Willcock Ministry


The Willcock Ministry was the 19th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, and was led by Labor Premier John Willcock. It succeeded the Second Collier Ministry on 27 August 1936, upon the resignation of Philip Collier as Premier on ill health grounds. It became the longest-serving Labor ministry in Western Australia.
The ministry was followed by the Wise Ministry on 3 August 1945, four days after Willcock resigned as Premier and handed over to the Deputy Premier, Frank Wise.

First Ministry

The following ministers served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 21 April 1939, following the 1939 state election. Selby Munsie, in parliament since 1911, died on 12 March 1938, creating a vacancy for Alexander Panton to be brought into the ministry. At the end of the term, Frank Troy, who had spent 35 years in Parliament as the member for Mount Magnet, was appointed Agent-General for Western Australia in London. He resigned from the Ministry on 3 March 1939, but the Ministry was not reshuffled due to the impending election on 18 March, and Frank Wise adopted Troy's roles in an acting capacity.
OfficeMinister

Premier

Colonial Treasurer

Minister for Forests
John Willcock, MLA

Minister for Lands

Minister for Immigration
Frank Troy, MLA

Minister for Mines

Minister for Health
Selby Munsie, MLA

Minister for Works

Minister for Water Supplies
Harry Millington, MLA

Minister for Agriculture

Minister for Education

Minister for Police
Frank Wise, MLA

Minister for Employment

Minister for Labour
Bert Hawke, MLA

Chief Secretary
William Kitson, MLC

Minister for Justice

Minister for Railways
Frederick Smith, MLA

Minister for Mines

Minister for Health
Alexander Panton, MLA
Minister without portfolioEdmund Gray, MLC

Second Ministry

On 18 April 1939, the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir James Mitchell, designated 8 principal executive offices of the Government under section 43 of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899 and appointed the ministers to the positions. They then served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 9 December 1943, following the 1943 state election.
OfficeMinister

Premier

Colonial Treasurer

Minister for Forests
John Willcock, MLA

Minister for Works

Minister for Water Supplies

Minister for Employment
Harry Millington, MLA

Minister for Lands

Minister for Agriculture
Frank Wise, MLA

Minister for Labour

Minister for Industrial Development

Minister for Post-War Reconstruction

Bert Hawke, MLA

Minister for Mines

Minister for Health
Alexander Panton, MLA

Chief Secretary

Minister for Education
William Kitson, MLC

Minister for Justice

Minister for Railways
Emil Nulsen, MLA

Minister for the North-West
Aubrey Coverley, MLA
Minister without portfolioEdmund Gray, MLC

Third Ministry

On 9 December 1943, the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir James Mitchell, designated 8 principal executive offices of the Government under section 43 of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899 and appointed the ministers to the positions. They then served until the end of the Ministry on 3 August 1945, following the resignation of John Willcock.
OfficeMinister

Premier

Colonial Treasurer
John Willcock, MLA

Minister for Lands

Minister for Agriculture
Frank Wise, MLA

Minister for Works

Minister for Water Supplies

Minister for Industrial Development
Bert Hawke, MLA

Minister for Mines

Minister for Health
Alexander Panton, MLA

Chief Secretary

Minister for Police
William Kitson, MLC

Minister for Justice

Minister for Railways
Emil Nulsen, MLA

Minister for the North-West

Minister for Forests
Aubrey Coverley, MLA

Minister for Education

Minister for Social Services
John Tonkin, MLA
Minister without portfolioEdmund Gray, MLC