Greiner–Murray ministry (1991–92)

The Greiner–Murray ministry (1991–92) or Second Greiner–Murray ministry or Second Greiner ministry was the 81st ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 37th Premier of New South Wales, the Honourable Nick Greiner, MP, representing the Liberal Party in coalition with the National Party, led by the Honourable Wal Murray, MP.

Second Greiner–Murray ministry
81st Cabinet of Government of New South Wales
Date formed	6 June 1991 (1991-06-06)
Date dissolved	24 June 1992 (1992-06-24)
People and organisations
Head of state	Queen Elizabeth II (represented by Peter Sinclair)
Head of government	Nick Greiner
Deputy head of government	Wal Murray
No. of ministers	20
Member party	Liberal–National coalition
Status in legislature	Minority Coalition Government
Opposition parties	Labor
Opposition leader	Bob Carr
History
Election(s)	1991 New South Wales state election
Predecessor	First Greiner–Murray ministry
Successor	First Fahey ministry

Buoyed by his government's strong performance in the polls, Greiner called a snap election for 25 May 1991. Despite widespread predictions by political and media commentators that Greiner would be easily re-elected to a second term, the impact of the Government's policies, particularly in terms of service cuts and increased charges, caused many voters to turn to Labor. The 1991 state election saw the Coalition win 52 percent of the two-party vote. However, much of the Coalition's margin was in its heartland, while Labor won many marginal seats it had lost in its severe defeat of three years prior. The result was a hung Parliament, with the Coalition one seat short of a majority. Greiner was forced into a minority government, relying on support from four independent politicians. Greiner's parliamentary majority was further eroded with the decision of Terry Metherell to become an Independent in late 1991, and with the loss of The Entrance in a 1992 by-election following a Court of Disputed Returns overthrowing the original result.

The ministry covers the period from 6 June 1991 when the coalition was re-elected following victory at the 1991 state election until 24 June 1992, when Greiner resigned from the ministry. Greiner decided to resign ahead of a planned no confidence motion in his actions that enticed Metherell to resign from his relatively safe Liberal seat by offering him an executive position in a government agency.[1] An Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry found that Greiner had not acted criminally and had not set out to be corrupt, he would be seen "by a notional jury as conducting himself contrary to known and recognised standards of honesty and integrity".[2] Despite beginning proceedings before the New South Wales Court of Appeal, Greiner resigned on 24 June in the face of a warning from a group of independent politicians who told Greiner that unless he resigned, they would withdraw their support from the government and support the no-confidence motion.[3] Greiner was successful in his appeal before the NSW Court of Appeal, which in a 2-1 vote on 21 August 1992 overturned the ICAC findings.[4]

Greiner was succeeded by John Fahey.[1]

Composition of ministry

Ministers are listed in order of seniority.[5][6]

First arrangement

The first arrangement covers the period from 6 June 1991 until 28 June 1991, when Ron Phillips and Terry Griffiths resigned their portfolios, requiring a minor reconfiguration of the ministry.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Premier Treasurer Minister for Ethnic Affairs	Hon. Nick Greiner, MP		Liberal	6 June 1991 (1991-06-06)	24 June 1992 (1992-06-24)	1 year, 18 days
Deputy Premier Minister for Public Works Minister for Roads	Hon. Wal Murray, MP		National
Attorney General Minister for Consumer Affairs Minister for the Arts	Hon. Peter Collins, MP		Liberal
Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs	Hon. Ian Armstrong, OBE MP		National
Minister for Housing	Hon. Joe Schipp, MP		Liberal
Minister for the Environment	Hon. Tim Moore, MP
Minister for Conservation and Land Management	Hon. Garry West, MP		National
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Vice-President of the Executive Council	Hon. Ted Pickering, MLC		Liberal
Minister for School Education and Youth Affairs	Hon. Virginia Chadwick, MLC
Minister for Transport	Hon. Bruce Baird, MP
Minister for Local Government Minister for Cooperatives	Hon. Gerry Peacocke, MP		National
Minister for Industrial Relations Minister for Further Education, Training and Employment	Hon. John Fahey, MP		Liberal
Minister of Natural Resources	Hon. Ian Causley, MP		National
Minister for State Development Minister for Tourism	Hon. Michael Yabsley, MP		Liberal
Minister for Planning Minister for Energy	Hon. Robert Webster, MLC		National
Minister for Health and Community Services	Hon. John Hannaford, MLC		Liberal
Minister for Hospital Management ^1	Hon. Ron Phillips, MP				26 June 1991 (1991-06-26)	20 days
Minister for Courts Administration and Corrective Services ^2	Hon. Terry Griffiths, MP				28 June 1991 (1991-06-28)	22 days
Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing Minister Assisting the Premier	Hon. George Souris, MP		National		24 June 1992 (1992-06-24)	1 year, 18 days
Chief Secretary Minister for Administrative Services	Hon. Anne Cohen, MP		Liberal

¹ Portfolio name changed from Hospital Management to Health Services Management. Phillips retained ministerial responsibility.

² Portfolio name changed from Courts Administration and Corrective Services to Justice. Griffiths retained ministerial responsibility.

Second arrangement

The second arrangement covers the period from 26 June 1991 and 28 June 1991, when Ron Phillips and Terry Griffiths resigned their portfolios and were reappointed to the ministry the same day of their respective resignations, until 24 June 1992, when Nick Greiner resigned as Premier and the ministry was dissolved.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Minister for Health Services Management ^1	Hon. Ron Phillips, MP		Liberal	26 June 1991 (1991-06-26)	24 June 1992 (1992-06-24)	364 days
Minister for Justice ^2	Hon. Terry Griffiths, MP			28 June 1991 (1991-06-28)		362 days

¹ Portfolio name changed from Hospital Management to Health Services Management. Phillips retained ministerial responsibility.

² Portfolio name changed from Courts Administration and Corrective Services to Justice. Griffiths retained ministerial responsibility.

See also

• Hon. Nick Greiner, MP – 37th Premier of New South Wales
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1991–1995
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council, 1991–1995

References

1. "Australian Political Chronicle: January–June 1992". Australian Journal of Politics and History. 38 (3): 421–422. December 1992. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8497.1992.tb00683.x. ISSN 0004-9522.
2. Report on Investigation into the Metherell Resignation and Appointment (PDF) (PDF). Independent Commission Against Corruption. 19 June 1992. p. 51. ISBN 0-7305-9882-9. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
3. Humphries, David (28 August 2010). "Winning over a tough crowd". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
4. Brown, Kevin (22 August 1992). "Former NSW premier cleared". The Financial Times. London. p. 3.
5. "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 (Excel) on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
6. "Part 6: Ministries" (PDF). New South Wales Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 12 April 2020.

 

Preceded by Greiner–Murray ministry (1988–1991)	Second Greiner–Murray ministry 1991–1992	Succeeded by Fahey–Murray ministry (1992)