State Government of New South Wales beginning 23 January 1976 - period in office of Premier Willis, Eric Archibald ending on 14 May 1976
Period in office of premier (see Glossary entry for 'period in office' and related terms)
Parliamentary support during period
Coalition partner 1
Number of ministers at beginning of period (this may vary during the period)
Assembly elections contested as premier or after which became premier (see Glossary entry for 'after election')
| Election | Premier at election | Premier's party | Premier after election | Premier's party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW 1 May 1976 | Eric Archibald Willis | Liberal Party | Neville Kenneth Wran | Australian Labor Party |
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Notes
Change of party leader (Lewis): Beginning of Willis's period in office; 'On 20 January 1976 a meeting of the parliamentary Liberal Party declared the leadership vacant by a vote of 22-11. Willis was the only candidate, and Maddison remained deputy leader of the party', Hughes, p. 34, (see 'Sources', below)); see also Bennett, (reference in paragraph below).
Loss of election (Willis): See Scott Bennett, '1976', in Michael Hogan and David Clune (editors), The People's Choice: Electoral Politics in 20th Century New South Wales, vol. 3 (1968-1999), pp. 111-146, (Sydney: Parliament of New South Wales and University of Sydney, 2001, ISBN 0909907412).
References: For an analysis of the role of Premier in New South Wales, see David Clune and Ken Turner, 'Introduction: The Changing Role of the Premier in the 20th Century', pp. 1-14, in Clune and Turner vol. 2 (see, 'Sources', below).
For a survey of Willis's political career, see Malcolm Mackerras, 'Sir Eric Archibald Willis', in Clune and Turner, vol. 2 , pp. 387-399, (reference in 'Sources', below).
Sources
David Clune and Ken Turner (editors), The Premiers of New South Wales, vol. 2, (1901-2005), (Sydney: Federation Press, 2006, ISBN 186287551); Colin A Hughes, A Handbook of Australian Government and Politics 1975-1984, p. 34, (Rushcutters Bay, NSW: Australian National University Press, 1986, (ISBN 008033038X); New South Wales, Parliament, The New South Wales Parliamentary Record: Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly, 1824-1999, vol. VI, pp. 246-308, (Sydney: Parliament of New South Wales, 1999). In consulting these sources, note the difference between ministries and periods in office.