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Askin–Cutler ministry (1971–1973)

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The Askin–Cutler ministry (1971–1973) or Fourth Askin ministry was the 65th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 32nd Premier, Bob Askin, of the Liberal Party in coalition with the Country Party, led by Charles Cutler. It was the fourth of six occasions when Askin was Premier; and when Cutler was Deputy Premier.

Background

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Askin was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1950 and served continuously up until 1975, representing variously the seats of Collaroy and Pittwater. Rising through the Liberal Party ranks, Askin served as Deputy Leader from 1954 until he was elected Leader of the NSW Liberal Party and Leader of the NSW Opposition, following the defeat of the Morton/Hughes–led coalition by Cahill's Labor at the 1959 election.[1] Cutler was elected to the NSW Legislative Assembly in 1947 and served continuously up until 1975, representing the seat of Orange. Elected Deputy Leader of the Country Party in 1958 and, like Askin, Cutler was elected as leader of his party following the 1959 state election, replacing Davis Hughes. The Askin–Cutler–led Liberal/Country coalition was defeated at the 1962 election by Labor's Bob Heffron. In April 1964 Jack Renshaw replaced Heffron as Leader of the Labor Party and became Premier. Twelve months later, Renshaw called an election held on 13 May 1965; however after 24 years of consecutive Labor governments, Askin and Cutler led the coalition to government at the 1965 state election.

The first Askin–Cutler ministry was commissioned from 1965 until the 1968 state election; when the coalition again won office. The second Askin–Cutler ministry was commissioned from the 1968 election until 11 February 1969, when the ministry was reconfigured. The third Askin–Cutler ministry was commissioned from the 1969 reconfiguration until the 1971 state election.

Composition of ministry

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The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Askin on 11 March 1971. There was a re-suffle on 19 June 1972 when Pat Morton resigned from the ministry and from Parliament, with Cutler taking on his portfolios of local government and highways and consequent changes. Cutler's portfolio of science was abolished, the portfolio of tourism and sport was split, while the portfolio of power was established.

During the term of this ministry on 14 December 1971, Askin changed his name by Deed Poll from Robin William Askin to Robert William Askin and on 1 January 1972, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George. The following year, on 1 January 1973, Charles Cutler was also appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

This ministry covers the period until 17 January 1973,[2] when Askin and Cutler reconfigured the Liberal/Country ministry following the resignation of Davis Hughes in order to take up a posting as Agent-General for New South Wales in London.

Portfolio Minister Party Term commence Term end Term of office
Premier
Treasurer 		Sir Robert Askin [a]   Liberal 11 March 1971 17 January 1973 1 year, 312 days
Deputy Premier Sir Charles Cutler [b]   Country
Minister for Science 19 June 1972 1 year, 100 days
Minister for Education  
Eric Willis [c]   Liberal 19 June 1972 17 January 1973 212 days
Chief Secretary 11 March 1971 19 June 1972 1 year, 100 days
Ian Griffith [d] 19 June 1972 17 January 1973 212 days
Minister for Tourism and Sport Eric Willis 11 March 1971 19 June 1972 1 year, 100 days
Minister for Tourism Tom Lewis [e] 19 June 1972 17 January 1973 212 days
Minister for Sport Ian Griffith [d]
Minister for Decentralisation and Development
Vice-president of the Executive Council
Representative of the Government in Legislative Council 		John Fuller, MLC [a]   Country 11 March 1971 17 January 1973 1 year, 312 days
Minister for Public Works Davis Hughes [a]
Attorney General Ken McCaw QC [a][f]   Liberal 11 March 1971 17 January 1973 1 year, 312 days
Minister for Local Government
Minister for Highways 		Pat Morton [b] 19 June 1972 1 year, 100 days
Sir Charles Cutler [b]   Country 19 June 1972 17 January 1973 212 days
Minister for Transport Milton Morris [a]   Liberal 11 March 1971 17 January 1973 1 year, 312 days
Minister for Lands Tom Lewis [e]
Minister for Environmental Control Jack Beale
Minister for Agriculture Geoff Crawford [a]   Country
Minister for Housing
Minister for Co-operative Societies 		Stanley Stephens [a]
Minister of Justice John Maddison [a]   Liberal
Minister for Health Harry Jago [a]
Minister for Mines Wal Fife [g]
Minister for Power 19 June 1972 17 January 1973 212 days
Minister for Conservation 11 March 1971 19 June 1972 1 year, 100 days
George Freudenstein [h]   Country 19 June 1972 17 January 1973 212 days
Assistant Treasurer 11 March 1971 19 June 1972 1 year, 100 days
Wal Fife [g]   Liberal 19 June 1972 17 January 1973 212 days
Minister for Labour and Industry Frederick Hewitt, MLC 11 March 1971 17 January 1973 1 year, 312 days
Minister for Child Welfare
Minister for Social Welfare 		John Waddy 11 March 1971 17 January 1973 1 year, 312 days
Minister for Cultural Activities George Freudenstein [h]   Country 11 March 1971 17 January 1973 1 year, 312 days

  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 g h i Retained portfolios from the third Askin–Cutler ministry.
  2. ^ a b c Pat Morton resigned from the ministry and from Parliament, effective 19 June 1972. Sir Charles Cutler took on Morton's former portfolios of Local Government and Highways, retaining his role as Deputy Premier. The portfolio of science was abolished.
  3. ^ Eric Willis took on the portfolio of education from Sir Charles Cutler, relinquishing Chief Secretary, tourism and sport.
  4. ^ a b Ian Griffith was a new appointment to the ministry, taking on the residual parts of Willis' portfolios of chief secretary and sport.
  5. ^ a b Tom Lewis took on part of Eric Willis' former portfolio of tourism, retaining the portfolio of lands.
  6. ^ The Attorney General, Ken McCaw, was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1972.
  7. ^ a b Wal Fife retained the portfolio of mines, was allocated the new portfolio of power and took on George Freudenstein's former portfolio of Assistant Treasurer. Freudenstein replaced Fife as Minister for Conservation.
  8. ^ a b George Freudenstein retained the portfolio of cultural affairs, and took on Wal Fife's former portfolio of Conservation. Fife replaced Freudenstein as Assistant Treasurer.

References

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  1. ^ Goot, Murray. "Askin, Sir Robert William (Bob) (1907–1981)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Part 6 Ministries since 1856" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 12 April 2020.

 

Preceded by Fourth Askin–Cutler ministry
1971–1973 		Succeeded by
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