Head of government Henry Parkes Member party unaligned | No. of ministers 10 | |
Date formed 14 May 1872 (1872-05-14) Date dissolved 8 February 1875 (1875-02-08) Head of state Queen Victoria (represented by Hercules Robinson) | ||
The first Parkes ministry was the fourteenth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and the first of five occasions of being led by the Honourable Henry Parkes.
Having served in the New South Wales Legislative Council between 1854 and 1856, Parkes was elected in the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held in 1856, however resigned from Parliament later that year. He served in the Assembly on several occasions, between 1858 and 1870, being forced to resign on at least on occasion due to his personal insolvency. He came to power as Premier on the first occasion after the Sir James Martin ministry had involved itself in a petty squabble with the colony of Victoria over a question of border duties. The acting-governor had sent for William Forster before parliament met, but he was unable to form a ministry, and in May 1872 Parkes formed his first ministry.
The title of Premier was widely used to refer to the Leader of Government, but not enshrined in formal use until 1920.
There was no party system in New South Wales politics until 1887. Under the constitution, ministers were required to resign to recontest their seats in a by-election when appointed. These by-elections are only noted when the minister was defeated; in general, he was elected unopposed.
This ministry covers the period from 14 May 1872 until 8 February 1875, when Parkes lost the confidence of the Assembly following Governor Robinson's decision to release of the bushranger Frank Gardiner led to the defeat of the ministry.
Composition of ministry
:a Without salary as Secretary for Mines.
b Without a seat in Cabinet from 9 December 1873.