Editing Hal Colebatch (section)

==State politics==
He first ran for parliament in 1910, contesting the [[East Province (Western Australia)|East Province]] of the [[Western Australian Legislative Council|Legislative Council]] in a [[by-election]] on 26 September resulting from the death of [[George Throssell]]. Colebatch came second out of the three candidates, being beat by the more well known [[Warren Marwick]].{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=19}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26292432 |title=State Politics |newspaper=The West Australian |date=30 September 1910 |access-date=24 January 2023 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He then received a petition from 72 electors to run again,{{sfnm|Colebatch|2004|1p=46|De Garis|1962|2p=20}} so he contested the newly-created [[Electoral district of Avon|seat of Avon]] in the [[1911 Western Australian state election|1911 state election]]. He was narrowly defeated by [[Thomas Bath]] from the Labor Party.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=20}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26352772 |title=Country Electorates |newspaper=The West Australian |date=5 October 1911 |access-date=26 January 2023 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In early 1912, Colebatch and Mitchell formed a Liberal League in Northam.{{sfnm|Colebatch|2004|1p=46|De Garis|1962|2p=26}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23868494 |title=State Politics |newspaper=The West Australian |date=29 March 1912 |access-date=23 January 2023 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Colebatch was also the convenor of a finance sub-committee within the Liberal Party, which made the successful recommendation to charge a membership fee so the party would be less reliant on large donors.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=35}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23865911 |title=Liberal League |newspaper=The West Australian |date=1 March 1912 |access-date=26 January 2023 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In March 1912, Colebatch was elected to the executive committee of the Liberal Party.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=36}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23866117 |title=Liberal League |newspaper=The West Australian |date=2 March 1912 |access-date=26 January 2023 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Colebatch was initially not going to contest the [[1912 Western Australian Legislative Council election|May 1912 Legislative Council election]], but Marwick had become unpopular in Northam due to his opinion on the proposed route for the [[Sydney–Perth rail corridor|transcontinental railway line]]. The most likely route was to be via [[Midland, Western Australia|Midland]] and Northam, where there was already a line, but there was an alternative proposal via [[Armadale, Western Australia|Armadale]] and [[Brookton, Western Australia|Brookton]], which is also in the East Province. Marwick chose to support the Armadale-Brookton route, which resulted in his unpopularity within Northam. A public meeting in Northam decided that a better candidate must contest the East Province, and so Colebatch became a last-minute candidate. He supported the transcontinental railway line passing through Northam and a developmental railway being built from Armadale to Brookton.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=21}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23870370 |title=Legislative Council Elections |newspaper=The West Australian |date=22 April 1912 |access-date=26 January 2023 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23870811 |title=The East Province |newspaper=The West Australian |date=26 April 1912 |access-date=23 January 2023 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Colebatch won the East Province,{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=47}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26512551 |title=East Province Election |newspaper=The West Australian |date=5 June 1912 |access-date=26 January 2023 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> beating Marwick by a small margin in every polling place except for in Marwick's home town of York.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=25}} Colebatch took his seat on 27 June 1912.{{sfnm|Colebatch|2004|1p=47|De Garis|1962|2p=30}} He did not contest the November 1912 Northam municipal election and was succeeded as mayor by Bernard.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26526046 |title=Country |newspaper=The West Australian |date=12 November 1912 |access-date=26 January 2023 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26526864 |title=Municipal Elections |newspaper=The West Australian |date=21 November 1912 |access-date=26 January 2023 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

===In opposition===
Colebatch was part of the newly-formed [[Western Australian Liberal Party (1911–1917)|Liberal Party]], however in his [[maiden speech]], he said he would always speak for his individual feelings.{{sfnm|Colebatch|2004|1p=48|De Garis|1962|2p=28}} At the time, [[John Scaddan]] had been [[Premier of Western Australia|premier]] for a year and the Labor Party had a substantial majority in the Legislative Assembly,{{sfnm|Colebatch|2004|1p=47|De Garis|1962|2p=28}} however the Legislative Council had a conservative majority.{{sfnm|Colebatch|2004|1p=48|De Garis|1962|2pp=28–29}} According to historian [[Brian De Garis]], "for a man like Colebatch, there could not have been a more opportune moment for launching a parliamentary career". He says it would have been difficult for Colebatch to stand out if he had entered the conservative-dominated upper house during a Liberal government, but entering during a Labor government gave him an opportunity to use his formidable debating skills.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=29}} Colebatch would soon become the Scaddan government's harshest critic in the Legislative Council and Labor members grew to dread his speeches.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=50}}

The Scaddan government felt that establishing and expanding government enterprises was in the best interests of the state, something that Colebatch was strongly opposed to. The government set out to establish state-run and state-subsidised brickworks, sawmills, quarries, hotels, dairies, ferries, butcher shops, fish shops, brick works, tramways, meat works, quarries and abattoirs.{{sfnm|Colebatch|2004|1p=47|De Garis|1962|2p=30}}

Colebatch lead the opposition to the Tramways Purchase Bill 1912, which sought to nationalise [[trams in Perth]]. He felt that the [[City of Perth|Perth City Council]] was being cheated out of their reversionary rights to the tramways and that the government would be a poor operator like they were with the railways. The bill was passed anyway, but it earned Colebatch a reputation as a "hard fighter and a brilliant speaker".{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=31}} Two of the most important bills passed in this session of parliament were the Workers' Compensation Act and the Industrial Arbitration Act.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=31}} Workers' Compensation previously only applied to certain occupations, but the new act extended it to apply to all workers earning less than £300 per annum. Although he did not vote against it, Colebatch criticised the bill for hurting employers and was successful in limiting parts of the bill.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=32}} The Industrial Arbitration Act consolidated previous legislation and made it easier for unions to approach the [[Court of Arbitration]].{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=31}} Colebatch opposed the bill for preferencing unionists and hampering the ability of industries to compete with overseas firms. Eventually the two sides met and worked out a compromise which the government and the opposition could both support.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=33}} One bill that Colebatch was especially interested in was the Water Rights and Irrigation Bill. The bill was referred to a [[Select committee (parliamentary system)|select committee]] that he was the chairman of and he introduced many of the amendments that the committee recommended. The amendments were not accepted by the Legislative Assembly though and the bill did not pass.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=34}} The following year, the bill was introduced again, but it failed to pass again.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=39}} It eventually passed in 1914.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=47}}

By 1913, Colebatch had gained a prominent position in the Liberal Party's governance. In February 1913, he was elected as a vice-president of the party's executive committee.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=36}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26866418 |title=The Liberal League |newspaper=The West Australian |date=8 February 1913 |access-date=26 January 2023 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> His opponents used this to attack his claimed position of being above party politics.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=37}}

One of the bills the government introduced in 1913 was the Electoral Districts Bill,{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=39}} which proposed having commissioners design the electoral districts rather than parliament and introduced equally-populated constituencies for all of Western Australia except for three seats in the north of the state. This would have increased the number of metropolitan districts at the expense of rural districts. Colebatch opposed having equally-populated constituencies, saying that "it seems to be utterly unfair that huge districts with great interests and scattered population should be put in the same position as closely congested and settled communities".{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=40}} He proposed seven amendments, including that rural districts should have 20 percent fewer voters and metropolitan districts should have more voters. The Legislative Council accepted these amendments but the Legislative Assembly did not, meaning the bill was unable to pass.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=34}}

[[Matthew Moss]], the unofficial leader of the opposition in the Legislative Council, retired at the 1914 election, enabling Colebatch to take the position.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|pp=42–43}} During 1914, Colebatch lead the opposition to the Income Tax (War Emergency) Bill, which was to raise taxes mainly to support farmers during the drought which was occurring at the time. Colebatch attacked the government for introducing the bill so late in the session, just before the [[1914 Western Australian state election|1914 election]], without the presentation of estimates, and for only one third of the money raised going to the farmers.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=45}} The bill was defeated by the Legislative Council by eighteen votes to six.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=46}} The following year, Colebatch opposed the Income and Public Entertainments Taxation Bill, which was expected to increase taxation so that money could be spent on public works to create jobs. He believed that the money would better off with private enterprise, which would be able to provide more jobs and greater benefits to the state.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=49}}

===In government===
In July 1916, the Liberal and [[Country Party of Western Australia|Country]] parties cooperated to pass a [[vote of no confidence]] in the Scaddan Government.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|pp=59–60}} Labor had been left with a minority of seats in the Legislative Assembly following several resignations{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=56}} and the Country Party had drifted closer to the Liberal Party compared to when they were initially elected to parliament in 1914.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=58}} The Liberal Party's [[Frank Wilson (politician)|Frank Wilson]] became premier, and although he had only been in parliament for four years, Colebatch was an obvious choice to join [[Second Wilson Ministry (Western Australia)|the ministry]] and lead the government in the Legislative Council. By this time, Colebatch was looked at by some as the state's next John Forrest,{{efn|[[John Forrest]] had been the state's premier for 11 years, far longer than any of his successors. His departure from state politics for federal politics in 1901 led to a dearth in the state parliament's talent.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|pp=27–28}}}} and so he was appointed [[Minister for Education (Western Australia)|Minister for Education]] and [[Colonial Secretary of Western Australia|Colonial Secretary]]. Mitchell was also a member of the ministry, being appointed [[Minister for Railways (Western Australia)|Minister for Railways]] and [[Minister for Water (Western Australia)|Minister for Water Supply]].{{sfnm|Colebatch|2004|1p=51|Black|2021|2p=266|De Garis|1962|3p=60}}

The colonial secretary was responsible for numerous miscellaneous departments, including charities, public health, aborigines, public gardens, the state shipping service. Although the colonial secretary had to introduce many bills and answer many questions in parliament, it was not a role that allowed for high achievement to shine. On the other hand, the role of education minister allowed for this, and Colebatch found this to be his favourite portfolio. He later claimed that he was appointed education minister due to his advocacy for country high schools when Wilson was previously premier.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=61}}

Parliament was adjourned for seven weeks for [[ministerial by-election]]s to take place. Colebatch was subsequently elected unopposed.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=62}} Soon after parliament resumed, it was adjourned again for the [[1916 Australian conscription referendum]] campaign.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|pp=62–63}} Like most Liberal politicians, Colebatch supported [[Conscription in Australia|conscription]],{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=63}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article81720614 |title=Conscription: The Coming Referendum |newspaper=The Daily News |date=18 September 1916 |access-date=26 January 2023 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and his rhetoric grew more and more nationalistic as the campaign went on.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=63}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26995542 |title=Perth's Final Rally |newspaper=The West Australian |date=28 October 1916 |access-date=26 January 2023 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Western Australia ended up voting for conscription, whereas nationally, the majority voted against conscription.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=64}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Part 5 - Referendums and Plebiscites – Plebiscite results |url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22handbook/newhandbook/2014-10-31/0050%22 |website=Parliament of Australia |access-date=26 January 2023}}</ref> Meanwhile, both of Colebatch's sons enlisted in the army and in 1917, they went to fight in France in [[World War I]]. Gordon was severely injured by a shell blast and suffered the effects of this for the rest of his life.{{sfnm|Colebatch|2004|1p=54|De Garis|1962|2p=64}} To help raise funds for soldiers and dependents in need, Colebatch was the chairman of the Western Australian War Patriotic Fund.{{sfnm|Colebatch|2004|1p=53|De Garis|1962|2p=75}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28169807 |title=War Patriotic Fund. Work Closing. The Executive's Report. |newspaper=The West Australian |date=29 May 1922 |access-date=26 January 2023 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

The parliamentary session under the Wilson government only got underway in November 1916.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=64}} The government passed the Trading Concerns Act, which put all trading concerns on a commercial basis as well as preventing the establishment of trading concerns without the approval of parliament, preventing the government from using its executive power to do so like the Scaddan government often did.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=65}} The State Fish Supplies, which was one of Colebatch's responsibilities, was shut down due to not being commercially viable. On the other hand, the State Steamship Service proved viable and was not shut down.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=66}}

Colebatch was opposed to large-scale gambling and lotteries, particularly those run by the government, believing them to be a tax on the poor and stupid. He introduced a bill to outlaw [[bookmaking]] in 1916, but it was not passed by parliament.{{sfnm|Colebatch|2004|1p=53|De Garis|1962|2p=67}} A success that Colebatch had as colonial secretary was to convert [[Rottnest Island]] from a prison to a holiday resort. The island was made an [[A-class reserve]] in 1917 and Colebatch was appointed as the first president of the Rottnest Island Board of Control. Some prisoners were retained for the first few years as cheap labour, but by 1922, the last prisoners were removed from the island.{{sfnm|Colebatch|2004|1p=54|De Garis|1962|2pp=67–68}}

In May 1917, the Liberal Party was disbanded and turned into the [[Nationalist Party (Australia)|Nationalist Party]],{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=71}} and in June, the new party elected [[Henry Lefroy]] as its leader.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=72}}<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57985987 |title=Exit Wilson; Enter Lefroy |newspaper=Sunday Times |date=24 June 1917 |access-date=26 January 2023 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Wilson resigned as premier, and so Lefroy was appointed to the position.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=72}}<ref name="The West Australian 28 June 1917">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27303471 |title=State Politics |newspaper=The West Australian |date=28 June 1917 |access-date=26 January 2023 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Colebatch became the unofficial [[Deputy Premier of Western Australia|deputy premier]]{{efn|The position of [[Deputy Premier of Western Australia]] did not become official until 1955.<ref>{{cite web |title=Deputy Premiers of Western Australia |url=https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/intranet/libpages.nsf/WebFiles/Publications+ministers+-+Deputy+Premiers+2017+March+17/$FILE/Publications+ministers+-+Deputy+Premiers+2017+March+17.pdf |website=Parliament of Western Australia |access-date=26 January 2023 |date=20 March 2017}}</ref>}}{{sfnm|Colebatch|2004|1p=54|De Garis|1962|2p=73}} and kept his previous positions in the [[Lefroy Ministry|new ministry]].{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=54}}<ref name="The West Australian 28 June 1917"/> Despite this, Colebatch stated his distaste in the way that Wilson had been ousted and was disappointed that Mitchell was no longer in the ministry.{{sfnm|Colebatch|2004|1p=54|De Garis|1962|2p=73}}

The [[1917 Western Australian state election|1917 state election]] occurred soon after the [[Lefroy Ministry]] was appointed, and after that, parliament only resumed for a week before it was adjourned for the [[1917 Australian conscription referendum]] campaign.{{sfn|De Garis|1962|p=74}}

By 1917, Colebatch had established district high schools in Northam and [[Geraldton]]. He had also established scholarships to enable children from outside areas to attend them. Two more district high schools were created in [[Bunbury, Western Australia|Bunbury]] and [[Albany, Western Australia|Albany]] that year.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=55}} Establishing the first high schools outside Perth and the Goldfields had been the issue which had impelled him to enter politics.{{sfnm|Colebatch|2004|1p=63|De Garis|1962|2pp=18–19}} In 1918, Nationalist member [[John Stewart (Western Australian politician)|John Stewart]] resigned from the [[Electoral district of Claremont|seat of Claremont]] in the Legislative Assembly. It was offered to Colebatch that he resign from the Legislative Council to contest the [[1918 Claremont state by-election|resulting by-election]] so that he could one day become premier, however Colebatch decline the offer as he did not want to undermine confidence in the Lefroy Government.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=55}}

===Spanish flu===
By late 1918, the [[Spanish flu]] had become a pandemic, and returning soldiers aboard the [[Boonah crisis|HMAT ''Boonah'']] were falling sick. As the Colonial Secretary, Colebatch was responsible for public health. With the ship approaching Fremantle, Colebatch set up an emergency isolation camp on [[Garden Island (Western Australia)|Garden Island]] to supplement the existing quarantine facility at [[Woodman Point]]. He also considered using Rottnest Island if need be, but it was not ideal as it was further from the mainland than Garden Island.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=57}} The [[List of mayors of Fremantle|mayor of Fremantle]], William Montgomery, demanded that Lefroy disallow the ''Boonah'' from entering the port. However Colebatch stated that he believed that the sick soldiers were "entitled to be taken off the boat as soon as land is reached",{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=58}} and that allowing the ship to continue on to the [[Eastern states of Australia|eastern states]] would result in most of the other passengers on board being infected. As a result, several hundred of the 1,200 people aboard the ship were quarantined at Woodman Point.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=59}} Colebatch denounced the federal government's handling of the matter, as despite it being responsible for shipping and quarantine under the [[Australian constitution]], it did very little.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|pp=58–59}}

The state and federal governments agreed that any state with a Spanish flu outbreak should be declared an infected area, which would stop all land communication and sea communication would be quarantined. Following Parliament's recess for Christmas 1918, Lefroy and two cabinet ministers attended conferences in [[Melbourne]], leaving Colebatch as acting premier. During that time, the Spanish flu broke out in South Australia and [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]],{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=60}} however these states refused to follow the agreement and did not declare an infected area. Despite this, Colebatch decided to close the Western Australian border. Coincidentally, a shipping strike meant that there was no coastal shipping in the state, but transcontinental trains were still running when he decided to close the border. Passengers on a train from Adelaide were put in an improvised quarantine camp in [[Parkeston, Western Australia|Parkeston]] just east of Kalgoorlie where the railway gauge changed. [[William Watt (Australian politician)|William Watt]], the acting [[Prime Minister of Australia|prime minister]], threatened Western Australia with dire consequences for impounding the train.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=61}} Watt told Lefroy that:

{{blockquote|The Commonwealth Government will hold your government responsible for all damage done to trains, expenditure incurred, and loss sustained in connection with seizures. Unless I receive from you before 5 p.m. on Wednesday the 5th inst. a definite assurance that no further trains will be seized, and that those detailed will be restored, I will order the complete suspension of the railway service between Kalgoorlie and [[Port Augusta]] without further delay. I regret having to resort to drastic procedure, but owing to the failure of your Government to extend the courtesy of prior notification to this Government and before action was taken by your Government, and the continued resistance of the authorities in your State to the operation of the Quarantine Agreement, no other course remains open.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=61}}}}

Lefroy decided that he would not stand in the way of Colebatch and further action was up to him.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=61}} South Australia eventually declared infection meaning the railway would have been shut down under the agreement. Because of the shipping strike, Lefroy and the two ministers could not get back to Western Australia without taking the train. Colebatch decided to allow a special train in, as long as the people aboard quarantined, but Watt disallowed this from happening. In general, Western Australians strongly supported Colebatch's actions during the Spanish flu pandemic. He earned further praise when he ended a two-month-long tramway strike.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=62}}

===Premier===
[[File:Hal Colebatch.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Colebatch {{circa|1919}}|alt=Black and white photograph of man with moustache in suit]]

In April 1919, Lefroy resigned as premier, and Colebatch took over, becoming the only premier to come from the Legislative Council. Colebatch made himself [[Treasurer of Western Australia|Colonial Treasurer]], the [[Minister for Education (Western Australia)|minister for education]] and the [[Minister for Railways (Western Australia)|minister for railways]]. He reinstated Mitchell in the cabinet, making him the [[Minister for Lands (Western Australia)|minister for lands]].{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|pp=62–63}}

The largest issue during his premiership was the [[1919 Fremantle Wharf riot]]. Stevedores from two different [[Trade union|unions]] — the National Waterside Workers Union (NWWU) and the [[Fremantle Lumpers Union]] (FLU) — were working at [[Fremantle Harbour]]. The two unions often disagreed with each other and the [[Commonwealth Arbitration Board]] favoured the NWWU. Western Australia had a shortage of many essential goods such as medical supplies and food as a result of the earlier shipping strike and the need to quarantine. When the SS ''Dimboola'' arrived in Perth from Melbourne, carrying passengers (including Lefroy) and cargo, the passengers and most of the crew went into quarantine, but the federal government allowed some of the crew to berth the ship before going into quarantine. Fremantle Harbour officials did not allow the ship to berth and forced it to be fumigated at anchor. The NWWU workers then began to unload the ship but the FLU workers attacked them and started [[picketing]],{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=63}} wanting to remove all NWWU workers from working at the wharf.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=64}} Colebatch implored Watt to try and settle the dispute, as industrial relations were the responsibility of the federal government and the state had little power to do anything other than to use police to diffuse violence. Watt disagreed and said it was up to the state to solve the issue. He also said that if the issue was not fixed quickly, then he would stop shipping to Fremantle.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=64}} His son, [[Hal Colebatch (author)|Hal G. P. Colebatch]], posited in his 2004 biography that Watt was "probably trying to get revenge on Colebatch for impounding the Commonwealth train and his earlier criticism of the Commonwealth Government during the ''Boonah'' affair."{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=64}}

On 1 May, Colebatch told the FLU that he would get the police if they did not come to an agreement or cease picketing the wharf. The union did not do this, and so on 4 May, a group of people travelled down the [[Swan River (Western Australia)|Swan River]] in two [[Launch (boat)|launches]]. Among the people on the boats were Colebatch, the [[List of commissioners of the Western Australia Police Force|commissioner of police]], small businessmen and consignees desperate to get the ''Dimboola'' unloaded.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=65}} As the boats travelled under a bridge, the FLU members dropped rocks, scrap iron and other objects onto the boats in an attempt to sink them. The larger objects missed the boats, but several people were injured by smaller objects. [[University of New South Wales]] Professor of History Francis Keble Crowley said that "the premier came close to being assassinated when masonry hit the deck of his launch."{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|pp=65–66}} When the boats reached the wharf, a riot broke out between the union workers and the police, who were trying to push the crowd back from the ship. During this, a man named Thomas Edwards was injured and later died.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=66}} The police commissioner told Colebatch that the police could not control the situation without shooting their guns, but Colebatch did not want to authorise that. Colebatch, the police commissioner, the businessmen and consignees soon left, unsuccessful. In total, approximately 26 police officers and six FLU workers were injured, excluding Edwards. The following day, there was further violence between police and union members.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=67}} Colebatch announced on 8 May 1919 that the NWWU had agreed to withdraw from the wharf to avoid any further conflict.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=73}}

Colebatch resigned as premier on 15 May 1919 as he was unable to find a Legislative Assembly seat and his health was deteriorating{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=74}} due to undiagnosed diabetes.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=63}} On 17 May, [[James Mitchell (Australian politician)|James Mitchell]] was sworn in as premier and Colebatch was appointed the [[Minister for Agriculture and Food (Western Australia)|minister for agriculture]], minister for education, [[Minister for the North-West|minister for the north-west]] and the new position of [[Minister for Health (Western Australia)|minister for health]], a role which he had performed before that as the colonial secretary.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=74}} He was also the deputy premier and leader of the government in the Legislative Council again.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=75}}

===Mitchell Government===
Mitchell did not like travelling interstate for meetings with the prime minister and other premiers, so he often had Colebatch represent him instead. Colebatch attended a meeting with Prime Minister [[Billy Hughes]] and the other premiers in October 1919. Hughes wanted to enlarge the powers of the Commonwealth Government, which Colebatch was opposed to, as he believed local self-governance improved economic efficiency and individual freedom. Starting in May 1920, he visited the north-west of the state, a place usually neglected by the state government. When he visited [[Onslow, Western Australia|Onslow]], it was the first time in ten years a government minister had visited there. The visit to the north-west lasted three months and he travelled {{convert|8000|km}}.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=76}}

He met with Hughes again to show the prime minister the [[Group Settlement Scheme]] and the [[Fairbridge Farm School]].{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=80}} Colebatch managed to help convince Hughes of the need for an increase in immigration to increase the state's population and develop its infrastructure, an interest of Mitchell's. Hughes wrote a letter to Colebatch in March 1922 committing to increasing immigration, and later an agreement was signed between the Australian, Western Australian and British governments for seventy-five thousand British migrants to settle in the state. Reducing unemployment was one of Colebatch's other responsibilities, and he instituted various public works to help with that. Although some saw trying to increase immigration as working against efforts to decrease unemployment, Colebatch believed it would be short-sighted to not do so.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=81}}

In addition to showing Hughes around Western Australia, Colebatch did the same for several other figures. In 1922, he guided Colonel [[S. F. Newcombe]], who was sent by the British Government to investigate settling discharged soldiers there.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=81}} He also guided [[V. S. Srinivasa Sastri]], who was sent to ensure that Indians settled in white British countries were not discriminated against.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=82}} Another task for Colebatch was to negotiate with John Forrest's widow, [[Margaret Forrest]], over a statue of Forrest which the government wanted to erect in [[Kings Park, Western Australia|Kings Park]]. Lady Forrest wanted for the statue to depict him as a "slim young explorer", but Colebatch convinced her that a statue depicting him as a "mature and portly statesman" would be best.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=83}}

From 1921 to 1922, Colebatch was the president of the [[West Australian Club]]. He was also a life member of the [[Royal Perth Yacht Club]]. Following the [[1921 Western Australian state election|1921 state election]], Colebatch was the only minister in the Legislative Council. He was therefore responsible for introducing and handling all bills and other business of the upper house, placing a large workload on him. As there was much hinging on him, the house adjourned when he became sick. Several of his colleagues thought the burden on him was too much.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=83}}

In the [[1923 New Year Honours]], Colebatch was made a [[Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George]]. Later that year, his title of "Honourable" was made permanent. In early 1923, Mitchell announced that he had chosen Colebatch to be the next [[Agent-General for Western Australia]] in [[London]]. He resigned from the ministry and from parliament on 17 June 1923, and was succeeded by [[William Carroll (Australian politician)|William Carroll]]. Over the seven years he had been a minister, the state's expenditure on education had risen by 73%. To show their admiration, senior [[Education Department of Western Australia|Education Department]] officials arranged a special function for Colebatch's departure.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=84}} He had given equal shares in ''The Northam Advertiser'' to his wife and two sons as a reward for their service in the army. Harley became editor though Hal continued to write for it.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=85}}