Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1935–1938) explained

Cabinet Name:Stevens–Bruxner ministry
Cabinet Number:47th
Jurisdiction:the State of New South Wales
Flag Border:true
Date Formed:11 February 1935
Date Dissolved:13 April 1938
Government Head:Bertram Stevens
Government Head Title:Premier
Deputy Government Head:Michael Bruxner
Deputy Government Head Title:Deputy Premier
State Head:George V
Edward VIII
George V
State Head Title:Monarch
Governor:Sir Alexander Hore-Ruthven
Sir David Anderson
The Lord Wakehurst
Members Number:12
Political Party:UAP/Country coalition
Legislature Status:Majority government
Opposition Leader:Jack Lang
Election:1935 New South Wales election
Previous:First Stevens-Bruxner ministry (1932–1935)
Successor:Third Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1938–1939)

The Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1935–1938) or Second Stevens–Bruxner ministry or Second Stevens ministry was the 47th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 25th Premier, Bertram Stevens, in a United Australia Party coalition with the Country Party, that was led by Michael Bruxner. The ministry was the second one of three occasions when the Government was led by Stevens, as Premier; and second of four occasions where Bruxner served as Deputy Premier.

Stevens was first elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1927 and served continuously until 1940. Having served as a senior minister in the Bavin ministry, following the defeat of the Nationalist coalition led by Bavin, who was in poor health, at the 1930 state election, Stevens was elected leader of the newly formed United Australia Party (UAP) in New South Wales and became Leader of the Opposition. Bruxner was first elected to the Assembly in 1920 and served continuously until 1962. Initially a member of the Progressive Party, he served as party leader in opposition between 1922 and 1925; and resumed leadership in 1932, following the resignation of his successor, Ernest Buttenshaw. By this stage, the party was renamed as the Country Party.

The Stevens–Bruxner coalition came to power as a result of the Lang Dismissal Crisis, when the Governor of New South Wales, Philip Game used the reserve power of The Crown to remove Jack Lang as Premier, asking Stevens to form government. Going to the polls a month later, Stevens/Bruxner won a landslide victory at the 1932 state election and were re-elected at the 1935 state election, albeit with a reduced margin. The principal change from the first Stevens–Bruxner ministry was that Reginald Weaver, the Deputy leader of the United Australia Party, was dropped from the ministry, with Stevens describing him as "too extreme in personal independence" and possessing a "needlessly sharp tongue", replaced by the promotion of Herbert FitzSimons. There were five by-elections during the ministry, with the government losing three of them.

This ministry covers the period from 11 February 1935 until 13 April 1938[1] when the 1938 state election saw the Stevens–Bruxner coalition re-elected for a subsequent and third term.

Composition of ministry

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Stevens on 11 February 1935.

PortfolioMinisterPartyTerm commenceTerm endTerm of office
Premier
Treasurer
 
Deputy Premier
Minister for Transport
 
Attorney–General
Vice-president of the Executive Council
Representative of the Government in Legislative Council
 
Secretary for Lands 
Chief Secretary 
Minister for Education 
Minister for Labour and Industry 
Minister for Agriculture 
Minister for Local Government 
Minister for Justice
Minister for Health
Assistant Minister in the Legislative Council, MLC
Assistant Colonial Secretary
Honorary Minister
Minister without portfolio
 
 Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.

See also

References

 ! colspan="3" style="border-top: 5px solid #cccccc" | New South Wales government ministries

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Former members of the New South Wales Parliament, 1856–2006. 4 December 2019. New South Wales Parliament.