The Burke Ministry was the 29th Ministry of the Government of Western Australia , led by Labor Premier Brian Burke and deputy Mal Bryce . It commenced on 25 February 1983, six days after the O'Connor ministry , led by Premier Ray O'Connor of the Liberal Party , was defeated at the 1983 election . It was followed by the Dowding Ministry upon Burke's retirement as Premier on 25 February 1988.
31-426: The Western Australian Development Corporation (WADC) was a trading corporation established in 1983 by the first Burke Ministry of Western Australia . It enabled the state Labor government to involve itself in large-scale business transactions without the normal transparency and accountability of government-guaranteed corporations, and was part of what became known as WA Inc . It appointed John Horgan chairman on
62-602: A financial institution to be known as the Western Australian Development Corporation, for the purpose of attracting major inflows of capital to Western Australia and developing the Western Australia-based finance market". On the day after the 1983 state election , the incoming premier Brian Burke met with Laurie Connell , who was to become a regular financial adviser, and others, to whom he announced that he wanted to be involved with people in
93-653: A number of portfolios. On 25 July 1986, they were both promoted to full Ministers, making Bridge the first ever Aboriginal Cabinet minister in Australia. On 25 February 1983, the Governor, Sir Richard Trowbridge , designated 15 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
124-657: A purchase offer of $ 33.5 million from the Superannuation Board, Bond Corporation and Laurie Connell. It was proposed to lease the property back to the Education Department for $ 2 million p.a. Burke Ministry (Western Australia) Most of its members followed on from the Burke shadow ministry which had functioned since September 1981. At first, the Burke Ministry utilised roles which were largely inherited from
155-423: A quarter of a century later. The WADC's powers and accountability were heavily amended by succeeding governments which finally wound up its operations and repealed its enabling Act on 30 June 1998. The Australian Labor Party (WA Branch) state platform was amended at the party's August 1982 state conference to record a resolution that a Labor Government would "actively participate with private enterprise to establish
186-579: A salary of $ 800,000 p.a., and formed subsidiaries including Exim Corporation which sought to create and exploit export markets for education and other products. The enabling Act provided that "(4.3) The Corporation is an agent of the Crown in right of the State and enjoys the status, immunities and privileges of the Crown..." while "(4.4) Notwithstanding subsection (3), the Corporation shall not be subject to direction by
217-879: The America's Cup Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council Attorney-General Minister for Budget Management Minister for Prisons (until 16 March 1987) Minister for Corrective Services (from 16 March 1987) Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council (Leader from 16 March 1987) Minister for Police and Emergency Services Minister for Water Resources Minister for Local Government Minister for Regional Development Minister for Education Minister for Planning Minister for Intergovernmental Relations (from 16 March 1987) Minister for Police and Emergency Services (12 May–25 July 1986) Leader of
248-644: The Labor Party , Brian Burke , in the Parliament of Western Australia . While serving no formal status—only the Leader and Deputy Leader received remuneration for their role over and above that of a Member of Parliament—it was intended to improve the effectiveness of the Opposition by providing an alternative Ministry to voters, consisting of shadow ministers who could ask role-specific questions in parliament, provide comment to
279-681: The Family Minister for Youth Minister for the Aged (from 12 May 1986) Minister for Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs (until 25 July 1986) Minister assisting the Minister for Women's Interests Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council (from 16 March 1987) Honorary Minister assisting the Ministers for Transport and Small Business (until 12 May 1986) (from 12 May 1986:) (Until 25 July 1986:) Honorary Minister assisting
310-448: The Government in the Legislative Council Attorney-General Minister for Budget Management (from 23 December 1983) Minister for Prisons (from 22 April 1983) Chief Secretary (until 22 April 1983) (until 23 December 1983:) Minister for Water Resources Minister for Consumer Affairs (until 23 December 1983) Minister for Parliamentary and Electoral Reform Leader of the House in
341-649: The Governor, Gordon Reid , appointed the new Ministry. He designated 15 principal executive offices of the Government and appointed the following ministers to the positions, who served until the Dowding Ministry was established on 26 February 1988. Three of the members were new to the Ministry, and two additional honorary members were also appointed to assist specific Ministers. One of these was Australia's first ever Aboriginal Cabinet minister, Ernie Bridge . These honorary ministers were elevated to ministerial posts following
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#1732854813457372-684: The House in the Legislative Assembly Minister for the Environment Minister for Conservation and Land Management Minister for Minerals and Energy Minister for Economic Development (from 16 March 1987) Minister for the Arts Minister assisting the Minister Co-ordinating Economic and Social Development (until 16 March 1987) Minister for Agriculture Minister for Fisheries Minister for
403-502: The Legislative Assembly Minister for Police and Emergency Services Minister for Local Government Minister for the Environment Minister for Conservation and Land Management (from 22 March 1985) Minister for Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Minister for the Arts Minister for Agriculture Minister for Fisheries and Wildlife Minister assisting the Minister for Forests (25 March 1983 –22 March 1985) Minister assisting
434-743: The Legislative Council Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations and Employment Shadow Attorney-General Shadow Minister for Local Government Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Decentralisation Shadow Minister for Consumer Affairs Shadow Minister for Police Shadow Minister for Traffic Safety Shadow Minister for Urban Development and Planning Shadow Minister for Cultural Affairs Shadow Minister for Agriculture Shadow Minister for Lands Shadow Minister for Forests Shadow Minister for Education Shadow Minister for Women's Interests Shadow Minister for Health Shadow Minister for Conservation and
465-435: The Minister for Conservation and Land Management (from 22 March 1985) Minister for Education Minister for Planning (from 22 March 1985) Minister for Works Minister for Lands and Surveys Minister for Employment (until 23 December 1983) Minister for Planning and Administrative Services (until 23 December 1983) Minister for Minerals and Energy (from 23 December 1983) Minister assisting
496-459: The Minister for Public Sector Management (from 29 October 1986) Minister for Health Minister for Consumer Affairs (from 16 March 1987) Minister for the Aged (until 12 May 1986) Minister for Lands (until 16 March 1987) Minister assisting the Minister for Economic Development (from 16 March 1987) Minister for Tourism Minister for Racing and Gaming Minister for Community Services Minister for
527-612: The Minister Co-ordinating Economic and Social Development Minister for Transport Minister for Regional Development Minister for the North-West Minister with special responsibility for "Bunbury 2000" Minister for Housing Minister for Youth and Community Services (until 22 March 1985) (from 22 March 1985:) Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Minister for Sport and Recreation (until 23 December 1983:) (from 23 December 1983:) Minister for Industrial Relations (from 22 March 1985) On 26 February 1986,
558-603: The Minister..." [T]o make sure he kept secret the dealings of the WADC and its shady subsidiaries such as Exim Corporation, [Burke] pushed through legislation that not only gave them commercial confidentiality but unshackled them from ministerial accountability. The WADC was just one of many Burke creations synonymous with the corporatism of the WA Inc era -- a failed political strategy that folded high-risk business into unethical government and led to financial and social upheaval still resonating
589-463: The Ministers for Water Resources, The North West and Aboriginal Affairs (From 25 July 1986:) (12 May-25 July 1986:) Honorary Minister assisting the Ministers for Police and Emergency Services and Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Burke shadow ministry The Burke shadow ministry was a Shadow Cabinet led by the Opposition Leader and leader of
620-537: The South-West Minister for Transport (12 May–25 July 1986) Minister for the North-West (until 25 July 1986) Minister for Housing Minister for Lands (from 16 March 1987) Minister for Sport and Recreation (until 16 March 1987) Minister for Consumer Affairs (until 16 March 1987) Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (until 25 July 1986) (Until 16 March 1987:) (from 16 March 1987:) Minister assisting
651-570: The Superannuation Board, later renamed the Government Employees' Superannuation Board (GESB), which was given sweeping new powers in 1987, enabling its extensive funds to be used for virtually any purpose approved by the Treasurer. Burke was also able to control the day-to-day operations and decisions made by those bodies through the appointment of unqualified but compliant friends to senior positions. Persons so elevated included: In early 1985,
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#1732854813457682-408: The WADC to manage development of the site, on which stood one important heritage building, the 1910 Technical School designed by Hillson Beasley . It was the first property sale handled by the WADC and was converted to freehold title by the issue of a Crown grant, in return for which the state received $ 20.5 million. The new title took effect on 10 December 1985, but on 20 September, the WADC received
713-864: The assent of the Constitution Amendment Act 1986 (No.10 of 1986) on 22 July 1986, which officially grew the Ministry from 15 to 17 members. The members of the Second Ministry were: Premier and Treasurer Minister Co-ordinating Economic and Social Development (until 16 March 1987) Minister for Public Sector Management (from 29 October 1986) Minister for Women's Interests Deputy Premier Minister for Industry and Technology Minister for Small Business (until 12 May 1986) Minister for Defence Liaison Minister for Communications Minister for Parliamentary and Electoral Reform Minister for Works and Services Minister for Water Resources (12 May–25 July 1986) Minister with special responsibility for
744-465: The central-Perth site of a former David Jones department store owned by the Midtown Property Trust, a unit trust in which the units were held by or on behalf of Bond Corporation and Connell, was offered for sale to the Superannuation Board, which contracted to spend $ 11,175,000 on a 50% interest in a joint redevelopment venture. However, the Superannuation Board was to bear the entire cost of
775-592: The local business community, and that the new government would set up the WADC. The central-Perth property and development transactions entered by the WADC between 1984 and 1988 were to become a specific term of reference for the WA Inc Royal Commission . In his role of state Treasurer, Burke had the statutory capacity to direct the financial affairs of substantial corporations including the State Government Insurance Commission (SGIC) and
806-571: The media and offer alternative policies to the government in their areas of responsibility. The Burke shadow ministry existed from September 1981, after Burke's party-room defeat of then leader Ron Davies , until the 1983 state election at which Labor entered government and formed the Burke Ministry . The governing Ministries at the time were the Court Ministry and the O'Connor Ministry . The following members of Parliament were members of
837-549: The previous Government. As the government had come to power at a time of economic recession, it commissioned a State Employment Task Force under the direction of Dr John Wood to review the machinery of government. An earlier report commissioned by the previous government on mining and resource development had highlighted interdepartmental conflicts in these areas. On the basis of these, a major reshuffle took place on 23 December with no changes of personnel, although several roles were abolished and new ones created, and Arthur Tonkin , who
868-607: The project, making an elaborate loan to materialise Midtown's share of the expenses. When the agreement was drafted, in April 1985, the two parties were also planning "to secure title to the Perth Technical College site". The Perth Technical College site was 1.15 hectares (2.8 acres) of Crown land in a prime central location on the main street, St Georges Terrace , and opposite the David Jones site. In May 1984, Burke requested
899-938: The reconstitution of the Ministry on 26 February 1986. The list below is ordered by decreasing seniority within the Cabinet, as indicated by the Government Gazette and the Hansard index. Premier and Treasurer Minister Co-ordinating Economic and Social Development Minister for Forests (until 22 March 1985) Minister for Tourism (until 22 March 1985) Minister for Women's Interests Deputy Premier Minister for Economic Development and Technology (until 23 Dec 1983) (from 23 December 1983:) (from 22 March 1985:) Minister for Industrial Relations (until 22 March 1985) Minister for Administrative Services (23 Dec 1983 – 22 March 1985) Minister for Tourism (from 22 March 1985) Minister for Racing and Gaming (from 22 March 1985) Leader of
930-485: The shadow ministry: Leader of the Opposition Shadow Treasurer Shadow Minister for Immigration Shadow Minister for Ethnic Affairs Shadow Minister for Economic Affairs Shadow Minister for Federal Affairs Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Deputy Leader Shadow Minister for Industrial and Resource Development Shadow Minister for Technology Leader of the Opposition in
961-488: Was said to have presented "too hardline an image" in his dealings with business, was relieved of Consumer Affairs. Another reshuffle occurred on 22 March 1985. The Ministry was reconstituted on 26 February 1986 following the 1986 election , due in part to the defeat of one minister, Ken McIver (MLA for Avon ), and the decisions of Ron Davies and David Evans to stand down. At this point, two honorary Ministers were appointed, including Ernie Bridge , to assist ministers in