Unsworth ministry

The Unsworth ministry was the 79th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 36th Premier of New South Wales, the Honourable Barrie Unsworth, MP, representing the Labor Party.

Unsworth ministry
79th Cabinet of Government of New South Wales
Date formed	4 July 1986
Date dissolved	21 March 1988
People and organisations
Head of state	Queen Elizabeth II (represented by Sir James Rowland)
Head of government	Barrie Unsworth
Deputy head of government	Ron Mulock
No. of ministers	20
Member party	Labor
Status in legislature	Majority Labor Government
Opposition parties	Liberal–National coalition
Opposition leader	Nick Greiner
History
Outgoing election	1988 New South Wales state election
Predecessor	Eighth Wran ministry
Successor	First Greiner–Murray ministry

After the surprise announcement in June 1986 that Neville Wran MP would retire as Premier, NSW Labor Leader, and from Parliament with effect from 4 July 1986,[1] Unsworth, then a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, was elected as the leader of the NSW Labor Party and thus became Premier. However, by parliamentary convention, Premiers are members of the Legislative Assembly. In order for Unsworth to move from the Legislative Council to the Legislative Assembly, Brian Bannon, the member for Rockdale, resigned to accept a role as Chairman of the Homebush States Sport Centre Trust,[2] and Unsworth contested the resulting by-election held on 2 August 1986. He narrowly won the seat, with a 17.1% decline in the primary vote and independent preferences giving him a margin of just 54 votes.[3] A by-election for Wran's safe Labor seat of Bass Hill was even worse, with a 22.2 per cent decline in the primary vote delivering a 103–vote victory to the Liberal candidate.[3]

The ministry covers the period from 4 July 1986 when Unsworth was elected by Labor caucus as the NSW Labor Leader until 21 March 1988 when Labor suffered a landslide defeat at the state election by the Liberal–National coalition, led by Nick Greiner and Wal Murray. Unsworth did not contest the 1991 election.

Composition of ministry

Ministers are listed in order of seniority.[4][5]

First arrangement

The first arrangement covers the period from 4 July 1986 until 5 November 1986, when Jack Hallam took on additional responsibilities.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Premier Minister for State Development Minister for Ethnic Affairs	Hon. Barrie Unsworth, MP		Labor	4 July 1986	21 March 1988	1 year, 261 days
Deputy Premier Minister for Transport	Hon. Ron Mulock, MP				26 November 1987	1 year, 145 days
Minister for Housing Minister for the Arts	Hon. Frank Walker, QC MP				21 March 1988	1 year, 261 days
Minister for Public Works and Ports Minister for Roads	Hon. Laurie Brereton, MP				26 November 1987	1 year, 145 days
Minister for Industrial Relations Minister for Employment	Hon. Pat Hills, MP				21 March 1988	1 year, 261 days
Minister for Health Minister for the Drug Offensive	Hon. Peter Anderson, MP
Treasurer	Hon. Ken Booth, MP
Attorney General Minister Assisting the Premier	Hon. Terry Sheahan, MP				26 November 1987	1 year, 145 days
Minister for Industry and Small Business Minister for Energy and Technology	Hon. Peter Cox, MP
Minister for Agriculture Minister for Lands Vice-President of the Executive Council	Hon. Jack Hallam, MLC				21 March 1988	1 year, 261 days
Minister for Education	Hon. Rodney Cavalier, MP
Minister for Sport and Recreation Minister for Racing Minister for Tourism	Hon. Michael Cleary, MP
Minister for Police and Emergency Services	Hon. George Paciullo, MP
Minister for Local Government Minister for Water Resources	Hon. Janice Crosio, MBE MP
Minister for Finance Minister for Co-operative Societies Assistant Minister for Education	Hon. Bob Debus, MP
Minister for Corrective Services Assistant Minister for Transport	Hon. John Akister, MP
Minister for Planning and Environment Minister for Heritage	Hon. Bob Carr, MP
Minister for Youth and Community Services Assistant Minister for Ethnic Affairs	Hon. John Aquilina, MP
Minister for Mineral Resources Minister for Aboriginal Affairs	Hon. Ken Gabb, MP				26 November 1987	1 year, 145 days
Minister for Consumer Affairs	Hon. Deirdre Grusovin, MLC

Second arrangement

The second arrangement covers the period from 5 November 1986 until 26 November 1987, when Laurie Brereton resigned from the ministry, triggering a reshuffle. Only changes in portfolio are shown.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Minister for Agriculture Minister for Lands Vice-President of the Executive Council Minister for Forests	Hon. Jack Hallam, MLC		Labor	5 November 1986	21 March 1988	1 year, 137 days

Third arrangement

The third arrangement covers the period from 26 November 1987 until the state election, held on 21 March 1988, when the Unsworth government was defeated. Only changes in portfolios are shown.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Deputy Premier Attorney General	Hon. Ron Mulock, MP		Labor	26 November 1987	21 March 1988	116 days
Minister for Transport	Hon. Terry Sheahan, MP
Minister for Public Works Minister Assisting the Premier	Hon. Peter Cox, MP
Assistant Minister for Transport	Hon. Janice Crosio, MP
Minister for Minerals and Energy Minister for Aboriginal Affairs	Hon. Ken Gabb, MP
Minister for Consumer Affairs Minister for Small Business Assistant Minister for Health	Hon. Deirdre Grusovin, MLC

See also

• Hon. Barrie Unsworth, MP - 36th Premier of New South Wales
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1984–1988
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council, 1984–1988

References

1. "After Wran, the Unsworth push". The Sydney Morning Herald. Google. 9 June 1986. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
2. Green, Antony. "Rockdale by-election 1986". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
3. "By-election bloodbaths". Crikey. 27 November 2005. Retrieved 13 June 2010.
4. "Former Members - Chronological List of Ministries 1856 to 2009 (requires download)" (Excel). Project for the Sesquicentenary of Responsible Government in NSW. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 26 July 2014.
5. "Part 6: Ministries" (PDF). New South Wales Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 12 April 2020.