Ian MacFarlan

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Ian MacFarlan (21 November 1881 - 19 March 1964) was the Deputy Leader of the Australian Liberal Party in Victoria State during 1945. He was briefly commissioned as the Premier of Victoria by the Governor and he formed a government which effectuated the dissolution of the Dunstan Ministry.

[edit] 1945 Dissolution of the Legislative Assembly

At the end of September 1945, the government of Albert Dunstan was defeated in the Legislative Assembly, when it voted to refuse Supply to his government. Five Liberals, two Country Party members and one Independent voted with the Labor Opposition, on the grounds of dissatisfaction with the government's legislative programme and opposition to Dunstan's leadership.

Instead of resigning, however, Dunstan persuaded the Governor, Sir Winston Dugan, to grant him a conditional dissolution. The terms on which this dissolution was granted drew fire from the Opposition who claimed that the Governor in his letter to the Premier had left himself open to the charge of instructing the Assembly to grant Supply to a ministry which had already been refused it and to no other.

When it became clear that the Assembly would not grant Supply to the Dunstan Ministry, the Governor commissioned as Premier Ian McFarlan, the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party, who had been Attorney-General in Dunstan's Ministry, on the production of written assurances of support from the Labor Opposition and from members of the Liberal Party, the Country Party and the Independents whose revolt had led to Dunstan's defeat. McFarlan formed a government, both Houses passed Votes of Supply, and the dissolution took immediate effect.

At the subsequent General Election in November the Labor Party obtained a majority (with the support of two Independents) and formed a government. The state of parties was Labour 32, United Country Party 18, Liberals 13, Independents 2. McFarlan was one of the defeated candidates.

This article was found on the site of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy on www.norepublic.com.au.

Premiers of Victoria