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Willis–Punch ministry

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Willis–Punch ministry

70th Cabinet of the State of New South Wales
Premier Sir Eric Willis
Date formed23 January 1976 (1976-01-23)
Date dissolved14 May 1976 (1976-05-14)
People and organisations
MonarchQueen Elizabeth II
GovernorSir Roden Cutler
PremierSir Eric Willis
Deputy PremierLeon Punch
No. of ministers18
Member partiesLiberal National coalition
Opposition party Labor
Opposition leaderNeville Wran
History
Election1973 New South Wales election
PredecessorLewis–Punch ministry
SuccessorFirst Wran ministry

The Willis–Punch ministry or Willis ministry was the 70th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 34th Premier of New South Wales, Sir Eric Willis in a Liberal Party coalition with the Country Party of Australia, that was led by Leon Punch.

Background

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Willis joined the newly formed Liberal Party of Australia in 1945, after hearing a speech by Sir Robert Menzies.[1] After unsuccessfully seeking election to the Australian House of Representatives, Willis was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1950 and served continuously up until 1978, representing the seat of Earlwood, in the inner southwestern suburbs of Sydney. Upon Sir Robert Askin's retirement in January 1975, Willis was seen as the favourite to take the premiership. However, despite Askin's initial support, Willis refused his help, preferring to gain the leadership on his own merits. Askin then put his support behind the Minister for Lands, Tom Lewis.[2] Willis, sure he had support, refused to campaign, and the party put its support behind Lewis, leading to his election to Premier. Willis was then replaced as Deputy by John Maddison. For Willis' service as Deputy Leader he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 14 June 1975.[3] Lewis was Premier for only one year and looked increasingly likely to lead the state Liberals to defeat. At the party room meeting on 20 January 1976, parliamentary backbencher Neil Pickard called a spill motion. This was carried 22 votes to 11 and Willis was made Leader unopposed.[4]

Punch was elected to the NSW Legislative Assembly in 1959 and served continuously up until 1985, representing variously the seats of Upper Hunter (1959-1962) and then Gloucester (1962-1985). Elected Deputy Leader of the Country Party in 1973, Punch was elected as leader of his party following the retirement and resignation of the Sir Charles Cutler in December 1975.

Composition of ministry

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The ministry was sworn in by the Lieutenant Governor Sir Laurence Street on 23 January 1976,[5] a few days after Willis deposed Tom Lewis in a spill motion for the leadership of the parliamentary branch of the Liberal Party in New South Wales. It ended on 14 May 1976 when the coalition was defeated at the 1976 election by the Labor Party and the First Wran ministry was sworn in.[6]

Portfolio Minister Party Term commence Term end Term of office
Premier
Treasurer
Sir Eric Willis   Liberal 23 January 1976 14 May 1976 112 days
Deputy Premier
Minister for Public Works
Minister for Ports
Leon Punch[a]   Country
Attorney General
Minister for Justice
John Maddison[a]   Liberal
Minister for Planning and Environment
Vice-President of the Executive Council
Leader of the Government in Legislative Council
John Fuller, MLC[a]   Country
Minister for Transport
Minister for Highways
Tim Bruxner
Minister for Labour and Industry
Minister for Federal Affairs
Minister for Consumer Affairs
Frederick Hewitt, MLC[a]   Liberal
Minister for Health Dick Healey[a]
Minister for Local Government Tom Lewis
Minister for Decentralisation and Development Milton Morris
Minister for Mines
Minister for Energy
George Freudenstein[a]   Country
Chief Secretary Peter Coleman   Liberal
Minister for Education Neil Pickard
Minister for Agriculture
Minister for Water Resources
Bruce Cowan   Country
Assistant Treasurer
Minister for Revenue
Max Ruddock   Liberal
Minister for Housing
Minister for Co-operative Societies
Ian Griffith
Minister for Lands
Minister for Forests
Col Fisher   Country
Minister for Youth, Ethnic and Community Affairs Jim Clough   Liberal
Minister for Culture, Sport and Recreation
Minister for Tourism
David Arblaster

  Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Retained portfolios from the Lewis–Punch ministry.

References

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  1. ^ Clune, David; Turner, Ken (2006). The Premiers of New South Wales 1856–2005: Volume 2, 1901–2005. Sydney: Federation Press. pp. 387–399.
  2. ^ "Willis Premier if he let me help". Sydney Morning Herald. 28 August 1975. p. 2. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  3. ^ "Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) entry for Mr Eric Archibald Willis". Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 14 June 1975. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  4. ^ Hancock, Ian (2007). The Liberals: The NSW Division 1945-2000. Sydney: Federation Press. p. 155. ISBN 978-1-86287-659-0.
  5. ^ "Swearing in of new Ministry under Sir Eric Willis". State Library of NSW. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  6. ^ "Part 6 Ministries since 1856" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 12 April 2020.

 

Preceded by Willis ministry
1976
Succeeded by