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Watson ministry
Flag of Australia (1903–1908).svg
3rd Ministry of Australia
Watson Ministry (cropped).jpg
Group photo of the Watson ministry with Governor-General Lord Northcote.
Date formed 27 April 1904
Date dissolved 17 August 1904
People and organisations
Monarch Edward VII
Governor-General Lord Northcote
Prime Minister Chris Watson
No. of ministers 8
Member party Labour
Status in legislature Minority government (Protectionist support)
Opposition party Free Trade
Opposition leader George Reid
History
Legislature term(s) 2nd
Predecessor First Deakin ministry
Successor Reid ministry

The Watson ministry (Labour) was the 3rd ministry of the Government of Australia, and the first national Labour government formed in the world. It was led by the country's 3rd Prime Minister, Chris Watson. The Watson ministry succeeded the First Deakin ministry, which dissolved on 27 April 1904 after Labour withdrew their support and Alfred Deakin was forced to resign. The ministry was replaced by the Reid ministry on 17 August 1904 after the Protectionist Party withdrew their support over the Conciliation and Arbitration Bill.

Billy Hughes, who died in 1952, was the last surviving member of the Watson ministry; Hughes was also the last surviving member of the First Fisher ministry, Third Fisher ministry, Second Hughes ministry and Third Hughes ministry.

Ministry

Party Minister Portrait Portfolio
  Labor Hon Chris Watson
(1867–1941)

MP for Bland
(1901–1906)

 ChrisWatsonSepia crop.jpg
  Hon Billy Hughes
(1862–1952)

MP for West Sydney
(1901–1917)

 BillyHughes.png
  • Minister for External Affairs
  Protectionist Hon H. B. Higgins KC
(1851–1929)

MP for Northern Melbourne
(1901–1906)

 Portrait of Henry Bournes Higgins (cropped).jpg
  • Attorney-General
  Labor Hon Lee Batchelor
(1865–1911)

MP for Boothby
(1903–1911)

 Lee Batchelor - Swiss Studios (cropped).jpg
  • Minister for Home Affairs
  Hon Andrew Fisher
(1862–1928)

MP for Wide Bay
(1901–1915)

 Andrew Fisher 1904.jpg
  • Minister for Trade and Customs
  Hon Anderson Dawson
(1863–1910)

Senator for Queensland
(1901–1906)

 Anderson Dawson - Swiss Studios (cropped).jpg
  • Minister for Defence
  Hon Hugh Mahon
(1857–1931)

MP for Coolgardie
(1901–1913)

 Portrait of Hugh Mahon (cropped).jpg
  • Postmaster-General
  Hon Gregor McGregor
(1848–1914)

Senator for South Australia
(1901–1914)

 Gregor McGregor1.jpg
  • Deputy Leader of the Labor Party
  • Vice-President of the Executive Council
  • Leader of the Government in the Senate
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