Askin–Cutler ministry (1973)

The Askin–Cutler ministry (1973) or Fifth Askin ministry was the 66th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 32nd Premier, the Honourable Sir Robert Askin KCMG MLA, of the Liberal Party in coalition with the Country Party, led by the Honourable Sir Charles Cutler KBE ED MLA. It was the fifth 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 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 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. The fourth Askin/Cutler ministry was commissioned from the 1971 election until 17 January 1973, when the ministry was reconfigured following the resignation of Davis Hughes in order to take up a posting as Agent-General of New South Wales in London.

Tenure of ministry

This ministry covers the period from 17 January 1973 until 3 December 1973,^[1][2] when Askin and Cutler led the Liberal/Country coaltition to a sixth term following victory at the 1973 state election, defeating Labor led by Pat Hills.

Composition of ministry

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Askin on 17 January 1973, and covers the period until 3 December 1973, when the 1973 state election was held. Ministers are listed in order of seniority and in all cases, serve the full term of this ministry.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Premier Treasurer	Hon. Sir Robert Askin KCMG MLA		Liberal	17 January 1973	3 December 1973	320 days
Deputy Premier Minister for Local Government Minister for Highways	Hon. Sir Charles Cutler KBE ED MLA		Country
Minister for Education	Hon. Eric Willis, MLA		Liberal
Minister for Decentralisation and Development Vice-President of the Executive Council Representative of the Government in Legislative Council	Hon. John Fuller, MLC		Country
Attorney General	Hon. Ken McCaw QC MLA		Liberal
Minister for Transport	Hon. Milton Morris, MLA
Minister for Public Works	Hon. Leon Punch, MLA^1		Country
Minister for Lands Minister for Tourism	Hon. Tom Lewis, MLA		Liberal
Minister for Environment Control	Hon. Jack Beale, MLA
Minister for Agriculture	Hon. Geoff Crawford DCM MLA		Country
Minister of Justice	Hon. John Maddison, MLA		Liberal
Minister for Health	Hon. Harry Jago, MLA
Minister for Mines Minister for Power Assistant Treasurer	Hon. Wal Fife, MLA
Minister for Labor and Industry	Hon. Frederick Hewitt, MLC
Minister for Youth and Community Services	Hon. John Lloyd Waddy OBE DFC MLA
Minister for Conservation Minister for Cultural Activities	Hon. George Freudenstein, MLA		Country
Minister for Housing Minister for Co-operative Societies	Hon. Tim Bruxner, MLA^2
Chief Secretary Minister for Sport	Hon. Ian Griffith, MLA		Liberal

¹ Punch was a new appointment to the ministry, replacing the Hon. Davis Hughes, MLA

² Bruxner was a new appointment to the ministry, replacing the Hon. Stanley Stephens, MLA

See also

• Hon Sir Robert Askin KCMG MLA - 32nd Premier of New South Wales
• Hon Sir Charles Cutler KBE MLA - NSW Country Party leader
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1971–1973
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council, 1970–1973

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 29 June 2013.
2. Wah, Malvyne Jong; Page, Jeffrey E. (November 2007). "New South Wales Parliamentary Record 1824 – 2007" (PDF). VI. Parliament of New South Wales: 39. Retrieved 29 June 2013.