Askin–Cutler ministry (1965–68)

The Askin–Cutler ministry (1965–1968) or First Askin ministry was the 62nd ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 32nd Premier, the Honourable Robin Askin, MLA, of the Liberal Party in coalition with the Country Party, led by the Honourable Charles Cutler, MLA. The ministry was the first occasion in the history of Government in New South Wales that the Liberal and Country Party formed a coalition in government. It was also the first of six occasions when Askin was Premier; and when Cutler was Deputy Premier.

Background

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. 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.

Tenure of ministry

This ministry covers the period from 13 May 1965 until 5 March 1968,^[1][2] when Askin and Cutler led the Liberal/Country coalition to a second term at the 1968 state election, defeating Labor, again led by Jack Renshaw.

Composition of ministry

First arrangement

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Askin following the 1965 state election when Labor's Jack Renshaw returned his commission to the Governor on 13 May 1965, and covers the period up until 27 June 1967, when there was a minor rearrangement of the ministry. Ministers are listed in order of seniority and in most cases, serve the full term of this ministry.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Premier Treasurer	Hon. Robin Askin, MLA		Liberal	13 May 1965	5 March 1968	2 years, 297 days
Deputy Premier Minister for Education Minister for Science	Hon. Charles Cutler, MLA		Country
Minister for Labor and Industry Chief Secretary Minister for Tourist Activities	Hon. Eric Willis, MLA		Liberal
Minister for Child Welfare Minister for Social Welfare Advisory Minister for Transport Vice-President of the Executive Council Representative of the Government in Legislative Council	Hon. Arthur Bridges, MLC
Minister for Agriculture	Hon. Bill Chaffey, MLA		Country
Attorney General	Hon. Ken McCaw, MLA		Liberal
Minister for Local Government Minister for Highways	Hon. Pat Morton, MLA
Minister for Public Works	Hon. Davis Hughes, MLA		Country
Minister for Transport	Hon. Milton Morris, MLA		Liberal
Minister for Decentralisation and Development	Hon. John Fuller, MLC		Country
Minister for Lands	Hon. Tom Lewis, MLA		Liberal
Minister for Mines^1					27 June 1967	2 years, 45 days
Minister for Conservation	Hon. Jack Beale, MLA		Liberal		5 March 1968	2 years, 297 days
Minister for Housing Minister for Co-operative Societies	Hon. Stanley Stephens, MLA		Country
Minister of Justice	Hon. John Maddison, MLA		Liberal
Minister for Health	Hon. Harry Jago, MLA
Assistant Minister for Education	Hon. Wal Fife, MLA				27 June 1967	2 years, 45 days

Second arrangement

This arrangement covers the period from a minor ministerial reshuffle on 27 June 1967 until the 1968 state election. There is only one change in portfolio, shown below.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Minister for Mines^1	Hon. Wal Fife, MLA		Liberal	27 June 1967	5 March 1968	252 days

¹ Mines portfolio transferred from Lewis to Fife

See also

• Robert Askin - 32nd Premier of New South Wales
• Charles Cutler - NSW Country Party leader
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1965–1968
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council, 1964–1967
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council, 1967–1970

References

1. "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 28 June 2013.
2. Wah, Malvyne Jong; Page, Jeffrey E. (November 2007). "New South Wales Parliamentary Record 1824 – 2007" (PDF). VIII. Parliament of New South Wales: 276–277. Retrieved 11 June 2013.