The Parkes ministry (1887–1889) or Fourth Parkes ministry was the 24th ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by the seventh Premier, the Honourable Sir Henry Parkes, KCMG. It was the fourth of five occasions that Parkes was Premier.[1]
Having served in the New South Wales Legislative Council between 1854 and 1856, Parkes was elected in the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held in 1856, however resigned from Parliament later that year. He served in the Assembly on several occasions, between 1858 and 1870, being forced to resign on at least one occasion due to his personal insolvency. He came to power as Premier on the first occasion in 1872, serving as Premier for a period of three years. However, Parkes lost the confidence of the Assembly following Governor Robinson's decision to release of the bushranger Frank Gardiner led to the defeat of the ministry in 1875.[2]
John Robertson served as Premier between 1875 and 1877, before Robertson was defeated at the 1877 election. Parkes formed his second ministry in a challenging environment where both Parkes and Robertson shared equal representation in the Legislative Assembly and business was sometimes at a standstill.[3] Parkes' second term as Colonial Premier lasted just 147 days, with the Farnell ministry giving both Parkes and Robertson reprieve for 12 months, prior to Parkes and Robertson forming an alliance government in the third Parkes ministry.[1]
The retirement of Robertson pitted Parkes against George Dibbs and after the governments of both Dibbs and Sir Patrick Jennings faultered under public debt,[2] Parkes formed this, his fourth ministry.
There was no party system in New South Wales politics until 1887.[4] Under the constitution, ministers were required to resign to recontest their seats in a by-election when appointed.[5] In the table below, these by-elections are only noted when the minister was defeated; in general, he was elected unopposed.
This ministry covers the period from 20 January 1887 until 16 January 1889.[1]
| Portfolio | Minister | Term commence | Term end | Term of office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier Colonial Secretary |
Hon. Sir Henry Parkes KCMG, MLA | 20 January 1887 | 16 January 1889 | 1 year, 362 days |
| Vice-President of the Executive Council | 6 March 1887 | 45 days | ||
| Colonial Treasurer | Hon. John Burns MLA | 16 January 1889 | 1 year, 362 days | |
| Attorney-General | Hon. William Foster MLA | 18 May 1887 | 118 days | |
| Hon. Bernhard Wise MLA | 27 May 1887 | 7 February 1888 | 256 days | |
| Hon. George Simpson MLA | 10 February 1888 | 16 January 1889 | 341 days | |
| Secretary for Lands | Hon. Thomas Garrett MLA | 20 January 1887 | 19 January 1888 | 364 days |
| Hon. Sir Henry Parkes MLA | 26 July 1888 | 23 August 1888 | 28 days | |
| Hon. James Brunker MLA | 29 August 1888 | 16 January 1889 | 140 days | |
| Secretary for Public Works | Hon. John Sutherland MLA | 20 January 1887 | 1 year, 362 days | |
| Minister of Justice | Hon. William Clarke MLA | |||
| Minister of Public Instruction | Hon. James Inglis MLA | |||
| Secretary for Mines | Hon. Francis Abigail MLA | |||
| Postmaster-General | Hon. Charles Roberts MLA | |||
| Representative of the Government in Legislative Council | Hon. Julian Salomons MLC | |||
| Vice-President of the Executive Council | 7 March 1887 | 1 year, 315 days |
| Preceded by Jennings ministry |
Parkes ministry (1887-1889) 1887–1889 |
Succeeded by Dibbs ministry (1889) |
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