Deputy Premier of New South Wales

The Deputy Premier of New South Wales is the second-most senior officer in the Government of New South Wales. The deputy premiership has been a ministerial portfolio since 1932, and the deputy premier is appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Premier.

Deputy Premier of
New South Wales
Incumbent
Prue Car
since 28 March 2023
Department of Premier and Cabinet
StyleThe Honourable
Member of
Reports toPremier of New South Wales
Seat52 Martin Place, Sydney
NominatorPremier of New South Wales
AppointerGovernor of New South Wales
on the advice of the premier
Term lengthAt the Governor's pleasure
Formation16 May 1932
First holderSir Michael Bruxner
SalaryA$343,460

The current Deputy Premier is Prue Car, since 28 March 2023. Car is also the Minister for Education.

Ultimately, the Deputy Premier is responsible to the Parliament of New South Wales.

History

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The office of Deputy Premier was created in May 1932 for Michael Bruxner, the leader of the Country Party (later renamed the National Party). Prior to that time the term was sometimes used unofficially (without capital letters) for the second-highest ranking minister in the government.

In Labor governments, the deputy premier is the party's deputy leader. Generally speaking, this person has come from the left faction of the party whereas the premier has come from the right faction. In Liberal-National Coalition governments, the position has been held by the Leader of the National Party or its predecessors.

Three deputy premiers have subsequently become Premier in their own right: Joseph Cahill, Robert Heffron, and Jack Renshaw. However, this has not occurred since 1964.

Duties

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The duties of the deputy premier are to act on behalf of the premier in his or her absence overseas or on leave. The deputy premier has always been a member of the Cabinet, and has always held at least one substantive portfolio (It would be technically possible for a minister to hold only the portfolio of Deputy Premier, but this has never happened).

If the premier were to die, become incapacitated or resign, the Governor would normally appoint the deputy premier as Premier. If the governing or majority party had not yet elected a new leader, that appointment would be on an interim basis. Should a different leader emerge, that person would then be appointed Premier.

List of deputy premiers of New South Wales

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No.PortraitName
Electoral district
(Birth–Death)
Term of officePortfolioPartyPremier
Term startTerm endTime in office
1 Michael Bruxner
MLA for Tenterfield
(1882–1970)
16 May
1932
16 May
1941
9 years, 0 daysCountryBertram Stevens
United Australia
(1932–1939)
Alexander Mair
United Australia
(1939–1941)
2 Jack Baddeley
MLA for Cessnock
(1881–1953)
16 May
1941
8 September
1949
8 years, 115 daysLaborWilliam McKell
Labor
(1941–1947)
Jim McGirr
Labor
(1947–1952)
3 Joseph Cahill
MLA for Cook's River
(1891–1959)
21 September
1949
2 April
1952
2 years, 194 daysLabor
None
(2 April 1952–23 February 1953)
Joseph Cahill
Labor
(1952–1959)
4 Bob Heffron
MLA for Maroubra
(1890–1978)
23 February
1953
28 October
1959
6 years, 247 daysLabor
5 Jack Renshaw
MLA for Castlereagh
(1890–1978)
28 October
1959
14 March
1964
4 years, 169 daysLaborBob Heffron
Labor
(1959–1964)
6 Pat Hills
MLA for Castlereagh
(1917–1992)
30 April
1964
13 May
1965
1 year, 13 daysLaborJack Renshaw
Labor
(1964–1965)
7Sir Charles Cutler
MLA for Orange
(1918–2006)
13 May
1965
16 December
1975
10 years, 217 daysCountrySir Robert Askin
Liberal
(1965–1975)
Tom Lewis
Liberal
(1975–1976)
8Leon Punch
MLA for Gloucester
(1928–1991)
17 December
1975
14 May
1976
149 daysCountry
Sir Eric Willis
Liberal
(1976)
9Jack Ferguson
MLA for Merrylands
(1924–2002)
14 May
1976
10 February
1984
7 years, 272 daysLaborNeville Wran
Labor
(1976–1986)
10Ron Mulock
MLA for St Marys
(1930–2014)
10 February
1984
25 March
1988
4 years, 44 daysLabor
Barrie Unsworth
Labor
(1986–1988)
11Wal Murray
MP for Barwon
(1931–2004)
25 March
1988
26 May
1993
5 years, 62 daysNationalNick Greiner
Liberal
(1988–1992)
John Fahey
Liberal
(1992–1995)
12Ian Armstrong
MP for Barwon
(1937–2020)
26 May
1993
4 April
1995
1 year, 313 daysNational
13Andrew Refshauge
MP for Marrickville
(born 1949)
4 April
1995
4 August
2005
10 years, 121 daysLaborBob Carr
Labor
(1995–2005)
14John Watkins
MP for Ryde
(born 1955)
10 August
2005
3 September
2008
3 years, 24 daysLaborMorris Iemma
Labor
(2005–2008)
15Carmel Tebbutt
MP for Marrickville
(born 1964)
5 September
2008
26 March
2011
2 years, 202 daysLaborNathan Rees
Labor
(2008–2009)
Kristina Keneally
Labor
(2009–2011)
16 Andrew Stoner
MP for Oxley
(born 1960)
28 March
2011
16 October
2014
3 years, 202 daysNationalBarry O'Farrell
Liberal
(2011–2014)
Mike Baird
Liberal
(2014–2017)
17 Troy Grant
MP for Dubbo
(born 1970)
16 October
2014
15 November
2016
2 years, 30 daysNational
18 John Barilaro[1][2]
MP for Monaro
(born 1971)
15 November
2016
6 October
2021
4 years, 325 daysNational
Gladys Berejiklian
Liberal
(2017–2021)
19 Paul Toole[3]
MP for Bathurst
(born 1970)
6 October
2021
28 March
2023
1 year, 173 daysNationalDominic Perrottet
Liberal
(2021–2023)
20 Prue Car
MP for Londonderry
(born 1982 or 1983)
28 March
2023
Incumbent1 year, 83 daysLaborChris Minns
Labor
(since 2023)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "John Barilaro elected as leader of NSW Nationals". ABC News. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  2. ^ Tsikas, Mick (3 October 2021). "John Barilaro resigns as NSW Deputy Premier, will also leave Parliament". ABC News. AAP. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  3. ^ "Paul Toole wins NSW Nationals leadership vote, becomes new Deputy Premier". ABC News. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.