The Burke Ministry was the 29th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, led by Labor Premier Brian Burke and deputy Mal Bryce. It commenced on 25 February 1983, six days after the O'Connor ministry, led by Premier Ray O'Connor of the Liberal Party, was defeated at the 1983 election. It was followed by the Dowding Ministry upon Burke's retirement as Premier on 25 February 1988.

Most of its members followed on from the Burke shadow ministry which had functioned since September 1981.

Overview

At first, the Burke Ministry utilised roles which were largely inherited from the previous Government. As the government had come to power at a time of economic recession, it commissioned a State Employment Task Force under the direction of Dr John Wood to review the machinery of government. An earlier report commissioned by the previous government on mining and resource development had highlighted interdepartmental conflicts in these areas. On the basis of these, a major reshuffle took place on 23 December with no changes of personnel, although several roles were abolished and new ones created, and Arthur Tonkin, who was said to have presented "too hardline an image" in his dealings with business, was relieved of Consumer Affairs. Another reshuffle occurred on 22 March 1985.

The Ministry was reconstituted on 26 February 1986 following the 1986 election, due in part to the defeat of one minister, Ken McIver (MLA for Avon), and the decisions of Ron Davies and David Evans to stand down. At this point, two honorary Ministers were appointed, including Ernie Bridge, to assist ministers in a number of portfolios. On 25 July 1986, they were both promoted to full Ministers, making Bridge the first ever Aboriginal Cabinet minister in Australia.

First Ministry

On 25 February 1983, the Governor, Sir Richard Trowbridge, designated 15 principal executive offices of the Government under section 43(2) of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899. The following ministers were then appointed to the positions, and served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 26 February 1986.

The list below is ordered by decreasing seniority within the Cabinet, as indicated by the Government Gazette and the Hansard index.

Office Minister

Premier and Treasurer
Minister Co-ordinating Economic and Social Development
Minister for Forests (until 22 March 1985)
Minister for Tourism (until 22 March 1985)
Minister for Women's Interests

 Brian Burke, MLA

Deputy Premier
Minister for Economic Development and Technology (until 23 Dec 1983)

(from 23 December 1983:)

Minister for Industrial Development
Minister for Technology
Minister for Defence Liaison

(from 22 March 1985:)

Minister for Communication
Minister for Small Business
 Mal Bryce, BA, MLA

Minister for Industrial Relations (until 22 March 1985)
Minister for Administrative Services (23 Dec 1983 – 22 March 1985)
Minister for Tourism (from 22 March 1985)
Minister for Racing and Gaming (from 22 March 1985)
Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council

 Des Dans, MLC

Attorney-General
Minister for Budget Management (from 23 December 1983)
Minister for Prisons (from 22 April 1983)[2]
Chief Secretary (until 22 April 1983)[2]

(until 23 December 1983:)

Minister for Inter-Governmental Relations
Minister for Defence Liaison
Minister assisting the Treasrer
 Joe Berinson, LL.B., MLC

Minister for Water Resources
Minister for Consumer Affairs (until 23 December 1983)
Minister for Parliamentary and Electoral Reform
Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly

 Arthur Tonkin, BA, DipEd, MLA

Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Minister for Local Government

 Jeff Carr, BA, MLA

Minister for the Environment
Minister for Conservation and Land Management (from 22 March 1985)
Minister for Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs
Minister for the Arts

 Ron Davies, MLA

Minister for Agriculture
Minister for Fisheries and Wildlife
Minister assisting the Minister for Forests (25 March 1983[1]–22 March 1985)
Minister assisting the Minister
    for Conservation and Land Management (from 22 March 1985)

 David Evans, BA, MLA

Minister for Education
Minister for Planning (from 22 March 1985)

 Bob Pearce, BA, DipEd, MLA
Minister for Health Barry Hodge, MLA

Minister for Works
Minister for Lands and Surveys

 Ken McIver, MLA

Minister for Employment[3] (until 23 December 1983)
Minister for Planning and Administrative Services (until 23 December 1983)[3]
Minister for Minerals and Energy (from 23 December 1983)
Minister assisting the Minister Co-ordinating
    Economic and Social Development

 David Parker, BA, MLA

Minister for Transport
Minister for Regional Development
Minister for the North-West
Minister with special responsibility for "Bunbury 2000"

 Julian Grill, LL.B., MLA

Minister for Housing
Minister for Youth and Community Services (until 22 March 1985)
(from 22 March 1985:)

Minister for Youth Affairs
Minister for the Aged
Minister for Community Services

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Minister for Sport and Recreation

 Rev Keith Wilson, MLA

(until 23 December 1983:)

Minister for Mines
Minister for Fuel and Energy

(from 23 December 1983:)

Minister for Planning (until 22 March 1985)
Minister for Employment and Training
Minister for Consumer Affairs

Minister for Industrial Relations (from 22 March 1985)

 Peter Dowding, LL.B., MLA
1 On 25 March 1983, David Evans became, in addition to his earlier responsibilities, Minister assisting the Minister for Forests.
2 On 22 April 1983, Joe Berinson's responsibilities were amended. The historic position of Chief Secretary was abolished, with those responsibilities passing to the Minister of Planning and Administrative Services. Berinson, meanwhile, added Minister for Prisons to his earlier responsibilities.
3 On 3 June 1983, David Parker's responsibilities were amended, with Planning and Administrative Services becoming Planning, and Employment becoming Employment and Administrative Services.

Second Ministry

On 26 February 1986, the Governor, Gordon Reid, appointed the new Ministry. He designated 15 principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to the positions, who served until the Dowding Ministry was established on 26 February 1988. Three of the members were new to the Ministry, and two additional honorary members were also appointed to assist specific Ministers. One of these was Australia's first ever Aboriginal Cabinet minister, Ernie Bridge. These honorary ministers were elevated to ministerial posts following the assent of the Constitution Amendment Act 1986 (No.10 of 1986) on 22 July 1986, which officially grew the Ministry from 15 to 17 members.

The members of the Second Ministry were:

Office Minister

Premier and Treasurer
Minister Co-ordinating Economic and Social Development (until 16 March 1987)
Minister for Public Sector Management (from 29 October 1986)
Minister for Women's Interests

 Brian Burke, JP, MLA

Deputy Premier
Minister for Industry and Technology
Minister for Small Business (until 12 May 1986)
Minister for Defence Liaison
Minister for Communications
Minister for Parliamentary and Electoral Reform

 Mal Bryce, BA, JP, MLA

Minister for Works and Services
Minister for Water Resources (12 May–25 July 1986)
Minister with special responsibility for the America's Cup
Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council

 Des Dans, MLC
(until 16 March 1987)[6]

Attorney-General
Minister for Budget Management
Minister for Prisons (until 16 March 1987)
Minister for Corrective Services (from 16 March 1987)
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council
    (Leader from 16 March 1987)

 Joe Berinson, LL.B., MLC

Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Minister for Water Resources

 Arthur Tonkin, BA, DipEd, JP, MLA
(until 12 May 1986)[4]

Minister for Local Government
Minister for Regional Development

 Jeff Carr, BA, JP, MLA

Minister for Education
Minister for Planning
Minister for Intergovernmental Relations (from 16 March 1987)
Minister for Police and Emergency Services (12 May–25 July 1986)
Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly

 Bob Pearce, BA, DipEd, JP, MLA

Minister for the Environment
Minister for Conservation and Land Management

 Barry Hodge, MLA

Minister for Minerals and Energy
Minister for Economic Development (from 16 March 1987)
Minister for the Arts
Minister assisting the Minister Co-ordinating
    Economic and Social Development (until 16 March 1987)

 David Parker, BA, MLA

Minister for Agriculture
Minister for Fisheries
Minister for the South-West
Minister for Transport (12 May–25 July 1986)
Minister for the North-West (until 25 July 1986)

 Julian Grill, LL.B., JP, MLA

Minister for Housing
Minister for Lands (from 16 March 1987)
Minister for Sport and Recreation (until 16 March 1987)
Minister for Consumer Affairs (until 16 March 1987)
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (until 25 July 1986)

 Rev Keith Wilson, MLA

(Until 16 March 1987:)

Minister for Employment and Training
Minister for Industrial Relations

(from 16 March 1987:)

Minister for Works and Services
Minister for Labour
Minister for Productivity and Employment
Minister assisting the Treasurer

Minister assisting the Minister
    for Public Sector Management (from 29 October 1986)

 Peter Dowding, LL.B., MLA

Minister for Health
Minister for Consumer Affairs (from 16 March 1987)
Minister for the Aged (until 12 May 1986)
Minister for Lands (until 16 March 1987)
Minister assisting the Minister for
    Economic Development (from 16 March 1987)

 Ian Taylor, B.Econ (Hons), JP, MLA

Minister for Tourism
Minister for Racing and Gaming

 Pam Beggs, JP, MLA

Minister for Community Services
Minister for the Family
Minister for Youth
Minister for the Aged (from 12 May 1986)
Minister for Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs (until 25 July 1986)
Minister assisting the Minister for Women's Interests
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council (from 16 March 1987)

 Kay Hallahan, BSW, JP, MLC [6]

Honorary Minister assisting the Ministers
    for Transport and Small Business (until 12 May 1986)

(from 12 May 1986:)

Minister for Transport
Minister for Small Business
 Gavan Troy, B Bus, AFAIM, JP, MLA[4]

(Until 25 July 1986:) Honorary Minister assisting the Ministers
    for Water Resources, The North West and Aboriginal Affairs

(From 25 July 1986:)

Minister for Water Resources
Minister for the North-West
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
 Ernie Bridge, MLA[5]

(12 May-25 July 1986:) Honorary Minister assisting the Ministers for
    Police and Emergency Services and Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs

(From 25 July 1986:)

Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Minister for Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs
 Gordon Hill, JP, MLA
(from 12 May 1986)[4][5]
Minister for Sport and Recreation Graham Edwards, MLC
(from 16 March 1987)[6]
4 On 12 May 1986, Arthur Tonkin, the minister for Police and Emergency Services and Water Resources, resigned from the Ministry. In the resulting reshuffle, Gavan Troy, previously an Honorary Minister, was appointed to the Ministry, whilst Gordon Hill was made an honorary minister.
5 On 25 July 1986, the Ministry was officially expanded to 17, with the two Honorary Ministers assuming the portfolios they had previously assisted.
6 On 16 March 1987, Des Dans resigned from the Ministry, and fellow MLC Graham Edwards was appointed in his place. Kay Hallahan was promoted in seniority from 14th to 4th within the Cabinet.

References

  • Hansard Indexes for 1983–1985, "Legislature of Western Australia"
  • Gallop, Geoff (June 1984). "Australian Political Chronicle: July-December 1983". Australian Journal of Politics and History. 30 (2): 274. ISSN 0004-9522.
  • "No.14 (Special)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 25 February 1983. p. 1983:757-759.
  • "No.99 (Special)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 23 December 1983. p. 1983:5013.
  • "No.23 (Special)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 26 February 1986. p. 1986:603-605.
  • "No.52 (Special)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 12 May 1986. p. 1986:1647-1648.
  • "No.86 (Special)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 25 July 1986. p. 1986:2509-2510.
  • "No.26 (Special)". Western Australia Government Gazette. 16 March 1987. p. 1987:933-934.
  • Black, David (December 1986). "Australian Political Chronicle: January-June 1986". Australian Journal of Politics and History. 32 (3): 484–494. ISSN 0004-9522.
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