Willis–Punch 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, the Honourable Sir Eric Willis, KBE CMG MLA in a Liberal Party of Australia coalition with the Country Party of Australia, that was led by the Honourable Leon Punch, MLA.

Background

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 (KBE) 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 Hon. Sir Charles Cutler KBE ED MLA in December 1975.

Tenure of ministry

The ministry covers the period from 23 January 1976, a few days after Willis deposed the Honourable Tom Lewis, MLA in a spill motion for the leadership of the parliamentary branch of the Liberal Party in New South Wales and hence, premiership, until 14 May 1976, when the coalition was defeated at the 1976 election by the Labor Party and the First Wran ministry was formed.

Composition of ministry

The ministry was sworn in by the Lieutenant Governor Sir Laurence Street on 23 January 1976,[5] following Willis being elected as Leader; and it ended on 14 May 1976 when the First Wran ministry was sworn in following the 1976 election. Ministers are listed in order of seniority and in all cases, serve the full term of this 112–day ministry.[6][7]

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

See also

References

  1. ↑ Clune, David; Turner, Ken (2006). The Premiers of New South Wales 1856–2005: Volume 2, 1901–2005. Sydney: Federation Press. pg 387–399.
  2. ↑ "Willis Premier if he let me help". Sydney Morning Herald 28 August 1975 pg 2. Google News Archive. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  3. ↑ Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, KBE, 14 June 1975, itsanhonour.gov.au
    Citation: Deputy Premier of New South Wales (sic)
  4. ↑ Hancock, Ian (2007). The Liberals: The NSW Division 1945-2000. Sydney: Federation Press. pg 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. ↑ "Former Members - Chronological List of Ministries 1856 to 2009 (requires download)" (MS Excel spreadsheet). Project for the Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government in NSW. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  7. ↑ Wah, Malvyne Jong; Page, Jeffrey E. (November 2007). "New South Wales Parliamentary Record 1824 – 2007" (PDF) VI. Parliament of New South Wales: 43. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
Preceded by
Lewis–Punch ministry		 Willis ministry
1976 		Succeeded by
Wran ministry (1976–1978)
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