John Tonkin

John Trezise Tonkin AC (2 February 1902 – 20 October 1995) was an Australian politician who was the premier of Western Australia from 3 March 1971 to 8 April 1974. A member of the Labor Party, Tonkin was a minister in the John Willcock, Frank Wise and Bert Hawke governments, and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from April 1933 to February 1977, making him the longest-serving member of the Parliament of Western Australia as of 2021.

Tonkin was born in the Goldfields town of Boulder, Western Australia, the eldest of three children. His family moved several times before returning to Boulder, where he attended Boulder City Central School and Eastern Goldfields High School. After working several jobs, he graduated from Claremont Teachers College and became a teacher, mainly working in small schools in rural areas. After several unsuccessful attempts to enter state parliament, Tonkin was elected as the member for North-East Fremantle in the 1933 state election.

Tonkin was first a minister from 1943 to 1947. He held several portfolios during this time, his most important being education. Labor lost the 1947 state election which resulted in Tonkin losing his portfolios. He transferred to the electoral district of Melville when North-East Fremantle was abolished at the 1950 state election. After the resignation of Wise as Labor leader in 1951, Hawke became leader and Tonkin became deputy leader. After Labor won the 1953 state election, he reassumed his role as a minister, most notably serving as the minister for works and minister for water. In 1955, he became the first deputy premier of Western Australia following an act of parliament to formally create the position. Labor lost the 1959 state election, causing Tonkin to lose his portfolios again.

Following the resignation of Hawke in 1966, Tonkin became leader of the Labor Party in Western Australia. After its longest period in opposition ever, the Labor Party won the 1971 state election to defeat David Brand and make Tonkin premier. Labor had a one-seat majority, meaning any by-election had a chance of defeating the Tonkin government. By-elections occurred in 1971 and 1973, each resulting in the near-defeat of Labor. The Tonkin government's achievements included reforms in industrial relations and employment, and the passing of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972. After three years in government, the Tonkin government was defeated in the 1974 state election. He was succeeded as premier by Charles Court. Tonkin was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1977, and has been honoured with the Tonkin Highway and John Tonkin College being named after him, among other things.