Askin–Cutler ministry (1968–69)

The Askin–Cutler ministry (1968–1969) or Second Askin ministry was the 63rd 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. It was the second 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.

The first Askin/Cutler ministry was commissioned from 1965 until the 1968 state election; when the coalition again won office.

Tenure of ministry

This ministry covers the period from 5 March 1968 until 11 February 1969,^[1][2] when Askin and Cutler reconfigured the Liberal/Country ministry.

Composition of ministry

First arrangement

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Askin following the 1968 state election, and covers the period up until 22 May 1968, when there was a minor rearrangement of the ministry brought about by the death in office by the Hon. Arthur Bridges, MLC. 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	5 March 1968	11 February 1969	343 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^1				22 May 1968	78 days
Minister for Public Works	Hon. Davis Hughes, MLA		Country		11 February 1969	343 days
Attorney General	Hon. Ken McCaw, MLA		Liberal
Minister for Local Government Minister for Highways	Hon. Pat Morton, MLA
Minister for Decentralisation and Development	Hon. John Fuller, MLC		Country
Minister for Transport	Hon. Milton Morris, MLA		Liberal
Minister for Lands	Hon. Tom Lewis, MLA
Minister for Conservation	Hon. Jack Beale, MLA
Minister for Agriculture	Hon. Geoff Crawford, MLA		Country
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
Minister for Mines	Hon. Wal Fife, MLA

¹ Bridges died in office

Second arrangement

This arrangement covers the period from a minor ministerial reshuffle on 23 May 1968 until the ministry was reconstituted on 11 February 1969. There was a minor rearrangement of portfolios on 3 September 1968, shown below.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Minister for Decentralisation and Development Vice-President of the Executive Council^1 Representative of the Government in Legislative Council^1	Hon. John Fuller, MLC		Country	10 July 1968	11 February 1969	216 days
Minister for Child Welfare Minister for Social Welfare	Hon. Harry Jago, MLA^2		Liberal	23 May 1968	3 September 1968	103 days
	Hon. Frederick Hewitt, MLC^2			3 September 1968	11 February 1969	161 days

¹ Following the death of Bridges, Fuller took on additional responsibilities

² Following the death of Bridges, Jago temporarily took on additional responsibilities, before the appointment of Hewitt

See also

• Robert Askin - 32nd Premier of New South Wales
• Charles Cutler - NSW Country Party leader
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1968–1971
• 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) VI. Parliament of New South Wales: 36. Retrieved 28 June 2013.