# McGirr ministry (1947–1950)

The McGirr ministry (1947–1950) or Second McGirr ministry was the 53rd ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 28th Premier, Jim McGirr, of the Labor Party. The ministry was the second of three consecutive occasions when the Government was led by McGirr, as Premier.
McGirr was first elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1922 and served continuously until 1952, holding the various seats of Cootamundra, Cumberland, Bankstown, and Liverpool. Having served in the third ministry of Jack Lang, and the first and second ministries of William McKell, McGirr was variously torn between Lang Labor and the newly formed Australian Labor Party. When McKell stood aside as Premier in 1947 in order to take up an appointment as Governor-General of Australia, McGirr was elected Labor Leader and became Premier. McGirr led Labor to victory at the 1947 state election.
This ministry covers the period from 19 May 1947 until the 1950 state election, held on 30 June, when McGirr led Labor to victory and the Third McGirr ministry was sworn in.

## Composition of ministry

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier McGirr on 19 May 1947. The principal changes from the first McGirr ministry were that Bill Dunn was dropped, replaced by Bill Sheahan and the portfolio of Building Materials was created, filled by Claude Matthews. There was a rearrangement of the Ministry in September 1949, triggered by the resignation of Deputy Premier, Jack Baddeley. Baddeley suffered a heart attack in December 1948 while serving as Acting Premier. Joe Cahill succeeded Baddeley as Deputy Premier. The portfolio of Co-operative Societies was created and filled by Clarrie Martin.
| Portfolio | Minister | Party | Term commence | Term end | Term of office |
| Premier Treasurer | Jim McGirr | Labor | 19 May 1947 | 30 June 1950 | 3 years, 42 days |
| Deputy Premier | Jack Baddeley | Labor | 19 May 1947 | 8 September 1949 | 2 years, 112 days |
| Deputy Premier | Joe Cahill | Labor | 21 September 1949 | 30 June 1950 | 282 days |
| Chief Secretary | Jack Baddeley | Labor | 19 May 1947 | 8 September 1949 | 2 years, 112 days |
| Chief Secretary | Jim McGirr | Labor | 8 September 1949 | 21 September 1949 | 13 days |
| Chief Secretary | Claude Matthews | Labor | 21 September 1949 | 30 June 1950 | 282 days |
| Secretary for Mines | Jack Baddeley | Labor | 19 May 1947 | 8 September 1949 | 2 years, 112 days |
| Secretary for Mines | Jim McGirr | Labor | 8 September 1949 | 21 September 1949 | 13 days |
| Secretary for Mines | William Dickson, MLC | Labor | 21 September 1949 | 30 June 1950 | 282 days |
| Minister for National Emergency Services | Jack Baddeley | Labor | 19 May 1947 | 8 September 1949 | 2 years, 112 days |
| Minister for National Emergency Services | Jim McGirr | Labor | 8 September 1949 | 21 September 1949 | 13 days |
| Minister for Housing Assistant Treasurer | Clive Evatt | Labor | 19 May 1947 | 30 June 1950 | 3 years, 42 days |
| Minister for Education | Bob Heffron | Labor | 19 May 1947 | 30 June 1950 | 3 years, 42 days |
| Attorney–General | Clarrie Martin, KC | Labor | 19 May 1947 | 30 June 1950 | 3 years, 42 days |
| Minister for Co-operative Societies | Clarrie Martin, KC | Labor | 21 September 1949 | 30 June 1950 | 282 days |
| Minister for Labour and Industry and Social Welfare | Hamilton Knight | Labor | 19 May 1947 | 29 October 1947 | 163 days |
| Minister for Labour and Industry and Social Welfare | Jack Baddeley | Labor | 29 October 1947 | 9 March 1948 | 132 days |
| Minister for Labour and Industry and Social Welfare | Frank Finnan | Labor | 9 March 1948 | 30 June 1950 | 2 years, 113 days |
| Minister of Justice Vice-President of the Executive Council Representative of the Government in the Legislative Council | Reg Downing, MLC | Labor | 19 May 1947 | 30 June 1950 | 3 years, 42 days |
| Secretary for Public Works Minister for Local Government | Joe Cahill | Labor | 19 May 1947 | 30 June 1950 | 3 years, 42 days |
| Minister for Health | Gus Kelly | Labor | 19 May 1947 | 30 June 1950 | 3 years, 42 days |
| Minister for Transport | Maurice O'Sullivan | Labor | 19 May 1947 | 30 June 1950 | 3 years, 42 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Eddie Graham | Labor | 19 May 1947 | 30 June 1950 | 3 years, 42 days |
| Minister for Conservation | George Weir | Labor | 19 May 1947 | 30 June 1950 | 3 years, 42 days |
| Secretary for Lands | Bill Sheahan | Labor | 19 May 1947 | 30 June 1950 | 3 years, 42 days |
| Minister in Charge of Tourist Activities and Immigration | Frank Finnan | Labor | 29 October 1947 | 9 March 1948 | 132 days |
| Minister in Charge of Tourist Activities and Immigration | Claude Matthews | Labor | 9 March 1948 | 21 September 1949 | 1 year, 196 days |
| Minister in Charge of Tourist Activities and Immigration | Joshua Arthur | Labor | 21 September 1949 | 30 June 1950 | 282 days |
| Minister without portfolio | Joshua Arthur | Labor | 15 September 1949 | 21 September 1949 | 6 days |
| Minister for Building Materials | Claude Matthews | Labor | 19 May 1947 | 9 March 1948 | 132 days |
| Minister for Building Materials | William Dickson, MLC | Labor | 9 March 1948 | 30 June 1950 | 2 years, 113 days |
| Assistant Minister | William Dickson, MLC | Labor | 19 May 1947 | 9 March 1948 | 132 days |
Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Retained portfolios of from First McGirr ministry.
* ↑ Retained portfolio of Housing from First McGirr ministry.
* ↑ Retained portfolio of Attorney–General from First McGirr ministry.