Mair–Bruxner ministry

The Mair–Bruxner ministry or Mair ministry was the 49th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 26th Premier, the Honourable Alexander Mair, MLA, in a United Australia Party coalition with the Country Party, that was led by the Honourable Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Bruxner, DSO, MLA. The ministry was the only occasion when the Government was led by Stevens, as Premier; and fourth and final occasion where Bruxner served as Deputy Premier.

Mair was first elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1932 and served continuously until 1946. Having served as a junior minister in the third Stevens ministry and subsequently promoted,[1] Mair was elected leader of the United Australia Party (UAP) in New South Wales as a result of a no confidence motion against the 25th Premier, Bertram Stevens, for not running a balanced budget. Stevens resigned as Premier and Leader of the UAP[2] and Mair won the leadership ballot and hence became Premier. Bruxner was first elected to the Assembly in 1920 and served continuously until 1962. Initially a member of the Progressive Party, he served as party leader in opposition between 1922 and 1925; and resumed leadership in 1932, following the resignation of his successor, Ernest Buttenshaw. By this stage, the party was renamed as the Country Party.

The Mair formed a coalition with Bruxner, taking over where Stevens was previously in coalition with the Country Party.

This ministry covers the period from 5 August 1939 until 16 May 1941[3][4] when the 1941 state election saw the defeat of the Mair–Bruxner coalition, and the Labor Party under the leadership of William McKell elected to government.

Composition of ministry

First arrangement

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Mair on 5 August 1939 and covers just eleven days until 16 August 1939 as an "emergency cabinet" pending formation of the full ministry as a result of the turmoil following the resignation of Stevens. At that point there was a minor rearrangement, unless the Minister retains the portfolio for the full term. Ministers are listed in order of seniority.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Premier	Hon. Alexander Mair, MLA		UAP	5 August 1939	16 May 1941	1 year, 284 days
Colonial Treasurer					16 August 1939	11 days
Secretary for Public Works Minister for Local Government
Deputy Premier Minister for Transport	Hon. Lieut-Colonel Michael Bruxner, DSO, MLA		Country		16 May 1941	1 year, 284 days
Attorney–General Vice-President of the Executive Council Representative of the Government in Legislative Council	Hon. Henry Manning, KC, BA, LLB, MLC		UAP
Minister of Education	Hon. David Drummond, MLA		Country
Secretary for Mines Minister for Forests	Hon. Roy Vincent, MLA
Minister for Justice	Hon. Lewis Martin, BA, LLB, MLA		UAP		16 August 1939	11 days
Colonial Secretary	Hon. George Gollan, MLA
Minister for Lands	Hon. Colin Sinclair, BA, LLB, MLA^a		Country		6 November 1940	1 year, 93 days
Minister for Agriculture	Hon. Major Albert Reid, MC, MLA				16 May 1941	1 year, 284 days
Minister for Labour and Industry and Social Services	Hon. Athol Richardson, MLA		UAP		16 August 1939	11 days
Minister for Health	Hon. Hubert Primrose, MLA				5 September 1939	31 days
Assistant Minister	Hon. Marsden Manfred, MLC				16 May 1941	1 year, 284 days

^a Resigned

Second arrangement

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Mair on 16 August 1939 and covers the period until 16 May 1941 when Mair was defeated at the 1941 state election. Ministers are listed in order of seniority. Only changes in portfolios are shown.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Colonial Treasurer	Hon. Athol Richardson, MLA		UAP	16 August 1939	16 May 1941	1 year, 273 days
Secretary for Public Works Minister for Local Government	Hon. Lewis Martin, BA, LLB, MLA
Minister for Labour and Industry and Social Services	Hon. George Gollan, MLA
Minister of Justice	Hon. Vernon Treatt, MM, KC, MA, BCL, MLA
Colonial Secretary	Hon. Alwyn Tonking, MLA
Minister for Health	Hon. Herbert FitzSimons, MLA			5 September 1939		1 year, 253 days
Assistant Minister	Hon. Hubert Primrose, MLA
Secretary for Lands	Hon. Alfred Yeo, MLA		Country	6 November 1940		191 days

See also

• Alexander Mair - 26th Premier of New South Wales
• Michael Bruxner - Leader of the New South Wales Country Party
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1938-1941

References

1. Ewer, Peter; Spearritt, Peter. "Mair, Alexander (1889 - 1969)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
2. Ward, John M. "Stevens, Sir Bertram Sydney Barnsdale (1889 - 1973)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
3. "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 spreadsheet) on 15 March 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
4. "Part 6: Ministries" (PDF). New South Wales Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 12 April 2020.