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, Nick Greiner, representing the Liberal Party in coalition with the National Party, led by Wal Murray.

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
MonarchQueen Elizabeth II
GovernorPeter Sinclair
PremierNick Greiner
Deputy PremierWal Murray
No. of ministers20
Member partyLiberalNational coalition
Status in legislatureMinority 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 decision on 21 August 1992 overturned the ICAC findings.[4][5]

Greiner was succeeded by John Fahey.[1][6][7]

Composition of ministry

Portfolio Minister Party Term commence Term end Term of office
Premier Nick Greiner[lower-alpha 1]   Liberal 6 June 1991 24 June 1992 1 year, 18 days
Treasurer
Minister for Ethnic Affairs
Deputy Premier Wal Murray[lower-alpha 1]   National
Minister for Public Works
Minister for Roads
Attorney General Peter Collins   Liberal
Minister for Consumer Affairs
Minister for the Arts[lower-alpha 1]
Minister for Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ian Armstrong[lower-alpha 1]   National
Minister for Housing Joe Schipp[lower-alpha 1]   Liberal
Minister for the Environment Tim Moore[lower-alpha 1]
Minister for Conservation and Land Management Garry West   National
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Ted Pickering, MLC[lower-alpha 1]   Liberal
Vice-President of the Executive Council
Leader of the Government in Legislative Council
Minister for School Education and Youth Affairs Virginia Chadwick, MLC[lower-alpha 1]
Minister for Transport Bruce Baird[lower-alpha 1]
Minister for Local Government Gerry Peacocke   National
Minister for Cooperatives
Minister for Industrial Relations John Fahey[lower-alpha 1]   Liberal
Minister for Further Education, Training and Employment
Minister for Natural Resources Ian Causley   National
Minister for State Development Michael Yabsley   Liberal
Minister for Tourism
Minister for Planning Robert Webster, MLC   National
Minister for Energy
Minister for Health and Community Services John Hannaford, MLC   Liberal
Minister for Hospital Management[lower-alpha 2] Ron Phillips 26 June 1991 20 days
Minister for Health Services Management 26 June 1991 24 June 1992 364 days
Minister for Courts Administration and Corrective Services[lower-alpha 3] Terry Griffiths 6 June 1991 28 June 1991 22 days
Minister for Justice 28 June 1991 24 June 1992 362 days
Minister for Sport, Recreation and Racing George Souris   National 6 June 1991 24 June 1992 1 year, 18 days
Minister Assisting the Premier
Chief Secretary Anne Cohen   Liberal
Minister for Administrative Services

  Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.

  1. Retained portfolios from the first Greiner ministry.
  2. Portfolio name changed from Hospital Management to Health Services Management. Ron Phillips retained ministerial responsibility.
  3. Portfolio name changed from Courts Administration and Corrective Services to Justice. Terry Griffiths retained ministerial responsibility.

See also

Notes

    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). 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. Greiner v Independent Commission Against Corruption (1992) 28 NSWLR 125, Court of Appeal (NSW), per Gleeson CJ and Preistly JA, Mahoney JA dissenting. LawCite.
    6. "Part 6 Ministries since 1856" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
    7. "Former Members". Members of Parliament. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 16 November 2020.

     

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