on 9 april 1877, edward wilmot pechey, the member of the queensland legislative assembly in the seat of aubigny, resigned. on 1 may 1877, in a by-election, perkins was elected in aubigny, defeating angus mackay (the then editor of "the queenslander") by a large majority. he was elected again in aubigny in the 1878 election and was appointed as minister of lands in the first mcilwraith ministry from 21 january 1879 to 13 november 1883.