{{Short description|3rd ministry of the government of Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Use Australian English|date=November 2019}} {{see also|Watson government}} {{Infobox government cabinet | cabinet_name = Watson ministry | cabinet_type = Ministry | cabinet_number = 3rd | jurisdiction = Australia | flag = Flag of Australia (1903–1908).svg | flag_border = true | incumbent = | image = Watson Ministry (cropped).jpg | caption = Group photo of the Watson ministry with Governor-General Lord Northcote. | date_formed = 27 April 1904 | date_dissolved = 17 August 1904 | government_head = Chris Watson | government_head_history = | deputy_government_head = | state_head = Edward VII | governor_general = Lord Northcote | members_number = 8 | former_members_number = | total_number = | political_party = Labour | legislature_status = Minority government (Protectionist support) | opposition_cabinet = | opposition_party = Free Trade | opposition_leader = George Reid | election = | last_election = | legislature_term = 2nd | budget = | advice_and_consent1 = | incoming_formation = | outgoing_formation = | predecessor = First Deakin ministry | successor = Reid ministry | state_head_title = Monarch | government_head_title = Prime Minister }}

The '''Watson ministry''' (Labour) was the 3rd ministry of the Government of Australia, and the first national Labour government formed in the world. It was led by the country's 3rd Prime Minister, Chris Watson. The Watson ministry succeeded the First Deakin ministry, which dissolved on 27 April 1904 after Labour withdrew their support and Alfred Deakin was forced to resign. The ministry was replaced by the Reid ministry on 17 August 1904 after the Protectionist Party withdrew their support over the Conciliation and Arbitration Bill.<ref>{{cite web | title = Ministries and Cabinets | work =Parliamentary Handbook | publisher =Parliament of Australia | url =http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;page=0;query=Scullin%20Ministry%20(ALP);rec=0;resCount=Default | access-date =17 September 2010 }}</ref>

Billy Hughes, who died in 1952, was the last surviving member of the Watson ministry; Hughes was also the last surviving member of the First Fisher ministry, Third Fisher ministry, Second Hughes ministry and Third Hughes ministry.

==Ministry== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! colspan="2" | Party ! Minister ! Portrait ! Portfolio |- | {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp; ||rowspan=2| Labor | Chris Watson <br>{{small|(1867–1941)}} {{post-nominals|country=AUS|MP}} for Bland <br>{{small|(1901–1906)}} | 100px | * Prime Minister * ''Leader of the Labor Party'' * Treasurer |- | {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp; | Billy Hughes <br>{{small|(1862–1952)}} {{post-nominals|country=AUS|MP}} for West Sydney <br>{{small|(1901–1917)}} | 100px | * Minister for External Affairs |- | {{Australian party style|Protectionist}}|&nbsp; ||rowspan=1| Protectionist | H. B. Higgins <br>{{small|(1851–1929)}} {{post-nominals|country=AUS|MP}} for Northern Melbourne <br>{{small|(1901–1906)}}{{efn|The Protectionist Party member Higgins accepted office (with Alfred Deakin's permission) as Attorney-General since the Labour Party did not have a lawyer in its parliamentary ranks with the exception of Billy Hughes, who had recently admitted as a barrister but who was already serving in another portfolio and was not viewed as qualified for the post. It was the only time a non-member of the Labour Party has served in a Labour ministry.}} | 100px | * Attorney-General |- | {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp; ||rowspan=5| Labor | Lee Batchelor <br>{{small|(1865–1911)}} {{post-nominals|country=AUS|MP}} for Boothby <br>{{small|(1903–1911)}} | 100px | * Minister for Home Affairs |- | {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp; | Andrew Fisher <br>{{small|(1862–1928)}} {{post-nominals|country=AUS|MP}} for Wide Bay <br>{{small|(1901–1915)}} | 100px | * Minister for Trade and Customs |- | {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp; | Anderson Dawson <br>{{small|(1863–1910)}} Senator for Queensland <br>{{small|(1901–1906)}} | 100px | * Minister for Defence |- | {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp; | Hugh Mahon <br>{{small|(1857–1931)}} {{post-nominals|country=AUS|MP}} for Coolgardie <br>{{small|(1901–1913)}} | 100px | * Postmaster-General |- | {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp; | Gregor McGregor <br>{{small|(1848–1914)}} Senator for South Australia <br>{{small|(1901–1914)}} | 100px | * ''Deputy Leader of the Labor Party'' * Vice-President of the Executive Council * ''Leader of the Government in the Senate'' |}

==Notes== {{notes}}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Australian federal ministries}} {{Australian Labor Party}}

Category:Ministries of Edward VII Category:Australian Commonwealth ministries Category:Australian Labor Party ministries Category:1904 establishments in Australia Category:1904 disestablishments in Australia Category:Cabinets established in 1904 Category:Cabinets disestablished in 1904