Askin–Cutler ministry (1971–73)

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, 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 fourth 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. 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.

Tenure of ministry

This ministry covers the period from 11 March 1971 until 17 January 1973,[1][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 of New South Wales in London.

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. On 1 January 1972, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George; thereafter known as the Honourable Sir Robert Askin KCMG MLA. The following year, on 1 January 1973, Charles Cutler was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire; thereafter known as the Honourable Sir Charles Cutler KBE MLA.

Composition of ministry

First arrangement

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Askin on 11 March 1971, and covers the period up until 19 June 1972, when the Hon. Pat Morton resigned from the ministry and from Parliament, necessitating a minor rearrangement. Ministers are listed in order of seniority and in some 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	11 March 1971	17 January 1973	1 year, 312 days
Deputy Premier	Hon. Sir Charles Cutler KBE MLA		Country
Minister for Education Minister for Science					19 June 1972	1 year, 100 days
Chief Secretary Minister for Tourism and Sport	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		17 January 1973	1 year, 312 days
Minister for Public Works	Hon. Davis Hughes, MLA
Attorney General	Hon. Ken McCaw, MLA		Liberal
Minister for Local Government Minister for Highways	Hon. Pat Morton, MLA^1				19 June 1972	1 year, 100 days
Minister for Transport	Hon. Milton Morris, MLA				17 January 1973	1 year, 312 days
Minister for Lands	Hon. Tom Lewis, MLA				19 June 1972	1 year, 100 days
Minister for Environment Control	Hon. Jack Beale, MLA				17 January 1973	1 year, 312 days
Minister for Agriculture	Hon. Geoff Crawford, MLA		Country
Minister for Housing Minister for Co-operative Societies	Hon. Stanley Stephens, MLA
Minister of Justice	Hon. John Maddison, MLA		Liberal
Minister for Health	Hon. Harry Jago, MLA
Minister for Mines Minister for Conservation	Hon. Wal Fife, MLA				19 June 1972	1 year, 100 days
Minister for Labor and Industry	Hon. Frederick Hewitt, MLC				17 January 1973	1 year, 312 days
Minister for Child Welfare Minister for Social Welfare	Hon. John Lloyd Waddy OBE DFC MLA
Minister for Cultural Activities Assistant Treasurer	Hon. George Freudenstein, MLA		Country		19 June 1972	1 year, 100 days

¹ Morton resigns from the ministry and from Parliament, effective 19 June 1972.

Second arrangement

This arrangement covers the period from a minor ministerial reshuffle on 19 June 1972 until a reconfiguration of the ministry on 17 January 1973. Only changes in portfolio are shown, as below.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Minister for Local Government Minister for Highways	Hon. Sir Charles Cutler KBE MLA^2		Country	19 June 1972	17 January 1973	212 days
Minister for Education	Hon. Eric Willis, MLA^3		Liberal
Minister for Lands Minister for Tourism	Hon. Tom Lewis, MLA^4
Minister for Mines Minister for Power Assistant Treasurer	Hon. Wal Fife, MLA^5
Minister for Conservation Minister for Cultural Activities	Hon. George Freudenstein, MLA^6		Country
Chief Secretary Minister for Sport	Hon. Ian Griffith, MLA^7		Liberal

² Cutler takes on Morton's former portfolios of Local Government and Highways, retaining his role as Deputy Premier. The portfolio of Science is abolished.

³ Willis takes on Cutler's former portfolio of Education.

⁴ Lewis takes on part of Willis' former portfolio of Tourism, retaining the portfolio of Lands.

⁵ Fife is allocated a new portfolio of Power and takes on part of Freudenstein's former portfolio of Assistant Treasurer, retaining the portfolio of Mines.

⁶ Freudenstein takes on part of Fife's former portfolio of Conservation, retaining the portfolio of Cultural Activities.

⁷ Griffith is a new appointment to the ministry, taking on the residual parts of Willis' portfolios of Chief Secretary and Sport.

See also

• Robert Askin - 32nd Premier of New South Wales
• Charles Cutler - 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)". Project for the Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government in NSW. Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original (MS Excel spreadsheet) on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
2. "Part 6: Ministries" (PDF). New South Wales Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 12 April 2020.

Preceded by Askin–Cutler ministry (1969–1971)	Askin–Cutler ministry (1971–1973) 1971–1973	Succeeded by Askin–Cutler ministry (1973)