Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1932–1935)

The Stevens–Bruxner ministry (1932–1935) or First Stevens–Bruxner ministry or First Stevens ministry was the 46th 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 Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Bruxner, DSO. The ministry was one of three occasions when the Government was led by Stevens, as Premier; and one of four occasions where Bruxner served as Deputy Premier.^[1][2]

Stevens–Bruxner ministry
46th Cabinet of the State of New South Wales
Premier Bertram Stevens
Date formed	13 May 1932
Date dissolved	10 February 1935
People and organisations
Monarch	George V
Governor	Sir Philip Game Sir Alexander Hore-Ruthven
Premier	Bertram Stevens
Deputy Premier	Michael Bruxner
No. of ministers	12
Member party	UAP/Country coalition
Status in legislature	Majority government
Opposition party	Labor (NSW)
Opposition leader	Jack Lang
History
Election	1932 New South Wales election
Predecessor	Third Lang ministry
Successor	Second Stevens-Bruxner ministry

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,^[3] at the 1930 state election, Stevens was elected leader of the newly formed United Australia Party in New South Wales and became Leader of the Opposition.^[4] 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.

This ministry covers the period from 13 May 1932 when, as a result of the Lang Dismissal Crisis, the Governor of New South Wales, Philip Game used the reserve power of The Crown to remove Jack Lang as Premier. The ministry served until 10 February 1935^[1] when the 1935 state election saw the Stevens–Bruxner coalition re-elected for a subsequent term.

Composition of ministry

In the first arrangement, lasting just two days, Stevens was the only Member of Government pending formation of the full ministry as a result of the turmoil following the dismissal of Lang and his third ministry. The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Stevens on 16 May 1932 and covers a period of a little over one month as an "emergency ministry" up until 17 June 1932 when the outcome of the 1932 state election was determined. At that point, a minor reshuffle of the ministry was effected.

Portfolio	Minister	Party		Term commence	Term end	Term of office
Premier	Bertram Stevens		United Australia	13 May 1932	10 February 1935	2 years, 273 days
Sole Executive Councillor					15 May 1932	2 days
Treasurer				16 May 1932	10 February 1935	2 years, 270 days
Deputy Premier[a] Minister for Transport	Michael Bruxner		Country
Minister for Local Government					17 June 1932	32 days
	Joseph Jackson [b]		United Australia	18 June 1932	14 February 1933	241 days
	Eric Spooner			15 February 1933	10 February 1935	1 year, 360 days
Secretary for Public Works Minister for Health	Reginald Weaver			16 May 1932		2 years, 270 days
Chief Secretary	Frank Chaffey
Secretary for Mines					17 June 1932	32 days
	Roy Vincent		Country	18 June 1932	10 February 1935	2 years, 237 days
Secretary for Lands	Ernest Buttenshaw			16 May 1932		2 years, 270 days
Minister for Education	David Drummond
Attorney General	Sir Daniel Levy		United Australia		17 June 1932	32 days
	Henry Manning, KC, MLC			18 June 1932	10 February 1935	2 years, 237 days
Minister for Justice	Sir Daniel Levy			16 May 1932	17 June 1932	32 days
	Lewis Martin			18 June 1932	10 February 1935	2 years, 237 days
Minister for Labour and Industry	John Dunningham			16 May 1932		2 years, 270 days
Minister for Agriculture	Hugh Main		Country
Minister for Forests					17 June 1932	32 days
	Roy Vincent			18 June 1932	10 February 1935	2 years, 237 days
Vice-president of the Executive Council Representative of the Government in Legislative Council	James Ryan, MLC		United Australia	16 May 1932	17 June 1932	32 days
	Henry Manning, KC, MLC			18 June 1932	10 February 1935	2 years, 237 days
Assistant Minister in the Legislative Council	James Ryan, MLC
Honorary Minister assisting Colonial Treasurer	Eric Spooner				14 February 1933	241 days
Assistant Treasurer				15 February 1933	10 February 1935	1 year, 360 days
Honorary Minister assisting the Minister for Labour and Industry	Herbert Hawkins, MLC			18 June 1932	5 January 1933	201 days
Assistant Colonial Secretary				5 January 1933	10 February 1935	2 years, 36 days
Honorary Minister	Herbert FitzSimons			15 February 1933		1 year, 360 days

  Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.

1. Portfolio and position of Deputy Premier created for the first time.
2. Resigned office.

See also

• New South Wales portal
• Politics portal

• Second Stevens–Bruxner ministry
• Third Stevens–Bruxner ministry
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1932-1935
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council, 1932-1934
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council, 1934-1937

References

1. "Part 6 Ministries since 1856" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
2. "Former members of the New South Wales Parliament, 1856–2006". New South Wales Parliament. Retrieved 4 December 2019.
3. McCarthy, John. "Bavin, Sir Thomas Rainsford (Tom) (1874–1941)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
4. Ward, John M. "Stevens, Sir Bertram Sydney Barnsdale (1889–1973)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 2 November 2021.

 

New South Wales government ministries
Preceded by Third Lang ministry	First Stevens–Bruxner ministry 1932–1935	Succeeded by Second Stevens-Bruxner ministry