Dibbs ministry (1885)

First Dibbs ministry
21st cabinet of the Colony of New South Wales
Premier George Dibbs and the Colony of New South Wales (1863–1900)
Date formed	7 October 1885 (1885-10-07)
Date dissolved	21 December 1885 (1885-12-21)
People and organisations
Head of government	George Dibbs
Head of state	Queen Victoria (represented by Lord Augustus Loftus and subsequently The Lord Carrington)
Number of ministers	10
Member party	unaligned
Status in legislature	Minority government
Opposition party	unaligned
Opposition leader	John Robertson
History
Predecessor	Stuart ministry
Successor	Fifth Robertson ministry

The first Dibbs ministry was the 21st ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was the first of three occasions of being led by the Premier, the Honourable George Dibbs. Dibbs was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1874.

There was no party system in New South Wales politics until 1887. Under the constitution, ministers were required to resign to recontest their seats in a by-election when appointed. These by-elections are only noted when the minister was defeated; in general, he was elected unopposed.

This ministry covers the period from 7 October 1885 until 21 December 1885. Dibbs took over as Premier following the October 1885 resignation of the Hon. Alexander Stuart MLA due to ill-health. At the subsequent election Dibbs' government polled badly and despite attempting to govern; less than three months later when it became clear that there would be a budget deficit of over £1m. Dibbs was succeeded by Henry Parkes.

Composition of ministry

Portfolio	Minister	Term start	Term end	Term length
Premier	Hon. George Dibbs MLA	7 October 1885	21 December 1885	days
Colonial Treasurer		10 October 1885		days
Colonial Secretary		7 October 1885	9 October 1885	days
	Hon. Sir Patrick Jennings MLC	10 October 1885	21 December 1885	days
Minister of Public Instruction	Hon. William Trickett MLA	7 October 1885		days
Representative of the Government in Legislative Council	Hon. George Thornton MLC	13 November 1885	21 December 1885	days
	Hon. James Farnell MLC	7 October 1885	9 October 1885	days
Minister of Justice
	Hon. Thomas Slattery MLA	2 November 1885	21 December 1885	days
Attorney-General	Hon. John Want MLA	7 October 1885		days
Secretary for Lands	Hon. Joseph Palmer Abbott MLA
Secretary for Public Works	Hon. Henry Badgery MLA		31 October 1885	days
	Hon. William Lyne MLA	2 November 1885	21 December 1885	days
Postmaster-General	Hon. John See MLA	7 October 1885		days
Secretary for Mines	Hon. Francis Wright MLA		17 October 1885	days
	Hon. George Thornton MLC	13 November 1885	21 December 1885	days

See also

• Second Dibbs ministry (1889)
• Third Dibbs ministry (1891–1894)
• Self-government in New South Wales
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1882–1885

References

Preceded by Stuart ministry

First Dibbs ministry 1885

Succeeded by Fifth Robertson ministry