Watson ministry

See also: Watson government

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.^[1]

Watson ministry
3rd Ministry of Australia
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	2nd
Predecessor	First Deakin ministry
Successor	Reid ministry

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	Chris Watson (1867–1941) MP for Bland (1901–1906)		Prime Minister Leader of the Labor Party Treasurer
		Billy Hughes (1862–1952) MP for West Sydney (1901–1917)		Minister for External Affairs
	Protectionist	H. B. Higgins (1851–1929) MP for Northern Melbourne (1901–1906)[a]		Attorney-General
	Labor	Lee Batchelor (1865–1911) MP for Boothby (1903–1911)		Minister for Home Affairs
		Andrew Fisher (1862–1928) MP for Wide Bay (1901–1915)		Minister for Trade and Customs
		Anderson Dawson (1863–1910) Senator for Queensland (1901–1906)		Minister for Defence
		Hugh Mahon (1857–1931) MP for Coolgardie (1901–1913)		Postmaster-General
		Gregor McGregor (1848–1914) Senator for South Australia (1901–1914)		Deputy Leader of the Labor Party Vice-President of the Executive Council Leader of the Government in the Senate

Notes

1. The Protectionist Party member Higgins accepted office (with Alfred Deakin's permission) as Attorney-General since the Labour Party did not have a lawyer in its parliamentary ranks with the exception of Billy Hughes, who had recently admitted as a barrister but who was already serving in another portfolio and was not viewed as qualified for the post. It was the only time a non-member of the Labour Party has served in a Labour ministry.