First Deakin ministry facts for kids

Quick facts for kids First Deakin ministry
2nd Ministry of Australia
Alfred Deakin William Lyne
Date formed	24 September 1903
Date dissolved	27 April 1904
People and organisations
Monarch	Edward VII
Governor-General	Lord Hopetoun Lord Northcote
Prime Minister	Alfred Deakin
No. of ministers	8
Member party	Protectionist
Status in legislature	Minority government (Labour support)
Opposition party	Free Trade
Opposition leader	George Reid
History
Election(s)	16 December 1903
Legislature term(s)	1st 2nd
Predecessor	Barton ministry
Successor	Watson ministry

The First Deakin ministry was the second group of leaders who ran the Australian Government. It was led by Alfred Deakin, who was Australia's second Prime Minister.

This group of leaders, mostly from the Protectionist Party, took over on 24 September 1903. They replaced the previous government led by Edmund Barton, who decided to leave politics.

The First Deakin ministry lasted for about seven months. It ended on 27 April 1904. This happened because the Labour Party stopped supporting them. They disagreed over a new law called the Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, which was about solving disagreements between workers and employers. After this, a new government, the Watson ministry, took over.

One of the members of this ministry, James Drake, lived until 1941. He was the last person from this government, and also from the earlier Barton and Reid governments, to pass away.

Meet the First Deakin Ministry

This section introduces the important people who were part of Alfred Deakin's first government. Each person had a special job, called a 'portfolio', to help run the country.

Party		Minister	Portrait	Job in Government
	Protectionist	Alfred Deakin	Alfred Deakin	Prime Minister (the leader of the country) Leader of the Protectionist Party Minister for External Affairs (in charge of Australia's relationships with other countries)
		Sir William Lyne	Sir William Lyne	Deputy Leader of the Protectionist Party Minister for Trade and Customs (in charge of goods coming in and out of Australia)
		Sir George Turner	Sir George Turner	Treasurer (in charge of the country's money)
		Sir John Forrest	Sir John Forrest	Minister for Home Affairs (in charge of things inside Australia, like elections and public works)
		James Drake	James Drake	Attorney-General (the chief legal advisor to the government)
		Sir Philip Fysh	Sir Philip Fysh	Postmaster-General (in charge of mail and telegraphs)
		Austin Chapman	Austin Chapman	Minister for Defence (in charge of Australia's military)
		Thomas Playford II	Thomas Playford II	Vice-President of the Executive Council (a senior government role) Leader of the Government in the Senate