Wran ministry (1976–1978)

The Wran ministry (1976–1978) or First Wran ministry was the 71st ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 35th Premier of New South Wales, Neville Wran, representing the Labor Party. It was the first of eight consecutive occasions when Wran was Premier.

First Wran ministry
71st Cabinet of the State of New South Wales
Premier Neville Wran
Date formed	14 May 1976 (1976-05-14)
Date dissolved	19 October 1978 (1978-10-19)
People and organisations
Monarch	Queen Elizabeth II
Governor	Sir Roden Cutler
Premier	Neville Wran
Deputy Premier	Jack Ferguson
No. of ministers	17
Member party	Labor
Opposition parties	Liberal National coalition
Opposition leader	Sir Eric Willis Peter Coleman
History
Election	1976 New South Wales election
Predecessor	Willis–Punch ministry
Successor	Second Wran ministry

Background

After 11 years in government, the Liberal–National Country Party coalition was narrowly defeated at the election on 1 May 1976 by the Wran–led Labor Party, with a swing to Labor of 6.82% giving Labor a one seat majority.

Wran had been elected to the Legislative Council of New South Wales by a joint sitting of the New South Wales Parliament on 12 March 1970.^[1] He was Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council from 22 February 1972.^[2] He resigned from the council on 19 October 1973 to switch to the Legislative Assembly, successfully contesting the election for Bass Hill, which he would hold until his retirement in 1986.^[3] Labor, led by Pat Hills, was defeated at the 1973 election and Wran successfully challenged Hills to become Leader of Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition from 3 December 1973.^[4]

Composition of ministry

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Wran and sworn in on 14 May 1976. There were minor rearrangements of the ministry in August 1976^[a][b] and February 1977.^[c][d] The ministry ended on 19 October 1978, when Wran was successful at the 1978 election and the Second Wran ministry was formed.^[5]

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Premier	Neville Wran		Labor	14 May 1976	19 October 1978	2 years, 158 days
Deputy Premier Minister for Public Works Minister for Ports	Jack Ferguson [c]
Minister for Housing					10 February 1977	272 days
	Ron Mulock [c]			10 February 1977	19 October 1978	1 year, 251 days
Treasurer	Jack Renshaw			14 May 1976	19 October 1978	2 years, 158 days
Minister for Transport Minister for Highways	Peter Cox
Attorney General	Frank Walker
Vice-President of the Executive Council Leader of the Government in Legislative Council	Paul Landa, MLC [a]
Minister for Industrial Relations					9 August 1976	87 days
	Pat Hills [a]			9 August 1976	19 October 1978	2 years, 71 days
Minister for Mines Minister for Energy				14 May 1976		2 years, 158 days
Minister for Decentralisation and Development Minister for Primary Industries	Don Day
Minister for Education	Eric Bedford
Minister for Local Government	Harry Jensen [b]				19 October 1978	2 years, 158 days
Minister for Planning					9 August 1976	87 days
Minister for Lands	Bill Crabtree [b]				19 October 1978	2 years, 158 days
Minister for Environment					9 August 1976	87 days
Minister for Planning and Environment	Paul Landa, MLC [b]			9 August 1976	19 October 1978	2 years, 71 days
Minister for Health	Kevin Stewart			14 May 1976	19 October 1978	2 years, 158 days
Minister for Consumer Affairs Minister for Co-operative Societies	Syd Einfeld
Minister for Justice	Ron Mulock [d]
Minister for Services					10 February 1977	272 days
	Bill Haigh [d]			10 February 1977	19 October 1978	1 year, 251 days
Minister for Sport and Recreation Minister for Tourism	Ken Booth			14 May 1976	19 October 1978	2 years, 158 days
Minister for Conservation Minister for Water Resources	Lin Gordon
Minister for Youth and Community Services	Rex Jackson
Minister Assisting the Premier	Bill Haigh [d]				10 February 1977	272 days

  Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.

See also

• New South Wales portal
• Politics portal

• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1976–1978
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council, 1976–1978

Notes

1. In August 1976 Pat Hills gained the portfolio of Industrial Relations previously held by Paul Landa.
2. In August 1976 Paul Landa gained the new portfolio of Planning and Environment, combining the portfolios of planning, previously held by Harry Jensen and environment, previously held by Bill Crabtree.
3. In February 1977 Ron Mulock gained the portfolio of housing, previously held by Jack Ferguson.
4. In February 1977 Bill Haigh gained the portfolio of services, previously held by Ron Mulock.