| Cabinet Name: | Willis–Punch ministry |
| Cabinet Number: | 70th |
| Jurisdiction: | the State of New South Wales |
| Flag: | Flag of New South Wales.svg |
| Flag Border: | true |
| Government Head: | Sir Eric Willis |
| Government Head Title: | Premier |
| Deputy Government Head: | Leon Punch |
| Deputy Government Head Title: | Deputy Premier |
| State Head: | Queen Elizabeth II |
| State Head Title: | Monarch |
| Governor: | Sir Roden Cutler |
| Members Number: | 18 |
| Political Parties: | Liberal National coalition |
| Opposition Party: | Labor |
| Opposition Leader: | Neville Wran |
| Election: | 1973 New South Wales election |
| Previous: | Lewis–Punch ministry |
| Successor: | First Wran ministry |
The Willis–Punch ministry or Willis ministry was the 70th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 34th Premier of New South Wales, Sir Eric Willis in a Liberal Party coalition with the Country Party of Australia, that was led by Leon Punch.
Willis joined the newly formed Liberal Party of Australia in 1945, after hearing a speech by Sir Robert Menzies.[1] After unsuccessfully seeking election to the Australian House of Representatives, Willis was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1950 and served continuously up until 1978, representing the seat of Earlwood, in the inner southwestern suburbs of Sydney. Upon Sir Robert Askin's retirement in January 1975, Willis was seen as the favourite to take the premiership. However, despite Askin's initial support, Willis refused his help, preferring to gain the leadership on his own merits. Askin then put his support behind the Minister for Lands, Tom Lewis.[2] Willis, sure he had support, refused to campaign, and the party put its support behind Lewis, leading to his election to Premier. Willis was then replaced as Deputy by John Maddison. For Willis' service as Deputy Leader he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 14 June 1975.[3] Lewis was Premier for only one year and looked increasingly likely to lead the state Liberals to defeat. At the party room meeting on 20 January 1976, parliamentary backbencher Neil Pickard called a spill motion. This was carried 22 votes to 11 and Willis was made Leader unopposed.[4]
Punch was elected to the NSW Legislative Assembly in 1959 and served continuously up until 1985, representing variously the seats of Upper Hunter (1959-1962) and then Gloucester (1962-1985). Elected Deputy Leader of the Country Party in 1973, Punch was elected as leader of his party following the retirement and resignation of the Sir Charles Cutler in December 1975.
The ministry was sworn in by the Lieutenant Governor Sir Laurence Street on 23 January 1976,[5] a few days after Willis deposed Tom Lewis in a spill motion for the leadership of the parliamentary branch of the Liberal Party in New South Wales. It ended on 14 May 1976 when the coalition was defeated at the 1976 election by the Labor Party and the First Wran ministry was sworn in.
| Portfolio | Minister | Party | Term commence | Term end | Term of office | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier Treasurer | 23 January 1976 | 14 May 1976 | |||||
| Deputy Premier Minister for Public Works Minister for Ports | |||||||
| Attorney General Minister for Justice | |||||||
| Minister for Planning and Environment Vice-President of the Executive Council Leader of the Government in Legislative Council | , MLC | ||||||
| Minister for Transport Minister for Highways | |||||||
| Minister for Labour and Industry Minister for Federal Affairs Minister for Consumer Affairs | , MLC | ||||||
| Minister for Health | |||||||
| Minister for Local Government | |||||||
| Minister for Decentralisation and Development | |||||||
| Minister for Mines Minister for Energy | |||||||
| Chief Secretary | |||||||
| Minister for Education | |||||||
| Minister for Agriculture Minister for Water Resources | |||||||
| Assistant Treasurer Minister for Revenue | |||||||
| Minister for Housing Minister for Co-operative Societies | |||||||
| Minister for Lands Minister for Forests | |||||||
| Minister for Youth, Ethnic and Community Affairs | |||||||
| Minister for Culture, Sport and Recreation Minister for Tourism | |||||||