McKell ministry (1944–1947)

The McKell ministry (1944–1947) or Second McKell ministry was the 51st ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 27th Premier, William McKell, of the Labor Party. The ministry was the second of two occasions when the Government was led by McKell, as Premier.

McKell ministry
50th Cabinet of the State of New South Wales
Premier William McKell
Date formed	8 June 1944 (1944-06-08)
Date dissolved	6 February 1947 (1947-02-06)
People and organisations
Monarch	George VI
Governor	The Lord Wakehurst / Sir John Northcott
Premier	William McKell
Deputy Premier	Jack Baddeley
No. of ministers	15
Member party	Labor
Status in legislature	Majority government
Opposition party	UAP/Country coalition
Opposition leader	Reginald Weaver / Alexander Mair / Vernon Treatt
History
Election	1944 New South Wales election
Predecessor	First McKell ministry
Successor	First McGirr ministry

McKell was first elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1917 and served continuously until 1947, when he resigned to become the 12th Governor-General of Australia. Having served as a junior minister in the first and third ministries of Jack Lang, during the 1930s McKell came to oppose Lang's dictatorial rule and critical of electoral failures. In 1939 McKell displaced Lang as Labor leader and NSW Leader of the Opposition.^[1][2] McKell led Labor to victory at the 1941 state election, defeating the United Australia Party / Country Party coalition of Alexander Mair and Michael Bruxner. McKell and his government were re-elected for a subsequent term at the 1944 state election.^[3]

This ministry covers the period from 8 June 1944 until 6 February 1947^[4][5] when McKell resigned to become Governor-General of Australia. McKell was succeeded by Jim McGirr.^[2]

Composition of ministry

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier McKell on 8 June 1944. There was a minor reshuffle in May 1946 following the appointment of Jack Tully as Agent-General for New South Wales in London.^[6]

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Premier Treasurer	William McKell [a]		Labor	8 June 1944	6 February 1947	2 years, 243 days
Deputy Premier Chief Secretary Secretary for Mines Minister for National Emergency Services	Jack Baddeley [b]
Minister for Education	Bob Heffron
Attorney–General	Clarrie Martin, KC [a]
Minister for Conservation	Bill Dunn				9 May 1946	1 year, 335 days
	George Weir			9 May 1946	6 February 1947	273 days
Minister for Labour and Industry and Social Services	Hamilton Knight [a]			8 June 1944	6 February 1947	2 years, 243 days
Minister of Justice Vice-President of the Executive Council Representative of the Government in the Legislative Council	Reg Downing, MLC [a]
Secretary for Public Works Minister for Local Government	Joseph Cahill [c]
Minister for Health	Gus Kelly [a]
Minister for Housing	Jim McGirr [a]
Secretary for Lands	Jack Tully [a][d]				9 May 1946	1 year, 335 days
	Bill Dunn			9 May 1946	6 February 1947	273 days
Minister for Transport	Maurice O'Sullivan [a]			8 June 1944	6 February 1947	2 years, 243 days
Minister for Agriculture	Eddie Graham
Minister in Charge of Tourist Activities and Immigration	Clive Evatt			9 May 1946	6 February 1947	273 days
Assistant Minister				8 June 1944	9 May 1946	1 year, 335 days
	William Dickson, MLC [a]				6 February 1947	2 years, 243 days
	George Weir			25 February 1946	9 May 1946	73 days

  Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.

1. Retained portfolios from First McKell ministry.
2. Retained portfolios of Deputy Premier, Chief Secretary and Secretary for Mines from First McKell ministry.
3. Retained portfolio of Secretary for Public Works from first McKell ministry
4. Resigned to accept appointment as Agent-General for New South Wales in London.^[6]

See also

• New South Wales portal
• Politics portal

• First McKell ministry
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1944-1947
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council, 1943-1946
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council, 1946-1949