The Lewis–Cutler ministry or First Lewis ministry was the 68th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 33rd Premier, the Honourable Tom Lewis MLA, of the Liberal Party in coalition with the Country Party, led by the Honourable Sir Charles Cutler KBE ED MLA. It was the first of two occasions when Lewis was Premier; and the seventh and final occasion when Cutler served as Deputy Premier.
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Background
Lewis was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1957 and served continuously until 1978, representing the seat of Wollondilly. When the Askin government came to power in 1965, Lewis was given relatively junior portfolios of Lands and Mines. In 1972, Tourism was added to his ministerial responsibilities when Eric Willis moved to Education. Late in 1974, Askin announced his resignation and Lewis was chosen as leader over Willis and Justice Minister John Maddison.
Cutler was elected to the NSW Legislative Assembly in 1947 and served continuously until 1975, representing the seat of Orange. Elected Deputy Leader of the Country Party in 1958, Cutler was elected as leader of his party following the 1959 state election, replacing Davis Hughes.
Lewis inherited a relatively stable government that had been in power for ten years. However, the Liberal government was engaged in almost daily warfare with the Whitlam Labor federal government, most notably over the Medibank health care scheme, to which New South Wales was the last state to sign.
Tenure of ministry
This ministry covers the period from 3 January 1975, when the former Premier, Sir Robert Askin KCMG MLA resigned as Premier and as Member for Pittwater, until 17 December 1975, the day after Cutler resigned as Deputy Premier, the Leader of the Country Party, and as Member for Orange.
The Hon. Leon Punch, MLA succeeded Cutler as the Leader of the Country Party and became Deputy Premier, and entered into a Liberal/Country coalition with Lewis, necessitating a reconfiguration of the ministry. The Lewis/Punch ministry lasted a few months until Lewis was deposed as Liberal leader by The Hon. Eric Willis CMG MLA in January 1976, necessitating a further reconfiguration of the ministry.
First arrangement
The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Lewis and sworn in on 3 January 1975, and covers the period until 30 June 1975, when the Hon. Milton Morris resigned from the ministry, necessitating a minor rearrangement. Ministers are listed in order of seniority and in some cases, serve the full term of this ministry.
1 Milton Morris resigned on 30 June 1975. The Hon. John Mason was appointed to the ministry to replace Morris. 2 Wal Fife resigned on 10 October 1975. His ministerial responsibilities were transferred to Ruddock. 3 Peter Coleman was a new appointment to the ministry, taking on the portfolio responsibilities previously held by Ruddock, who was promotedSecond arrangement
This arrangement covers the period from a minor ministerial reshuffle on 30 June 1975 until a reconfiguration of the ministry on 17 December 1975, following Cutler's resignation a day earlier. The same day, the Hon. Geoff Crawford also resigned from the ministry, and announced that he would not contest the 1976 state election. On 10 October 1975, the Hon. Wal Fife resigned from the ministry and from Parliament in order to successfully contest the Australian House of Representatives seat of Farrer at the 1975 federal election. Only changes in portfolio are shown, as below.