Greiner–Murray ministry (1991–92)

The GreinerMurray ministry (199192) or Second GreinerMurray 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 formed6 June 1991 (1991-06-06)
Date dissolved24 June 1992 (1992-06-24)
People and organisations
Head of stateQueen Elizabeth II (represented by Peter Sinclair)
Head of governmentNick Greiner
Deputy head of governmentWal Murray
No. of ministers20
Member partyLiberalNational coalition
Status in legislatureMinority Coalition Government
Opposition partiesLabor
Opposition leaderBob Carr
History
Election(s)1991 New South Wales state election
PredecessorFirst Greiner–Murray ministry
SuccessorFirst 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

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)
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