Heffron ministry (1959–1962)

The Heffron ministry (1959–1962) or First Heffron ministry was the 59th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 30th Premier, Bob Heffron, of the Labor Party. The ministry was the first of two consecutive occasions when the Government was led by Heffron, as Premier.

Heffron ministry
59th Cabinet of the State of New South Wales
Premier Bob Heffron
Date formed28 October 1959
Date dissolved14 March 1962
People and organisations
MonarchElizabeth II
GovernorSir Eric Woodward
PremierBob Heffron
Deputy PremierJack Renshaw
No. of ministers15
Member partyLabor
Status in legislatureMajority government
Opposition partyLiberal/Country coalition
Opposition leaderRobert Askin
History
Election(s)1959 New South Wales election
PredecessorFourth Cahill ministry
SuccessorSecond Heffron ministry

Heffron was first elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1930 and served continuously until 1968, representing the seats of Botany and Maroubra. Having served continuously as Minister for Emergency Services in the first McKell ministry, and Minister for Education in the second McKell ministry, and in the first, second, and third ministries of Jim McGirr, and then the first, second, third and fourth ministries of Joseph Cahill. Heffron served as Deputy Premier to Cahill between 1953 and 1959 until Cahill died in office on 22 October 1959. The following day, Heffron was elected as Labor Leader and became Premier, retaining Cahill's ministry intact. He had been narrowly been defeated in by McGirr in the leadership ballot in 1947.[1] Issues during this ministry were the appointment of H. V. Evatt as Chief Justice of New South Wales, an appointment that was widely seen as a means of giving him a dignified exit from politics.[2] Reg Downing, the Attorney General, refused to move the nomination in cabinet and the nomination was narrowly passed, 8 to 6.[3] The ministry also proposed to abolish the Legislative Council of New South Wales, however the 1961 referendum was rejected, with only 42.4% support.[4]

This ministry covers the period from 28 October 1959 until 14 March 1962,[5] when Heffron led Labor to victory at the 1962 state election.

Composition of ministry

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Heffron following his appointment as Premier on 23 October 1959, and covers the period until 14 March 1962, when the 1962 state election was held.

PortfolioMinisterPartyTerm commenceTerm endTerm of office
Premier Bob Heffron [lower-alpha 1]   Labor       28 October 1959 14 March 1962 2 years, 137 days
Minister of Education [lower-alpha 2] 31 May 1960 216 days
Ernest Wetherell [lower-alpha 2] 31 May 1960 14 March 1962 1 year, 287 days
Deputy Premier
Treasurer		 Jack Renshaw [lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2] 28 October 1959 14 March 1962 2 years, 137 days
Attorney General
Vice-President of the Executive Council
Representative of the Government in Legislative Council		 Reg Downing, MLC [lower-alpha 1]
Minister of Justice [lower-alpha 3] 31 May 1960 216 days
Jack Mannix  2 31 May 1960 14 March 1962 1 year, 287 days
Chief Secretary
Minister for Tourist Activities		 Gus Kelly [lower-alpha 1] 28 October 1959 14 March 1962 2 years, 137 days
Minister for Local Government
Minister for Highways		 Pat Hills
Minister for Health Bill Sheahan [lower-alpha 1]
Minister for Child Welfare
Minister for Social Welfare		 Frank Hawkins [lower-alpha 1]
Minister for Transport George Enticknap [lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2] 31 May 1960 216 days
John McMahon [lower-alpha 2] 31 May 1960 14 March 1962 1 year, 287 days
Minister for Housing
Minister for Co-operative Societies		 Abe Landa [lower-alpha 1] 28 October 1959 14 March 1962 2 years, 137 days
Minister for Conservation Ernest Wetherell [lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2] 31 May 1960 216 days
George Enticknap [lower-alpha 1] 31 May 1960 14 March 1962 1 year, 287 days
Minister for Agriculture Roger Nott [lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 4] 28 October 1959 3 March 1961 1 year, 126 days
Jack Renshaw [lower-alpha 4] 3 March 1961 14 March 1962 1 year, 11 days
Minister for Labour and Industry Jim Maloney, MLC [lower-alpha 1] 28 October 1959 14 March 1962 2 years, 137 days
Minister for Mines Jim Simpson [lower-alpha 1]
Minister for Lands John McMahon [lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2] 31 May 1960 216 days
Jack Renshaw [lower-alpha 2] 31 May 1960 3 March 1961 276 days
Keith Compton [lower-alpha 4] 3 March 1961 14 March 1962 1 year, 11 days
Minister for Public Works Norm Ryan [lower-alpha 1] 28 October 1959 14 March 1962 2 years, 137 days
Assistant Minister Jack Mannix [lower-alpha 3]

  Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.

See also
  • Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
  • 1959–1962

Notes
  1. Retained portfolios from fourth Cahill ministry.
  2. On 31 May 1960 Bob Heffron relinquished the portfolio of Education on 31 May 1960 triggering a series of portfolio changes. Ernest Wetherell replaced Heffron in Education, George Enticknap replaced Wetherell in Conservation, John McMahon replaced Enticknap in Transport and Jack Renshaw replaced McMahon, adding Lands to his portfolios.
  3. On 31 May 1960 Reg Downing relinquished the portfolio of Justice, replaced by Jack Mannix
  4. On 3 March 1961 Roger Nott resigned from the Legislative Assembly to accept an offer of appointment as Administrator of the Northern Territory by the Menzies coalition government.[6] Jack Renshaw added Agriculture to his responsibilities and relinquished Lands, replaced by Keith Compton following a narrow victory in caucus.[7]

References
  1. Carr, Bob (1996). "Heffron, Robert James (1890–1978)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  2. Weeks, Phillipa (2000). "Owen, Sir William Francis (1899–1972)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  3. Williams, Evan (2006). "Robert James Heffron". In David Clune; Ken Turner (eds.). The Premiers of New South Wales, 1856–2005: Volume 2. Leichardt: The Federation Press. p. 317. ISBN 978-1-86287-549-4.
  4. "Constitution Further Amendment (Referendum) Act, 1930". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 19 May 1961. p. 1510. Retrieved 26 June 2020 – via Trove.
  5. "Part 6 Ministries since 1856" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  6. "N.S.W. Minister to be N.T. Administrator". The Canberra Times. 14 February 1961. p. 8. Retrieved 15 December 2021 – via Trove.
  7. "Cabinet post causes crisis". The Canberra Times. 24 February 1961. p. 3. Retrieved 15 December 2021 – via Trove.

 

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