Parkes ministry (1878–1883)

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The third Parkes ministry was the nineteenth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales. It was led by Sir Henry Parkes in coalition with Sir John Robertson, and lasted from 21 December 1878 to 4 January 1883.

This government operated in a time before formal political parties, so it was effectively a minority government made up of independents who supported Parkes. There were 10 ministers in the cabinet. At the time, ministers had to resign and recontest their seats in by-elections when appointed; Parkes was easily re-elected at Canterbury with more than 90% of the vote, James Watson was re-elected at The Lachlan, and five other ministers were re-elected unopposed. Three newly appointed ministers—Robert Wisdom, Arthur Renwick, and William Foster—were also re-elected unopposed.

In 1880 the portfolio of Justice and Public Instruction was split into separate roles after the Public Instruction Act 1880.

The ministry faced a major scandal in 1881. Ezekiel Baker, the Secretary for Mines, resigned amid allegations connected to his conduct as a trustee of the Milburn Creek Copper Mining Co. A royal commission led by Julian Salomons investigated the government’s payments to the company and found evidence of misappropriation and possible bribery involving a trustee. Parkes moved to expel Baker, and the motion was carried by 71 votes to 2. He then moved to expel Thomas Garrett, but that motion failed 40 to 38. This controversy ended the Parkes–Robertson coalition, and Robertson resigned from the ministry.

The third Parkes ministry ended on 4 January 1883 and was followed by the Stuart ministry.