This premier did not win office as the result of an election, and was not (or has not been) in office long enough to contest an election as premier ; see 'Period in office' table above.
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Change of party leader (Askin): Beginning of Lewis's period in office; Askin retired from his position late in December 1974 and the parliamentary Liberal Party chose Lewis as his successor. He was commissioned as premier on 3 January 1975; 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 at pp. 115-117, (Sydney: Parliament of New South Wales and University of Sydney, 2001, ISBN 0909907412).
Change of party leader (Lewis): '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 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 at pp. 117-119, (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 Lewis's political career, see Norman Abjorensen, 'Thomas Lancelot Lewis', in Clune and Turner, vol. 2, pp. 375-384, (see 'Sources', below).
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.