# Wran ministry (1978–1980)

The Wran ministry (1978–1980) or Second Wran ministry was the 72nd 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 second of eight consecutive occasions when Wran was Premier.

## Background

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. He was Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council from 22 February 1972. 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. Wran successfully challenged Pat Hills to become Leader of Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition from 3 December 1973 and became Premier following a narrow one seat victory at the 1976 election.
Labor had returned to government in 1976 after 11 years in opposition, following a narrow one seat victory at the 1976 election. 85% of voters approved a referendum in June 1978 to introduce direct elections for the Legislative Council. The election on 7 October 1978 was a landslide victory for Labor, popularly known as the "Wranslide", with a swing to Labor of 9.1%, gaining 13 seats. The first election for the Legislative Council in 127 years saw Labor win nine of the 15 available seats, giving it a majority of four seats in the council.

## Composition of ministry

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Wran and sworn in on 19 October 1978. Former Premier and minister, Jack Renshaw, announced his decision to retire from politics in January 1980, with Wran assuming his portfolio of Treasurer pending a reconfiguration of the ministry on 29 February 1980 and the Third Wran ministry was formed.

### First arrangement

| Portfolio | Minister | Party | Term commence | Term end | Term of office |
| Premier | Neville Wran | Labor | 19 October 1978 | 29 February 1980 | 1 year, 133 days |
| Deputy Premier Minister for Public Works Minister for Ports | Jack Ferguson | Labor | 19 October 1978 | 29 February 1980 | 1 year, 133 days |
| Treasurer | Jack Renshaw | Labor | 19 October 1978 | 29 January 1980 | 1 year, 102 days |
| Treasurer | Neville Wran | Labor | 29 January 1980 | 29 February 1980 | 31 days |
| Minister for Transport | Peter Cox | Labor | 19 October 1978 | 29 February 1980 | 1 year, 133 days |
| Attorney General Minister for Justice | Frank Walker | Labor | 19 October 1978 | 29 February 1980 | 1 year, 133 days |
| Minister for Industrial Relations Minister for Technology Minister for Energy | Pat Hills | Labor | 19 October 1978 | 29 February 1980 | 1 year, 133 days |
| Minister for Planning and Environment Vice-President of the Executive Council Leader of the Government in Legislative Council | Paul Landa, MLC | Labor | 19 October 1978 | 29 February 1980 | 1 year, 133 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Don Day | Labor | 19 October 1978 | 29 February 1980 | 1 year, 133 days |
| Minister for Education | Eric Bedford | Labor | 19 October 1978 | 29 February 1980 | 1 year, 133 days |
| Minister for Local Government Minister for Roads | Harry Jensen | Labor | 19 October 1978 | 29 February 1980 | 1 year, 133 days |
| Minister for Lands Minister for Services | Bill Crabtree | Labor | 19 October 1978 | 29 February 1980 | 1 year, 133 days |
| Minister for Health | Kevin Stewart | Labor | 19 October 1978 | 29 February 1980 | 1 year, 133 days |
| Minister for Consumer Affairs Minister for Housing Minister for Co-operative Societies | Syd Einfeld | Labor | 19 October 1978 | 29 February 1980 | 1 year, 133 days |
| Minister for Mineral Resources and Development | Ron Mulock | Labor | 19 October 1978 | 29 February 1980 | 1 year, 133 days |
| Minister for Sport and Recreation Minister for Tourism | Ken Booth | Labor | 19 October 1978 | 29 February 1980 | 1 year, 133 days |
| Minister for Conservation Minister for Water Resources | Lin Gordon | Labor | 19 October 1978 | 29 February 1980 | 1 year, 133 days |
| Minister for Youth and Community Services | Rex Jackson | Labor | 19 October 1978 | 29 February 1980 | 1 year, 133 days |
| Minister Assisting the Premier | Bill Haigh | Labor | 19 October 1978 | 29 February 1980 | 1 year, 133 days |
| Minister for Decentralisation Minister Assisting the Premier | Jack Hallam, MLC | Labor | 19 October 1978 | 29 February 1980 | 1 year, 133 days |
Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.