Forster ministry

Forster ministry
5th cabinet of the Colony of New South Wales
Premier William Forster and the Colony of New South Wales (1856–1859)
Date formed	27 October 1859 (1859-10-27)
Date dissolved	8 March 1860 (1860-03-08)
People and organisations
Head of state	Queen Victoria (represented by William Denison)
Head of government	William Forster
No. of ministers	6
Member party	unaligned
Status in legislature	Minority government
Opposition party	unaligned
Opposition leader	Charles Cowper John Robertson
History
Predecessor	Second Cowper ministry
Successor	First Robertson ministry

The Forster ministry was the fifth ministry of the Colony of New South Wales, and was led by the Honourable William Forster. Forster was elected in the first free elections for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly held in March 1856. He was asked to form Government after the second Cowper ministry lost an educational bill in the Assembly.

The title of Premier was widely used to refer to the Leader of Government, but not enshrined in formal use until 1920.

There was no party system in New South Wales politics until 1887. Under the constitution, ministers were required to resign to recontest their seats in a by-election when appointed. These by-elections are only noted when the minister was defeated; in general, he was elected unopposed.

This ministry covers the period of just four months from 27 October 1859 until 8 March 1860, when Forster resigned his commission.

: Edward Wise resigned his commission in 1860 and was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.