Whitlam had just led the Australian Labor Party to victory after 23 years of Coalition rule. Historically, when Labor won government, the caucus elected the members of the ministry, with Labor Prime Ministers only having the right to allocate portfolios. Although Labor's victory was beyond doubt, counting was scheduled to continue until 15 December, two weeks after the 2 December election.
In accordance with longstanding Australian constitutional practice, the outgoing Prime Minister, William McMahon, advised the Governor-General, Sir Paul Hasluck, that he was no longer in a position to govern. Whitlam then advised Hasluck that he could form a government with his new majority. Normally, McMahon would have stayed on as a caretaker until the final results were known. However, Whitlam was unwilling to wait that long. Accordingly, soon after advising Hasluck that he could form a government, Whitlam had himself and his deputy leader, Lance Barnard, sworn in as an interim two-man government until the full ministry could be chosen. For the next two weeks, Whitlam and Barnard held 27 portfolios between them. It is the smallest ministry in Australian history.
Whitlam, who died in 2014, was the last surviving member of the first Whitlam ministry, having outlived Barnard by 17 years.
The duumvirate made 40 significant decisions in its brief tenure, including the immediate release of all draft resisters, the removal of troops from Vietnam and the recognition of Communist China. [2]
first, whitlam, ministry, also, whitlam, government, first, whitlam, ministry, labor, 47th, ministry, government, australia, often, known, ministry, duumvirate, country, 21st, prime, minister, gough, whitlam, first, whitlam, ministry, succeeded, mcmahon, minis. See also Whitlam government The first Whitlam Ministry Labor was the 47th ministry of the Government of Australia Often known as the two man Ministry or the Duumvirate it was led by the country s 21st Prime Minister Gough Whitlam The first Whitlam ministry succeeded the McMahon Ministry which dissolved on 5 December 1972 following the federal election that took place on 2 December which saw Labor defeat William McMahon s Liberal Country Coalition The ministry was replaced by the second Whitlam ministry on 19 December 1972 1 First Whitlam Ministry47th Ministry of AustraliaThe First Whitlam Ministry being sworn in by Governor General Sir Paul HasluckDate formed5 December 1972Date dissolved19 December 1972People and organisationsMonarchElizabeth IIGovernor GeneralSir Paul HasluckPrime MinisterGough WhitlamDeputy Prime MinisterLance BarnardNo of ministers2Member partyLaborStatus in legislatureMajority governmentOpposition partyLiberalHistoryElection s 2 December 1972Legislature term s 28thPredecessorMcMahon MinistrySuccessorSecond Whitlam ministryWhitlam had just led the Australian Labor Party to victory after 23 years of Coalition rule Historically when Labor won government the caucus elected the members of the ministry with Labor Prime Ministers only having the right to allocate portfolios Although Labor s victory was beyond doubt counting was scheduled to continue until 15 December two weeks after the 2 December election In accordance with longstanding Australian constitutional practice the outgoing Prime Minister William McMahon advised the Governor General Sir Paul Hasluck that he was no longer in a position to govern Whitlam then advised Hasluck that he could form a government with his new majority Normally McMahon would have stayed on as a caretaker until the final results were known However Whitlam was unwilling to wait that long Accordingly soon after advising Hasluck that he could form a government Whitlam had himself and his deputy leader Lance Barnard sworn in as an interim two man government until the full ministry could be chosen For the next two weeks Whitlam and Barnard held 27 portfolios between them It is the smallest ministry in Australian history Whitlam who died in 2014 was the last surviving member of the first Whitlam ministry having outlived Barnard by 17 years Contents 1 Achievements 2 Ministry 3 See also 4 NotesAchievements editThe duumvirate made 40 significant decisions in its brief tenure including the immediate release of all draft resisters the removal of troops from Vietnam and the recognition of Communist China 2 Ministry editParty Minister Portrait Portfolio Labor Hon Gough Whitlam QC 1916 2014 MP for Werriwa 1952 1978 nbsp Prime Minister Leader of the Labor Party Minister for Foreign Affairs Treasurer Attorney General Minister for Customs and Excise Minister for Trade and Industry Minister for Shipping and Transport Minister for Education and Science Minister for Civil Aviation Minister for Housing Minister for Works Minister for External Territories Minister for the Environment Aborigines and the Arts Hon Lance Barnard 1919 1997 MP for Bass 1954 1975 nbsp Deputy Prime Minister Deputy Leader of the Labor Party Minister for Defence Minister for Supply Minister for the Army Minister for the Navy Minister for Air Postmaster General Minister for Labour and National Service Minister for Social Services Minister for Immigration Minister for the Interior Minister for Primary Industry Minister for Repatriation Minister for Health Minister for National DevelopmentSee also editSecond Whitlam ministry Third Whitlam ministryNotes edit Ministries and Cabinets Parliamentary Handbook Parliament of Australia Archived from the original on 8 October 2012 Retrieved 17 September 2010 https www naa gov au explore collection australias prime ministers gough whitlam during office bare URL Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title First Whitlam ministry amp oldid 1135675256, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
