on a vote of no-confidence on 22 April 1857; Victorian Hansard (Argus Reports), 1856-7 vol. 2, 22 April 1857, pp 607-638. The new Haines ministry was commissioned on 29 April 1857.
With the support of McCulloch, '...the second Haines government was much more broadly based than the first, was strongly mercantile in interest with squatting and agricultural representation, and could expect support from all but the O'Shanassy-Duffy faction and the democratic left', Serle p.263 (see 'References', below).
Defeat in parliament (Haines): A variety of issues relating to parliamentary reform and and electoral redistribution divided both the Assembly and members of the government (Serle, pp 273-278, see 'References', below). The government was defeated on an amendment to the Assembly Members Increase Bill on 23 February 1858; 'Haines sounded out the governor on the possibility of calling an election, but he [Haines] was unable to guarantee the unity of his Cabinet if they went to the polls. Defeated in Parliament and divided among themselves, the government resigned', Waugh, p. 17 (see 'References', below). Haines tendered his resignation to the Governor on 24 February; Victorian Hansard (Argus Reports), 1857-1858 vol. 3, 24 February 1858, p.316.
References: For a detailed study of parliamentary government in Victoria during this period, see, Geoffrey Serle, The Golden Age: A History of the Colony of Victoria, 1851-1861, (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1963).
In addition to the reference above, a study of Haines's premiership can be found in John Waugh, 'Haines, O'Shanassy, Nicholson and Heales: The Old Guard', in Strangio and Costar (editors), ch. 2 (see 'Sources', below), and for a survey of Haines's career, see Betty Malone, 'Haines, William Clark (1810–1866)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 4, (Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1972), on line here. [accessed 30 January 2014].
Sources
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). In consulting these sources, note the difference between ministries and periods in office.