Throssell ministry facts for kids
The Throssell Ministry was a government team in Western Australia. It was the second group of leaders for the state. This team took over from the Forrest Ministry on February 15, 1901. Sir John Forrest, the previous leader, moved to work in Australia's national government. He chose George Throssell to lead the new team.
However, the state election in April 1901 did not have a clear winner. Instead of trying to prove his team had enough support, George Throssell and his Ministry decided to step down. They resigned on May 27, 1901. This allowed a new team, the First Leake Ministry, led by George Leake, to take charge.
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What Was the Throssell Ministry?
A "Ministry" is like a special team of leaders. These leaders work together to run the government of a place. The Throssell Ministry was the group of people who helped George Throssell govern Western Australia. They were in charge for a short time in 1901.
How Did It Start?
Before the Throssell Ministry, Sir John Forrest was the leader. He had been the Premier of Western Australia for a long time. When he decided to join the new national government of Australia, he needed someone to take his place. He chose George Throssell to be the next Premier.
Who Was George Throssell?
George Throssell was an important person in Western Australian politics. He became the Premier, which is like the chief minister or head of the government for the state. He was also the Colonial Treasurer, meaning he was in charge of the state's money.
Key People in the Ministry
The Throssell Ministry had several important members. Each person had a specific job to help run the state.
Premier and Treasurer
- George Throssell: He was the leader of the whole team, the Premier. He also managed the state's money as the Colonial Treasurer.
Other Important Roles
- George Randell: He was the Colonial Secretary. This role was like a chief administrator for the state. He was also the Minister for Education, looking after schools and learning.
- Richard Pennefather (until March 20, 1901): He was the Attorney-General. This person is the main legal advisor to the government.
- William Sayer (from March 25, 1901): He took over as the Attorney-General after Richard Pennefather.
- Charles Moran: He was the Commissioner of Crown Lands. This job involved managing the state's land.
- Barrington Wood: He was the Commissioner of Railways and the Minister for Works. He was in charge of trains and building projects.
- Henry Lefroy: He was the Minister for Mines. He looked after the mining industry in Western Australia.
Why Did the Ministry End?
The Throssell Ministry did not last very long. After the state election in April 1901, no single political group won a clear majority. This meant it was hard for George Throssell to be sure he had enough support to keep leading the government.
Instead of trying to stay in power without strong support, George Throssell and his team decided to resign. This happened on May 27, 1901. Their resignation allowed the First Leake Ministry, led by George Leake, to take over. This showed how important it was for a government to have clear support from the elected representatives.
