# Dowding ministry

The Dowding Ministry was the 30th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia, and was led by Labor Premier Peter Dowding and his deputy, David Parker. It succeeded the Burke Ministry on 25 February 1988, upon the retirement of Brian Burke from politics on the fifth anniversary of his becoming Premier.
The Ministry was reconstituted on 28 February 1989 following the 1989 election, due in part to the defeat of one minister, Barry Hodge (MLA for Melville), and the Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet, John Read (MLA for Mandurah), by opposition Liberal candidates.
The second term of the Ministry was a particularly difficult one due to ongoing revelations relating to the government's past dealings with relation to WA Inc, and with a federal election approaching, considerable pressure was being exerted on the State Government. On 7 February 1990, a majority of the 47-member Labor caucus signed an open letter calling on Dowding to step down, and in a caucus meeting on 12 February 1990, Dowding and Parker resigned. The Ministry was succeeded six days later by the Lawrence Ministry led by the Minister for Education and Aboriginal Affairs, Dr Carmen Lawrence, and her deputy, Ian Taylor.

## Members
### First Ministry

On 25 February 1988, the Governor, Gordon Reid, designated 17 principal executive offices of the Government under section 43(2) of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899. The following ministers were then appointed to the positions, and served until the reconstitution of the Ministry on 28 February 1989.
The members of the First Dowding Ministry were:
| Office | Minister |
| Premier and Treasurer Minister for Productivity Minister for Public Sector Management Minister for Women's Interests | Peter Dowding, LL.B., MLA |
| Deputy Premier Minister for Economic Development and Trade | David Parker, BA, JP, MLA |
| Attorney-General Minister for Budget Management Minister for Corrective Services Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council | Joe Berinson, LL.B., QC, MLC |
| Minister for Community Services Minister for the Family Minister for Youth Minister for the Aged Minister assisting the Minister for Women's Interests Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council | Kay Hallahan, BSW, JP, MLC |
| Minister for Mines Minister for Local Government Minister for Regional Development | Jeff Carr, BA, JP, MLA |
| Minister for Transport Minister for Planning Minister for Parliamentary and Electoral Reform Minister for Intergovernmental Relations Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly | Bob Pearce, BA, DipEd, JP, MLA |
| Minister for the Environment Minister for Conservation and Land Management Minister for Waterways | Barry Hodge, MLA |
| Minister for Agriculture Minister for the South-West Minister for Fisheries Minister assisting the Minister for Economic Development and Trade | Julian Grill, LL.B., JP, MLA |
| Minister for Health | Rev Keith Wilson, MLA |
| Minister for Police and Emergency Services Minister assisting the Treasurer | Ian Taylor, B.Econ (Hons), JP, MLA |
| Minister for Housing Minister for Tourism Minister for Racing and Gaming | Pam Beggs, JP, MLA |
| Minister for Labour Minister for Works and Services Minister assisting the Minister for Productivity and Public Sector Management | Gavan Troy, B Bus, FAIM, JP, MLA |
| Minister for Water Resources Minister for Small Business Minister for the North-West Minister for Aboriginal Affairs | Ernie Bridge, MLA |
| Minister for Employment and Training Minister for Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Minister assisting the Minister of Education with TAFE | Gordon Hill, JP, MLA |
| Minister for Consumer Affairs Minister for Sport and Recreation | Graham Edwards, MLC |
| Minister for Lands Minister for the Arts | Yvonne Henderson, BA, DipEd, JP, MLA |
| Minister for Education | Dr Carmen Lawrence, BPsych, PhD, MLA |
    $^1$ On 7 June 1988, Julian Grill became, in addition to his earlier responsibilities, Minister assisting the Minister for Economic Development and Trade.
    $^2$ On 4 February 1989, Barry Hodge ceased to be a Member of the Legislative Assembly, having lost the seat of Melville, but continued to hold a position in the Ministry until a caucus meeting was held to reconstitute the Ministry.

### Second Ministry

On 28 February 1989, the Governor, Gordon Reid, reconstituted the Ministry. He designated 17 principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to the positions, who served until the Lawrence Ministry was established on 19 February 1990.
On 12 February 1990, Premier Peter Dowding resigned all of his ministerial portfolios, being replaced in them temporarily by Carmen Lawrence, who retained Education and Aboriginal Affairs. Deputy Premier David Parker resigned purely as Deputy Premier, retaining the Treasury, Resources Development and the Arts; Ian Taylor became Deputy Premier and retained Police and Emergency Services, Conservation and Land Management and Waterways.
The members of the Ministry were:
| Office | Minister |
| Premier Minister for Public Sector Management Minister for Women's Interests | Peter Dowding, LL.B., MLA |
| Deputy Premier and Treasurer Minister for Economic Development and Trade Minister for the Arts | David Parker, BA, JP, MLA |
| Attorney-General Minister for Budget Management Minister for Corrective Services Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council | Joe Berinson, LL.B., QC, MLC |
| Minister for Local Government Minister for Lands Minister for the Family Minister for the Aged Minister assisting the Minister for Women's Interests Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council | Kay Hallahan, BSW, JP, MLC |
| Minister for Housing Minister for Planning | Pam Beggs, JP, MLA |
| Minister for Agriculture Minister for Water Resources Minister for the North-West | Ernie Bridge, MLA |
| Minister for Mines Minister for Fuel and Energy Minister for the Mid-West | Jeff Carr, BA, JP, MLA |
| Minister for Racing and Gaming Minister for Sport and Recreation Minister for Youth | Graham Edwards, MLC |
| Minister for Economic Development and Trade Minister for Tourism | Julian Grill, LL.B., JP, MLA |
| Minister for Consumer Affairs Minister for Works and Services | Yvonne Henderson, BA, DipEd, JP, MLA |
| Minister for Regional Development Minister for Fisheries Minister for Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs | Gordon Hill, JP, MLA |
| Minister for Education Minister for Aboriginal Affairs | Dr Carmen Lawrence, BPsych, PhD, MLA |
| Minister for Transport Minister for the Environment Minister for Parliamentary and Electoral Reform Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly | Bob Pearce, BA, DipEd, JP, MLA |
| Minister for Community Services Minister for Justice Minister for the South-West | David Smith, LL.B., JP, MLA |
| Minister for Police and Emergency Services Minister for Conservation and Land Management Minister for Waterways | Ian Taylor, B.Econ (Hons), JP, MLA |
| Minister for Labour Minister for Employment and Training Minister for Productivity Minister assisting the Minister of Education with TAFE | Gavan Troy, B Bus, FAIM, JP, MLA |
| Minister for Health | Rev Keith Wilson, MLA |