Deputy Premier of New South Wales
Encyclopedia
The Deputy Premier of New South Wales is the second-most senior officer in the Government of New South Wales
. The Deputy Premiership has been a ministerial portfolio since 1932, and the Deputy Premier is appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Premier.
The current Deputy Premier is the National Party
's Andrew Stoner
, who was sworn in on 28 March 2011.
, the leader of the Country Party
(later renamed the National Party). Prior to that time the term was sometimes used unofficially (without capital letters) for the second-highest ranking minister in the government.
In Labor
governments, the Deputy Premier is the party's deputy leader. Generally speaking, this person has come from the left faction of the party whereas the Premier has come from the right faction. In Liberal
-National Coalition
governments, the position has been held by the Leader of the National Party or its predecessors.
Three Deputy Premiers have subsequently become Premier in their own right: Joseph Cahill
, Robert Heffron
, and Jack Renshaw
. However, this has not occurred since 1964.
If the Premier were to die, become incapacitated or resign, the Governor would normally appoint the Deputy Premier as Premier. If the governing or majority party had not yet elected a new leader, that appointment would be on an interim basis. Should a different leader emerge, that person would then be appointed Premier.
(1965–1975), on 23 September 2006. The most recently serving Deputy Premier to die was Wal Murray (1988–1993), who died on 15 July 2004.
Government of New South Wales
The form of the Government of New South Wales is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
. The Deputy Premiership has been a ministerial portfolio since 1932, and the Deputy Premier is appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Premier.
The current Deputy Premier is the National Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
's Andrew Stoner
Andrew Stoner
Andrew John Stoner is an Australian politician, Deputy Premier of New South Wales and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for the seat of Oxley since the 1999 state election, and the Leader of the New South Wales National Party since 31 March 2003...
, who was sworn in on 28 March 2011.
History
The office of Deputy Premier was created in May 1932 for Michael BruxnerMichael Bruxner
Lieutenant Colonel Sir Michael Frederick Bruxner KBE, DSO, JP was an Australian politician and soldier, serving for many years as Leader of the Country Party and its predecessors...
, the leader of the Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
(later renamed the National Party). Prior to that time the term was sometimes used unofficially (without capital letters) for the second-highest ranking minister in the government.
In Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
governments, the Deputy Premier is the party's deputy leader. Generally speaking, this person has come from the left faction of the party whereas the Premier has come from the right faction. In Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
-National Coalition
Coalition (Australia)
The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922...
governments, the position has been held by the Leader of the National Party or its predecessors.
Three Deputy Premiers have subsequently become Premier in their own right: Joseph Cahill
Joseph Cahill
John Joseph Cahill was Premier of New South Wales in Australia from 1952 to 1959. He is best remembered as the Premier who approved construction on the Sydney Opera House, and for his work increasing the authority of local government in the state.-Early years:Joe Cahill, as he was popularly known,...
, Robert Heffron
Robert Heffron
Robert James "Bob" Heffron was one of the longest-serving New South Wales state parliamentarians. He was the Australian Labor Party Premier of New South Wales from 28 October 1959, to 30 April 1964.-Early years:...
, and Jack Renshaw
Jack Renshaw
John Brophy "Jack" Renshaw AC was an Australian politician. He was Labor Premier of New South Wales from 30 April 1964 to 13 May 1965.-Early life:...
. However, this has not occurred since 1964.
Duties
The duties of the Deputy Premier are to act on behalf of the Premier in his or her absence overseas or on leave. The Deputy Premier has always been a member of the Cabinet, and has always held at least one substantive portfolio (It would be technically possible for a minister to hold only the portfolio of Deputy Premier, but this has never happened).If the Premier were to die, become incapacitated or resign, the Governor would normally appoint the Deputy Premier as Premier. If the governing or majority party had not yet elected a new leader, that appointment would be on an interim basis. Should a different leader emerge, that person would then be appointed Premier.
List of Deputy Premiers of New South Wales
| # | Name | Took Office | Left Office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sir Michael Bruxner Michael Bruxner Lieutenant Colonel Sir Michael Frederick Bruxner KBE, DSO, JP was an Australian politician and soldier, serving for many years as Leader of the Country Party and its predecessors... |
16 May 1932 | 16 May 1941 | Country National Party of Australia The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is... |
| 2 | Jack Baddeley | 16 May 1941 | 8 September 1949 | Labor Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia... |
| 3 | Joseph Cahill Joseph Cahill John Joseph Cahill was Premier of New South Wales in Australia from 1952 to 1959. He is best remembered as the Premier who approved construction on the Sydney Opera House, and for his work increasing the authority of local government in the state.-Early years:Joe Cahill, as he was popularly known,... |
21 September 1949 | 2 April 1952 | Labor |
| 4 | Robert Heffron Robert Heffron Robert James "Bob" Heffron was one of the longest-serving New South Wales state parliamentarians. He was the Australian Labor Party Premier of New South Wales from 28 October 1959, to 30 April 1964.-Early years:... |
23 February 1953 | 28 October 1959 | Labor |
| 5 | Jack Renshaw Jack Renshaw John Brophy "Jack" Renshaw AC was an Australian politician. He was Labor Premier of New South Wales from 30 April 1964 to 13 May 1965.-Early life:... |
28 October 1959 | 14 March 1964 | Labor |
| 6 | Pat Hills | 30 April 1964 | 13 May 1965 | Labor |
| 7 | Sir Charles Cutler Charles Cutler Sir Charles Benjamin Cutler KBE, ED was an Australian politician, holding office for 28 years as an elected member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Orange... |
13 May 1965 | 16 December 1975 | Country |
| 8 | Leon Punch Leon Punch Leon Ashton Punch was a New South Wales politician, Deputy Premier, and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Sir Robert Askin, Tom Lewis and Sir Eric Willis. From 1975 to 1976 he was the Deputy Premier of New South Wales... |
17 December 1975 | 14 May 1976 | National Country |
| 9 | Jack Ferguson Jack Ferguson Laurie John Ferguson was an Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.-Early life:... |
14 May 1976 | 10 February 1984 | Labor |
| 10 | Ron Mulock Ron Mulock Ronald Joseph "Ron" Mulock was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.-Early years:... |
10 February 1984 | 25 March 1988 | Labor |
| 11 | Wal Murray | 25 March 1988 | 26 May 1993 | National |
| 12 | Ian Armstrong Ian Armstrong (Australian politician) Ian Morton Armstrong, AM, OBE is a former Deputy Premier of New South Wales.-Parliametary career:Armstrong was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Lachlan from 19 September 1981 to March 2007. He was Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs from 1988 to 1993... |
26 May 1993 | 4 April 1995 | National |
| 13 | Andrew Refshauge Andrew Refshauge Andrew John Refshauge was an Australian politician and Deputy Premier of New South Wales from 1995 to 2005.Refshauge was born in Melbourne, the son of Major-General Sir William Refshauge AC CBE ED , who later became Honorary Physician to Queen Elizabeth II 1955–64 and Director-General of the... |
4 April 1995 | 3 August 2005 | Labor |
| 14 | John Watkins John Watkins (Australian politician) John Arthur Watkins is a former Deputy Premier of New South Wales, serving between 2005 until his resignation from Parliament in 2008... |
10 August 2005 | 3 September 2008 | Labor |
| 15 | Carmel Tebbutt Carmel Tebbutt Carmel Mary Tebbutt is an Australian politician. She is the Australian Labor Party Member for Marrickville in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and was Deputy Premier of New South Wales from 2008 to 2011. She was also Minister for Health in the Keneally Government... |
5 September 2008 | 26 March 2011 | Labor |
| 16 | Andrew Stoner Andrew Stoner Andrew John Stoner is an Australian politician, Deputy Premier of New South Wales and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for the seat of Oxley since the 1999 state election, and the Leader of the New South Wales National Party since 31 March 2003... |
28 March 2011 | present | National |
Living former Deputy Premiers
As of March 2011, there are five living former Deputy Premiers. The most recent Deputy Premier to die was Charles CutlerCharles Cutler
Sir Charles Benjamin Cutler KBE, ED was an Australian politician, holding office for 28 years as an elected member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Orange...
(1965–1975), on 23 September 2006. The most recently serving Deputy Premier to die was Wal Murray (1988–1993), who died on 15 July 2004.
| Name | Term of office | Date of birth |
|---|---|---|
| Ron Mulock Ron Mulock Ronald Joseph "Ron" Mulock was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.-Early years:... |
1984–1988 | 11 January 1930 |
| Ian Armstrong Ian Armstrong (Australian politician) Ian Morton Armstrong, AM, OBE is a former Deputy Premier of New South Wales.-Parliametary career:Armstrong was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Lachlan from 19 September 1981 to March 2007. He was Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs from 1988 to 1993... |
1993–1995 | 17 July 1937 |
| Andrew Refshauge Andrew Refshauge Andrew John Refshauge was an Australian politician and Deputy Premier of New South Wales from 1995 to 2005.Refshauge was born in Melbourne, the son of Major-General Sir William Refshauge AC CBE ED , who later became Honorary Physician to Queen Elizabeth II 1955–64 and Director-General of the... |
1995–2005 | 16 January 1949 |
| John Watkins John Watkins (Australian politician) John Arthur Watkins is a former Deputy Premier of New South Wales, serving between 2005 until his resignation from Parliament in 2008... |
2005–2008 | 7 December 1955 |
| Carmel Tebbutt Carmel Tebbutt Carmel Mary Tebbutt is an Australian politician. She is the Australian Labor Party Member for Marrickville in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and was Deputy Premier of New South Wales from 2008 to 2011. She was also Minister for Health in the Keneally Government... |
2008–2011 | 22 January 1964 |