First Leake ministry facts for kids

The First Leake Ministry was a government in Western Australia. It was the third group of leaders to run the state. George Leake was the Premier, which is like the head of the government. This Ministry started on 27 May 1901. It took over after the previous Premier, George Throssell, resigned. This happened because the state election in April 1901 didn't have a clear winner.

How the Ministry Began

The First Leake Ministry formed on 27 May 1901. It followed the Throssell Ministry. George Throssell stepped down as Premier. This was due to the results of the April 1901 state election. The election did not give any party a clear majority. This meant no single group had enough votes to easily form a government. George Leake, who was the leader of the opposition at the time, then became Premier.

Why the Ministry Ended

The First Leake Ministry faced challenges. On 9 November 1901, a special vote happened. This was a vote of no confidence. It meant that members of Parliament no longer supported the government. The vote passed with 24 votes against the Ministry and 22 votes for it.

Premier Leake asked the Governor to dissolve Parliament. This would have meant a new election. However, the Governor said no to this request.

On 12 November, Leake told the Legislative Assembly (the main part of Parliament) that his government would resign. They would do this once a special bill, called the Supply Bill, was passed. This bill was important for the government to get money to operate.

The First Leake Ministry officially resigned on 21 November 1901. Before this, Frederick Henry Piesse tried to form a new government, but he was not successful. After Leake's Ministry resigned, the Morgans Ministry took over. It was led by Alf Morgans.

Who Was in the Ministry?

The First Leake Ministry had several important members. Each person was in charge of a specific area. Here are the key ministers: