Eric Willis
Encyclopedia
Sir Eric Archibald Willis KBE
, CMG
(15 January 192210 May 1999) was an Australian politician, Cabinet Minister and the 34th Premier of New South Wales, serving from 23 January 1976 to 14 May 1976. Born in Murwillumbah in 1922, Willis was educated at Murwillumbah High School
and the University of Sydney
, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts with double honours. Enlisting during the Second World War, Willis served on the homefront and later served in New Guinea and the Philippines. He continued to serve the Citizen Military Forces
until 1958.
After serving a period as a geographer, Willis was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
as the Liberal
member for Earlwood
in 1950. He rose to become a long-serving Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party from 1959 to 1975 under Robert Askin
. When the Coalition won the 1965 election, Willis was made a Minister of the Crown as Chief Secretary, Minister for Labour and Industry, Tourism and Sport but rose to prominence in his role as Minister for Education
from 1972 to 1976. When Askin retired in 1975, Willis failed in his attempts to succeed him.
Following the ousting of Askin's successor, Tom Lewis
, by the party, Willis was elected as the Parliamentary Leader of the Liberal Party and subsequently became Premier. He remained so until the Liberal/National Country Party Coalition lost office at the 1976 election
by two seats to the Labor Party
under Neville Wran
. Continuing as Leader of the Opposition, Willis resigned in 1977 and retired from politics a year later. Thereafter he served in various organisations and directorships until his death in May 1999.
, New South Wales, the first son of Archibald Clarence Willis, a butter factory hand and First World War veteran, and his wife, Vida Mabel Buttenshaw. His younger brother was NSW Legislative Council
Member and President, Max Willis
. He was educated at Tyalgum
Public School and then at Murwillumbah High School
, at which he was Dux of his year and won a scholarship to study Arts at the University of Sydney
.
He received a Bachelor of Arts
with double honours in Modern History and Geography (BA (Hons)) from Sydney University in 1942. He served in the Second Australian Imperial Force
from 1941 to 1946 in Army Intelligence
in New Guinea
and Philippines during the Second World War ending the war with the rank of Sergeant
. He remained in the military after demobilisation, being discharged from the regular military on 3 June 1946. He continued to serve in the Citizen Military Forces
(CMF) from 1946, achieving the rank of Major
in 1948, until retiring in 1958. He married Norma Dorothy Thompson on 11 May 1951 and they had a daughter and two sons. Willis was employed as a senior geographer and investigation officer for Cumberland County Council
. He sought preselection for the federal seat of Evans
in the 1949 federal election
but was defeated in favour of Frederick Osborne
. Instead, he gained preselection for and contested the Labor seat of Lang
and gained 45.3 per cent of the vote but was defeated by the sitting member, Daniel Mulcahy
.
At the June 1950 state election
, at the age of 28, Willis was elected to the newly created Legislative Assembly
seat of Earlwood
, in the inner southwestern suburbs of Sydney, becoming the youngest Member of Parliament. He gained the seat with 55.53% against a single Labor candidate. He soon gained a reputation as rebel in the House, always attacking the Labor Speakers, and consequently being expelled from the house more than any other member. At the February 1953 election
, Willis narrowly retained his seat with 50.33%, but at the following 1956 election
, he increased his margin to 58.04%.
During his time as member for Earlwood, Willis catered to the changing demographics of his electorate by creating the first-ever Greek branch of the Liberal Party and formed the first Young Liberals
branch in Australia, which counted among its recruits future Prime Minister John Howard
(1996–2007). Following the 1959 election
, at which Willis retained his seat with 58.43%, the Liberal leadership was vacated by Pat Morton
. Willis declined to run for the leadership and Deputy Leader Robert Askin
was made Leader. Willis then ran unopposed and subsequently became Deputy Leader. At the March 1962 election
, despite losing the election, Willis went on to retain his seat for a fifth time with 57.26%.
ended 24 years of Labor government and began Willis's ministerial career, which spanned the entire length of the Coalition Government. After retaining his seat again with 59.95%, he was appointed to the post of Chief Secretary and Minister for Tourism by Premier Askinj in May 1965 to June 1972. Willis was appointed Minister for Labour and Industry from 1965 to March 1971 and during that same time he was also Minister for Sport. From June 1972 to January 1976 he was Minister for Education, where he presided over a huge expansion of schools, teachers and ancillary staff. Willis served as a Fellow of University of Sydney
Senate in 1972. Willis was regarded as the outstanding minister of the Askin Government and is considered one of the state's greatest Education Ministers. For his service as Minister, Willis was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) on 15 June 1974.Citation: Minister of Education in New South Wales
. 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 his service as Deputy Leader he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) on 14 June 1975.Citation: Deputy Premier of New South Wales (sic) 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
moved the motion that the leadership be declared vacant. This was carried 22 votes to 11 and Willis was made Leader and Premier unopposed. Willis and his Cabinet were then duly sworn in on 23 January by the Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales
, Sir Laurence Street
.
In his brief time as Premier he extensively reshuffled the cabinet, dropping five ministers in an attempt to distance himself from the past, including Steve Mauger
and John Mason
, and appointed new cabinet faces such as Pickard and David Arblaster
. His most significant decision was to set up in April 1976 the long-demanded inquiry into the prison system in the form of a Royal Commission
under Justice Nagle. Willis also introduced Daylight Saving time, to be decided upon in a referendum, scrapped the unpopular petrol tax and announced a masterplan for Sydney's transport system.
When former Minister Steve Mauger resigned on 27 January 1976, sparking a by-election in his seat of Monaro
in May, and early polls had indicated a large swing to Labor, Willis announced an early election on 1 May, thereby cancelling the by-election in the hope of preventing a larger move of voters against the government. In the May 1976 election, Willis's government lost power to the Labor Party
under Neville Wran
. The election was notable for being very close run; with the seats of Gosford
and Hurstville
being lost by only 74 and 44 votes respectively. Had Willis retained those seats he would have remained in government. At that same election Daylight Saving time for New South Wales was passed by 68.4 per cent for and 31.6 per cent against and whenever Willis was asked what his greatest achievement as Premier was, he would always say "Daylight Saving".
. Willis resigned as Member for Earlwood on 16 June 1978, at the age of 56. At the resulting by-election, Earlwood fell to the Labor candidate, Ken Gabb
.
and the Arthritis Foundation, of which he was Executive Director from 1984 to 1991. Willis also spent time as Vice-President of the Red Cross (NSW Branch) and was a Fellow of the Royal Society of St George
, a Member of the Australian Institute of Political Science
and the Australian Institute of International Affairs
. Willis left his residence in Bardwell Park and moved to Neutral Bay
, where his marriage collapsed.
He divorced his first wife, Norma, and remarried to Lynn. He died in Sydney on 10 May 1999.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(15 January 192210 May 1999) was an Australian politician, Cabinet Minister and the 34th Premier of New South Wales, serving from 23 January 1976 to 14 May 1976. Born in Murwillumbah in 1922, Willis was educated at Murwillumbah High School
Murwillumbah High School
Murwillumbah High School, is a State run comprehensive secondary, co-educational, high school located at 86 Riverview Street in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia. The school was established as a comprehensive high school in 1929 being upgraded in status from an intermediate high school. It...
and the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts with double honours. Enlisting during the Second World War, Willis served on the homefront and later served in New Guinea and the Philippines. He continued to serve the Citizen Military Forces
Australian Army Reserve
The Australian Army Reserve is a collective name given to the reserve units of the Australian Army. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and, unofficially, the...
until 1958.
After serving a period as a geographer, Willis was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
as the Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member for Earlwood
Electoral district of Earlwood
Earlwood was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly of the Australian state of New South Wales from 1950 to 1991. It included Earlwood.-Members for Earlwood:...
in 1950. He rose to become a long-serving Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party from 1959 to 1975 under Robert Askin
Robert Askin
Sir Robert William Askin GCMG, was an Australian politician and the 32nd Premier of New South Wales from 1965 to 1975, the first representing the Liberal Party of Australia. He was born in 1907 as Robin William Askin, but always disliked his first name and changed it by deed poll in 1971...
. When the Coalition won the 1965 election, Willis was made a Minister of the Crown as Chief Secretary, Minister for Labour and Industry, Tourism and Sport but rose to prominence in his role as Minister for Education
Minister for Education (New South Wales)
The New South Wales Minister for Education has responsibilities which includes all schools and TAFE colleges in NSW.The current Minister for Education is Adrian Piccoli...
from 1972 to 1976. When Askin retired in 1975, Willis failed in his attempts to succeed him.
Following the ousting of Askin's successor, Tom Lewis
Tom Lewis (Australian politician)
Thomas Lancelot Lewis AO is a former New South Wales politician, Premier of New South Wales and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Sir Robert Askin and Sir Eric Willis. He was made the Premier of New South Wales following Askin's retirement from politics and held it until he was replaced by...
, by the party, Willis was elected as the Parliamentary Leader of the Liberal Party and subsequently became Premier. He remained so until the Liberal/National Country Party Coalition lost office at the 1976 election
New South Wales state election, 1976
A general election for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly was held in the state of New South Wales, Australia, on Saturday 1 May 1976. The result was a narrow win for the Australian Labor Party under Neville Wran—the party's first in the state in more than a decade.- Issues :The incumbent...
by two seats to the Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
under Neville Wran
Neville Wran
Neville Kenneth Wran, AC, CNZM, QC was the Premier of New South Wales from 1976 until 1986. He was National President of the Australian Labor Party from 1980 to 1986 and Chairman of both the Lionel Murphy Foundation and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation from 1986...
. Continuing as Leader of the Opposition, Willis resigned in 1977 and retired from politics a year later. Thereafter he served in various organisations and directorships until his death in May 1999.
Early life
Willis was born in January 1922 in MurwillumbahMurwillumbah, New South Wales
Murwillumbah is a town of approximately 7,500 people in far north-eastern New South Wales, Australia in the Tweed Shire. It lies on the Tweed River, 848 km north-east of Sydney, 13 km south of the Queensland border and 132 km south of Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Murwillumbah had a...
, New South Wales, the first son of Archibald Clarence Willis, a butter factory hand and First World War veteran, and his wife, Vida Mabel Buttenshaw. His younger brother was NSW Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
Member and President, Max Willis
Max Willis
Max Frederick Willis RFD, ED, CSI, is a former Australian politician. He was a Liberal member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1970 to 1999. His brother Sir Eric Willis was briefly Premier of New South Wales in 1976....
. He was educated at Tyalgum
Tyalgum, New South Wales
Tyalgum is a rural village of 300 people located in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia. Located approximately 18 minutes from Murwillumbah, 45 minutes from the Gold Coast, Queensland and two hours from Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Tyalgum had a population of 224 people.Tyalgum is situated at...
Public School and then at Murwillumbah High School
Murwillumbah High School
Murwillumbah High School, is a State run comprehensive secondary, co-educational, high school located at 86 Riverview Street in Murwillumbah, New South Wales, Australia. The school was established as a comprehensive high school in 1929 being upgraded in status from an intermediate high school. It...
, at which he was Dux of his year and won a scholarship to study Arts at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
.
He received a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
with double honours in Modern History and Geography (BA (Hons)) from Sydney University in 1942. He served in the Second Australian Imperial Force
Second Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
from 1941 to 1946 in Army Intelligence
Australian Army Intelligence Corps
The Australian Intelligence Corps is a corps within the Australian Army. It was formed on 6 December 1907 and provides intelligence personnel in every formation headquarters in the Army. The corps currently consists of 169 officers and 232 other ranks....
in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
and Philippines during the Second World War ending the war with the rank of Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
. He remained in the military after demobilisation, being discharged from the regular military on 3 June 1946. He continued to serve in the Citizen Military Forces
Australian Army Reserve
The Australian Army Reserve is a collective name given to the reserve units of the Australian Army. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and, unofficially, the...
(CMF) from 1946, achieving the rank of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in 1948, until retiring in 1958. He married Norma Dorothy Thompson on 11 May 1951 and they had a daughter and two sons. Willis was employed as a senior geographer and investigation officer for Cumberland County Council
Cumberland County, New South Wales
Cumberland County is a county in the State of New South Wales, Australia. Most of the Sydney metropolitan area is located within the County of Cumberland....
Political career
Willis joined the newly-formed Liberal Party of Australia in 1945, after hearing a speech by Sir Robert MenziesRobert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
. He sought preselection for the federal seat of Evans
Division of Evans
The Division of Evans was anAustralian Electoral Division in New South Wales.The division was created in 1949 and abolished in 1977. It was named for George Evans, an early explorer. It was located in the inner western suburbs of Sydney, including Ashfield, Croydon and Drummoyne...
in the 1949 federal election
Australian federal election, 1949
Federal elections were held in Australia on 10 December 1949. All 121 seats in the House of Representatives, and 42 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election, where the single transferable vote was introduced...
but was defeated in favour of Frederick Osborne
Frederick Osborne
Frederick Meares Osborne CMG DSC and Bar VRD was an Australian politician and government minister.Osborne was born in Orange, New South Wales, and educated at North Sydney High School and Sydney Church of England Grammar School. He graduated with a degree in law from the University of Sydney...
. Instead, he gained preselection for and contested the Labor seat of Lang
Division of Lang
The Division of Lang was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It was located in the southern suburbs of Sydney, and was named after Rev. John Dunmore Lang, a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and advocate of Australian independence...
and gained 45.3 per cent of the vote but was defeated by the sitting member, Daniel Mulcahy
Daniel Mulcahy
Daniel Mulcahy was an Australian politician. Born in Milltown, Ireland, he was educated at Irish Catholic schools and migrated to Australia as a youth. He became a publican in Sydney and served on both Waterloo Council and Sydney City Council...
.
At the June 1950 state election
New South Wales state election, 1950
The 1950 New South Wales State state election was held on 17 June 1950. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1949 redistribution...
, at the age of 28, Willis was elected to the newly created Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
seat of Earlwood
Electoral district of Earlwood
Earlwood was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly of the Australian state of New South Wales from 1950 to 1991. It included Earlwood.-Members for Earlwood:...
, in the inner southwestern suburbs of Sydney, becoming the youngest Member of Parliament. He gained the seat with 55.53% against a single Labor candidate. He soon gained a reputation as rebel in the House, always attacking the Labor Speakers, and consequently being expelled from the house more than any other member. At the February 1953 election
New South Wales state election, 1953
The 1953 New South Wales state election was held on 14 February 1953. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1952 redistribution...
, Willis narrowly retained his seat with 50.33%, but at the following 1956 election
New South Wales state election, 1956
The 1956 New South Wales state election was held on 3 March 1956. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1952 redistribution...
, he increased his margin to 58.04%.
During his time as member for Earlwood, Willis catered to the changing demographics of his electorate by creating the first-ever Greek branch of the Liberal Party and formed the first Young Liberals
Young Liberals
Young Liberals can mean the following:*Young Liberals , the youth wing of the Liberal Party of Australia* Young Liberals , a liberal party in Austria...
branch in Australia, which counted among its recruits future Prime Minister John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
(1996–2007). Following the 1959 election
New South Wales state election, 1959
The 1959 New South Wales state election was held on 21 March 1959. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1957 redistribution...
, at which Willis retained his seat with 58.43%, the Liberal leadership was vacated by Pat Morton
Pat Morton
Philip Henry Morton was an Australian businessman and politician. Born in Lismore in Northern New South Wales to a prominent political family and educated at Lismore High School, Morton left school at fourteen to be employed in a legal firm, before branching out into various businesses...
. Willis declined to run for the leadership and Deputy Leader Robert Askin
Robert Askin
Sir Robert William Askin GCMG, was an Australian politician and the 32nd Premier of New South Wales from 1965 to 1975, the first representing the Liberal Party of Australia. He was born in 1907 as Robin William Askin, but always disliked his first name and changed it by deed poll in 1971...
was made Leader. Willis then ran unopposed and subsequently became Deputy Leader. At the March 1962 election
New South Wales state election, 1962
The 1962 New South Wales state election was held on 3 March 1962. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1961 redistribution...
, despite losing the election, Willis went on to retain his seat for a fifth time with 57.26%.
Minister of the Crown
In 1965, the May general electionNew South Wales state election, 1965
The 1965 New South Wales state election was held on 1 May 1965. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1961 redistribution...
ended 24 years of Labor government and began Willis's ministerial career, which spanned the entire length of the Coalition Government. After retaining his seat again with 59.95%, he was appointed to the post of Chief Secretary and Minister for Tourism by Premier Askinj in May 1965 to June 1972. Willis was appointed Minister for Labour and Industry from 1965 to March 1971 and during that same time he was also Minister for Sport. From June 1972 to January 1976 he was Minister for Education, where he presided over a huge expansion of schools, teachers and ancillary staff. Willis served as a Fellow of University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
Senate in 1972. Willis was regarded as the outstanding minister of the Askin Government and is considered one of the state's greatest Education Ministers. For his service as Minister, Willis was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) on 15 June 1974.Citation: Minister of Education in New South Wales
Premier
Upon 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 LewisTom Lewis (Australian politician)
Thomas Lancelot Lewis AO is a former New South Wales politician, Premier of New South Wales and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Sir Robert Askin and Sir Eric Willis. He was made the Premier of New South Wales following Askin's retirement from politics and held it until he was replaced by...
. 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
John Maddison
John Clarkson Maddison, was a New South Wales politician, Attorney General, Minister for Justice and Deputy Leader for the Liberal Party of New South Wales in the cabinets of Robert Askin, Tom Lewis and Sir Eric Willis until the Liberal party lost the 1976 election...
. For his service as Deputy Leader he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) on 14 June 1975.Citation: Deputy Premier of New South Wales (sic) 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
Neil Pickard
Neil Edward William Pickard was a New South Wales politician and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Sir Eric Willis and Nick Greiner...
moved the motion that the leadership be declared vacant. This was carried 22 votes to 11 and Willis was made Leader and Premier unopposed. Willis and his Cabinet were then duly sworn in on 23 January by the Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales
Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales
The Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales is a government position in the state of New South Wales, Australia, acting as a deputy to the Governor of New South Wales....
, Sir Laurence Street
Laurence Street
Sir Laurence Whistler Street AC, KCMG, QC is an Australian jurist and former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.-Family:...
.
In his brief time as Premier he extensively reshuffled the cabinet, dropping five ministers in an attempt to distance himself from the past, including Steve Mauger
Steve Mauger
Stephen George "Steve" Mauger was an Australian politician. He was the Liberal member for Monaro in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1965 to 1976, and was Minister for Youth, Ethnic and Community Affairs from 1975 to 1976.Mauger was born in Williamstown in Victoria to Albert Stephen...
and John Mason
John Mason (Australian politician)
John Marsden Mason is a former Australian politician, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for 16 years.-Early life:Mason was born in Rose Bay in Sydney in 1928, the son of Kay Mason and Stella Marsden...
, and appointed new cabinet faces such as Pickard and David Arblaster
David Arblaster
David Amos Arblaster, was a New South Wales politician, Minister for Culture, Sport and Recreation and Minister for Tourism in the cabinet of Sir Eric Willis until the Liberal party lost the 1976 election...
. His most significant decision was to set up in April 1976 the long-demanded inquiry into the prison system in the form of a Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
under Justice Nagle. Willis also introduced Daylight Saving time, to be decided upon in a referendum, scrapped the unpopular petrol tax and announced a masterplan for Sydney's transport system.
When former Minister Steve Mauger resigned on 27 January 1976, sparking a by-election in his seat of Monaro
Electoral district of Monaro
Monaro is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by John Barilaro of the National Party of Australia....
in May, and early polls had indicated a large swing to Labor, Willis announced an early election on 1 May, thereby cancelling the by-election in the hope of preventing a larger move of voters against the government. In the May 1976 election, Willis's government lost power to the Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
under Neville Wran
Neville Wran
Neville Kenneth Wran, AC, CNZM, QC was the Premier of New South Wales from 1976 until 1986. He was National President of the Australian Labor Party from 1980 to 1986 and Chairman of both the Lionel Murphy Foundation and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation from 1986...
. The election was notable for being very close run; with the seats of Gosford
Electoral district of Gosford
Gosford is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Chris Holstein of the Liberal Party. The former district of Gosford was renamed Terrigal for the 2007 state election...
and Hurstville
Electoral district of Hurstville
Hurstville was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, named after and including the Sydney suburb of Hurstville....
being lost by only 74 and 44 votes respectively. Had Willis retained those seats he would have remained in government. At that same election Daylight Saving time for New South Wales was passed by 68.4 per cent for and 31.6 per cent against and whenever Willis was asked what his greatest achievement as Premier was, he would always say "Daylight Saving".
The Willis-Punch Cabinet
- Sir Eric Willis, Premier and Treasurer
- Leon PunchLeon PunchLeon Ashton Punch was a New South Wales politician, Deputy Premier, and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Sir Robert Askin, Tom Lewis and Sir Eric Willis. From 1975 to 1976 he was the Deputy Premier of New South Wales...
, Deputy Premier, Minister for Public Works, Minister for Ports (CPNational Party of AustraliaThe National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
) - John MaddisonJohn MaddisonJohn Clarkson Maddison, was a New South Wales politician, Attorney General, Minister for Justice and Deputy Leader for the Liberal Party of New South Wales in the cabinets of Robert Askin, Tom Lewis and Sir Eric Willis until the Liberal party lost the 1976 election...
, Attorney General, Minister for Justice - Tim BruxnerTim BruxnerJames Caird Bruxner , also known as J.C. Bruxner, was an Australian politician who was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for 19 years from 3 March 1962 to 28 August 1981 and the Deputy Leader of the Country Party of Australia and its successors in New South Wales from 1975 to...
, Minister for Transport, Minister for Highways (NCP) - Neil PickardNeil PickardNeil Edward William Pickard was a New South Wales politician and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Sir Eric Willis and Nick Greiner...
, Minister for Education - Dick HealeyDick HealeyRichard Owen Healey was a New South Wales politician, ABC Sports Broadcaster and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Sir Robert Askin, Tom Lewis and Sir Eric Willis. From 1973 to 1975 he was Minister for Youth and Community Services, when he was made Minister for Health, which he held until...
, Minister for Health - Bruce CowanBruce CowanDavid Bruce Cowan, AM was an Australian politician and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Tom Lewis and Sir Eric Willis...
, Minister for Agriculture, Minister for Water Resources (NCP) - Peter ColemanPeter ColemanWilliam Peter Coleman is an Australian writer/journalist, former politician and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Tom Lewis and Sir Eric Willis. Following Willis' resignation as leader he was made Leader of the New South Wales Opposition...
, Chief Secretary - Tom LewisTom Lewis (Australian politician)Thomas Lancelot Lewis AO is a former New South Wales politician, Premier of New South Wales and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Sir Robert Askin and Sir Eric Willis. He was made the Premier of New South Wales following Askin's retirement from politics and held it until he was replaced by...
, Minister for Local Government - George FreudensteinGeorge FreudensteinGeorge Francis Freudenstein was an Australian politician. He was a Country Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1959 to 1981, representing the electorate of Young...
, Minister for Mines, Minister for Energy (NCP) - Sir John FullerJohn Fuller (Australian politician)Sir John Bryan Munro Fuller was an Australian politician, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council for the Country Party from 1961 to 1978.-Early years:...
, Minister for Planning and Environment, Vice-President of the Executive Council (NCP) - Max RuddockMax RuddockMaxwell Stanley Ruddock was a New South Wales politician, Assistant Treasurer and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Tom Lewis and Sir Eric Willis...
, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Revenue - Frederick Hewitt, Minister for Labour and Industry, Minister for Federal Affairs, Minister for Consumer Affairs
- Ian GriffithIan GriffithIan Ross Griffith was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1956 until 1978...
, Minister for Housing, Minister for Co-operative Societies - David ArblasterDavid ArblasterDavid Amos Arblaster, was a New South Wales politician, Minister for Culture, Sport and Recreation and Minister for Tourism in the cabinet of Sir Eric Willis until the Liberal party lost the 1976 election...
, Minister for Culture, Sport and Recreation, Minister for Tourism - Milton MorrisMilton MorrisMilton Arthur Morris AO is an Australian politician who represented the Electoral district of Maitland between 3 March 1956 and 29 August 1980 for the Liberal Party of Australia.-Early life:...
, Minister for Decentralisation and Development - Col FisherCol FisherColin Murray "Col" Fisher, OAM was an Australian politician. He was the National Party member for Upper Hunter in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1970 to 1988, and held ministerial positions from 1975 to 1976....
, Minister for Lands, Minister for Forests (NCP) - Jim CloughJim CloughJames Arthur "Jim" Clough was an Australian politician. He was the Liberal member for Parramatta in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1956 to 1959, and for Eastwood from 1965 to 1988....
, Minister for Youth, Ethnic and Community Affairs
Opposition
After the election he retained the Liberal leadership but proved to be less than suited for opposition. On 19 January 1977, the Granville rail disaster claimed the lives of 83 people. In response to this, Willis declared that there had never been as many deaths on the railways during the Liberal Government. The insensitive remark sparked a no-confidence motion in the party. While Willis survived the motion, speculation about a leadership challenge continued for the rest of his term. On 15 December four party MPs declared that they would oppose him in a leadership ballot the next day. On 15 December 1977, Willis called a press conference to announce his intention to resign as leader: On 16 December, he formally resigned as leader at the party meeting and was replaced by Peter ColemanPeter Coleman
William Peter Coleman is an Australian writer/journalist, former politician and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Tom Lewis and Sir Eric Willis. Following Willis' resignation as leader he was made Leader of the New South Wales Opposition...
. Willis resigned as Member for Earlwood on 16 June 1978, at the age of 56. At the resulting by-election, Earlwood fell to the Labor candidate, Ken Gabb
Ken Gabb
Kenneth George "Ken" Gabb is a former Australian politician. He was the Labor member for Earlwood in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1978 to 1988, and a state minister from 1986 to 1988....
.
After politics
On his retirement, he was permitted by Queen Elizabeth II, on the Governor's recommendation, to continue to use the title "The Honourable" for life. After retiring from politics Willis held positions with the Royal Australian College of OphthalmologistsRoyal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists is responsible for training, examining and representing ophthalmologists in Australia and New Zealand...
and the Arthritis Foundation, of which he was Executive Director from 1984 to 1991. Willis also spent time as Vice-President of the Red Cross (NSW Branch) and was a Fellow of the Royal Society of St George
Royal Society of St George
The Royal Society of St George is an English patriotic society established in 1894 to encourage interest in the English way of life, and English customs and traditions. It operates from offices in Folkestone, Kent.-History:In 1415 St...
, a Member of the Australian Institute of Political Science
Australian Institute of Political Science
AIPS, the was founded in 1932. Originally known as the Australian Institute of Political Science, its aim was to further public understanding of Australia's political and economic situation during the Great Depression and beyond. In 2006 the organisation changed its name to the Australian...
and the Australian Institute of International Affairs
Australian Institute of International Affairs
The Australian Institute of International Affairs is a non-profit think tank based in Australia. Established in 1924 and formed as a national body in 1933, the organisation endeavours to promote interest in and understanding of international affairs...
. Willis left his residence in Bardwell Park and moved to Neutral Bay
Neutral Bay, New South Wales
Neutral Bay is a harbourside suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Neutral Bay is located 5 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of North Sydney Council....
, where his marriage collapsed.
He divorced his first wife, Norma, and remarried to Lynn. He died in Sydney on 10 May 1999.