The Cabinet Room, Parliament House, . Photo: AUSPIC Question Time Question What are the origins of the Cabinet? Answer The Cabinet is a parliamentary tradition In at Federation, the Constitution number of Ministers rose to eight, and after adopted from the United Kingdom. Early provided for seven Ministers of State several further increases, reached a English monarchs were assisted by a group who were to make up the Cabinet. maximum of 30 in 2001. of advisers known as the Privy Council. From The first Cabinet was appointed by the As the number of Ministers grew, it was not the fifteenth century, the Privy Council often Governor-General, on the advice of Prime practical to include them all in the Cabinet. delegated certain tasks to smaller Minister , in December 1900, In 1956, Prime Minister Robert Menzies committees. Any committee attended by the before the first federal election. It comprised divided his Ministry into an ‘inner’ group, monarch was known as a ‘cabinet’. This Edmund Barton (Hunter, NSW), consisting of the Prime Minister and senior became the usual name for the group (Ballaarat*, Vic), James Dickson Ministers, and an outer Ministry made up of comprised of the sovereign and his or her (), (Swan, WA), junior Ministers. The inner Ministry formed closest advisers. (South Australia), Neil Lewis the Cabinet. This practice was adopted by all (), (Hume, NSW), The Cabinet came into its own during the subsequent Governments, except that of Senator Richard O’Connor (NSW), and reign of King George I (1714-1727). As well Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, whose George Turner (Balaclava, Vic). With the as being King of Great Britain, George I was 1972-75 Cabinet contained all Ministers. exception of O’Connor, Deakin and Barton, the Elector of Hanover, a German territory all were former colonial Premiers. Since 1956, Ministries have consisted of inherited from his father. Having grown up in 22 to 30 Ministers, while the Cabinet has Germany, George was unfamiliar with English As there were nine members instead of the contained between 11 and 17 members. language and customs. During his reign, he seven prescribed by the Constitution, spent much of his time attending to O’Connor and Lewis were Ministers without * The electorate of Ballarat, centred around the matters in Hanover. He showed little Portfolio and, therefore, without ministerial Victorian city of the same name, was originally interest in the government of Great Britain salary. Before the first general election, spelt as Ballaarat. The name changed in 1977. and rarely attended meetings of the Cabinet Dickson died and was replaced by or Parliament. Queensland Senator . Lewis Have you got a question? decided to remain in State politics and In George’s absence, the power of his If you have a question that you want was replaced by former Tasmanian answered about the House of ministers increased. Acting as a collective, Premier . Representatives, please contact us: the Cabinet was able to formulate its own policies. If the Cabinet’s bills were passed by Recognising that the Parliament would grow, Liaison and Projects Office, House of the Commons, the King had little choice but the Constitution provided for the number of Representatives, Parliament House, to accept them. The Cabinet’s role as the Ministers to be changed by law; that is, CANBERRA ACT 2600 chief policy-making body of the Government without a referendum. Seven Ministers soon Call: (02) 6277 2122 became an enduring feature of the proved to be too few to administer all the Email: [email protected] Westminster Parliament. Government’s departments. In 1915, the Fax: (02) 6277 8521

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