Dooley ministry (1921–1922)

The Dooley ministry (1921–1922) or the Second Dooley ministry was the 40th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 21st Premier, James Dooley.

Dooley ministry
40th Cabinet of the State of New South Wales
Premier James Dooley
Date formed	20 December 1921 (1921-12-20)
Date dissolved	13 April 1922 (1922-04-13)
People and organisations
Monarch	George V
Governor	Sir Walter Davidson
Head of government	James Dooley
No. of ministers	13
Member party	Labor
Status in legislature	Minority government
Opposition party	Nationalist
Opposition leader	George Fuller
History
Outgoing election	1920 New South Wales election
Predecessor	First Fuller ministry
Successor	Second Fuller ministry

Dooley was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1907, serving until 1927, when he fell out with the Labor leadership, lost Labor preselection, and stood unsuccessfully as an Independent Labor candidate for the Senate in the 1931 federal election. Dooley served as Deputy Labor leader to Ernest Durack and then John Storey,[1] when Labor came to power at the 1920 state election, with what Storey called "half a mandate".[2] The assembly was evenly divided, with Labor having 43 seats and the support of Percy Brookfield (Socialist Labor) and Arthur Gardiner (Independent Labor), while the Nationalists had 28 seats and the support of 15 seats of Progressive Party and 2 independent Nationalists. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly did not vote unless there was a tie which meant whichever side provided the speaker was unable to command a majority. Nationalist Daniel Levy controversially accepted re-election as speaker, giving Labor an effective majority,[3][4] Storey died in office on 5 October 1921.[2]

On Storey's death in 1921, Dooley became Leader and Premier, reconstituting the ministry, however, his hold in power was tenuous. Levy had resigned as speaker on 12 December 1921, replaced by Labor's Simon Hickey and the government was defeated on the floor of the house 44 votes to 45.[5][6] Levy was re-elected as speaker, which meant new Premier George Fuller could not command a majority in the house and resigned within seven hours of his appointment. Levy remained as speaker as the only way to have a workable parliament,[3] allowing Dooley to regain power.[1] The ministry was virtually unchanged, with the Labour portfolio moving from Greg McGirr to Edward Kavanagh.[7]

The ministry covers the period from 20 December 1921 until 13 April 1922, when Labor led by Dooley was defeated by a Nationalist coalition, led by Fuller, at the 1922 state election.[1]