# Deputy Premier of New South Wales

The Deputy Premier of New South Wales is the second-most senior officer in the Government of New South Wales. The deputy premiership has been a ministerial portfolio since 1932, and the deputy premier is appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Premier. The current Deputy Premier is Prue Car, since 28 March 2023, who is also the Minister for Education and Early Learning.
Ultimately, the Deputy Premier is responsible to the Parliament of New South Wales.

## History

The office of Deputy Premier was created in May 1932 for Michael Bruxner, the leader of the Country Party (later renamed the National Party). Prior to that time the term was sometimes used unofficially (without capital letters) for the second-highest ranking minister in the government.
In Labor governments, the deputy premier is the party's deputy leader. Generally speaking, this person has come from the left faction of the party whereas the premier has come from the right faction. In Liberal-National Coalition governments, the position has been held by the Leader of the National Party or its predecessors.
Three deputy premiers have subsequently become Premier in their own right: Joseph Cahill, Robert Heffron, and Jack Renshaw. However, this has not occurred since 1964.

## Duties

The duties of the deputy premier are to act on behalf of the premier in his or her absence overseas or on leave. The deputy premier has always been a member of the Cabinet, and has always held at least one substantive portfolio (It would be technically possible for a minister to hold only the portfolio of Deputy Premier, but this has never happened).
If the premier were to die, become incapacitated or resign, the Governor would normally appoint the deputy premier as Premier. If the governing or majority party had not yet elected a new leader, that appointment would be on an interim basis. Should a different leader emerge, that person would then be appointed Premier.

## List of deputy premiers of New South Wales

| No. | Portrait | Name Electoral district (Birth–death) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Portfolio | Party | Party | Premier | Premier |
| No. | Portrait | Name Electoral district (Birth–death) | Term start | Term end | Time in office | Portfolio | Party | Party | Premier | Premier |
| 1 | | Michael Bruxner MLA for Tenterfield (1882–1970) | 16 May 1932 | 16 May 1941 | 9 years, 0 days | Minister for Transport Minister for Local Government (until 1932) | | Country | | Bertram Stevens United Australia (1932–1939) |
| 1 | | Michael Bruxner MLA for Tenterfield (1882–1970) | 16 May 1932 | 16 May 1941 | 9 years, 0 days | Minister for Transport Minister for Local Government (until 1932) | | Country | | Alexander Mair United Australia (1939–1941) |
| 2 | | Jack Baddeley MLA for Cessnock (1881–1953) | 16 May 1941 | 8 September 1949 | 8 years, 115 days | Chief Secretary Secretary for Mines Minister for National Emergency Services (from 1944) Minister for Labour and Industry and Social Welfare (1947–1948) | | Labor | | William McKell Labor (1941–1947) |
| 2 | | Jack Baddeley MLA for Cessnock (1881–1953) | 16 May 1941 | 8 September 1949 | 8 years, 115 days | Chief Secretary Secretary for Mines Minister for National Emergency Services (from 1944) Minister for Labour and Industry and Social Welfare (1947–1948) | | Labor | | Jim McGirr Labor (1947–1952) |
| 3 | | Joseph Cahill MLA for Cook's River (1891–1959) | 21 September 1949 | 2 April 1952 | 2 years, 194 days | Secretary for Public Works Minister for Local Government | | Labor | | Jim McGirr Labor (1947–1952) |
| None (2 April 1952–23 February 1953) | None (2 April 1952–23 February 1953) | None (2 April 1952–23 February 1953) | None (2 April 1952–23 February 1953) | None (2 April 1952–23 February 1953) | None (2 April 1952–23 February 1953) | None (2 April 1952–23 February 1953) | None (2 April 1952–23 February 1953) | None (2 April 1952–23 February 1953) | | Joseph Cahill Labor (1952–1959) |
| 4 | | Bob Heffron MLA for Maroubra (1890–1978) | 23 February 1953 | 28 October 1959 | 6 years, 247 days | Minister for Education Secretary for Mines (until 1953) | | Labor | | Joseph Cahill Labor (1952–1959) |
| 5 | | Jack Renshaw MLA for Castlereagh (1890–1978) | 28 October 1959 | 14 March 1964 | 4 years, 169 days | Treasurer Minister for Lands (1960–1961) Minister for Agriculture (1961–1962) Minister for Industrial Development and Decentralisation (from 1962) | | Labor | | Bob Heffron Labor (1959–1964) |
| 6 | | Pat Hills MLA for Castlereagh (1917–1992) | 30 April 1964 | 13 May 1965 | 1 year, 13 days | Minister for Highways Minister for Local Government | | Labor | | Jack Renshaw Labor (1964–1965) |
| 7 | | Sir Charles Cutler MLA for Orange (1918–2006) | 13 May 1965 | 16 December 1975 | 10 years, 217 days | Minister for Education (until 1972) Minister for Science (until 1972) Minister for Highways (from 1972) Minister for Local Government (from 1972) Minister for Tourism (from 1975) | | Country | | Sir Robert Askin Liberal (1965–1975) |
| 7 | | Sir Charles Cutler MLA for Orange (1918–2006) | 13 May 1965 | 16 December 1975 | 10 years, 217 days | Minister for Education (until 1972) Minister for Science (until 1972) Minister for Highways (from 1972) Minister for Local Government (from 1972) Minister for Tourism (from 1975) | | Country | | Tom Lewis Liberal (1975–1976) |
| 8 | | Leon Punch MLA for Gloucester (1928–1991) | 17 December 1975 | 14 May 1976 | 149 days | Minister for Ports Minister for Public Works | | Country | | Tom Lewis Liberal (1975–1976) |
| 8 | | Leon Punch MLA for Gloucester (1928–1991) | 17 December 1975 | 14 May 1976 | 149 days | Minister for Ports Minister for Public Works | | Country | | Sir Eric Willis Liberal (1976) |
| 9 | | Jack Ferguson MLA for Merrylands (1924–2002) | 14 May 1976 | 10 February 1984 | 7 years, 272 days | Minister for Public Works Minister for Ports Minister for Housing (1976–1977) | | Labor | | Neville Wran Labor (1976–1986) |
| 10 | | Ron Mulock MLA for St Marys (1930–2014) | 10 February 1984 | 25 March 1988 | 4 years, 44 days | Minister for Health (until 1986) Minister for Transport (1986–1987) Attorney General (from 1987) | | Labor | | Neville Wran Labor (1976–1986) |
| 10 | | Ron Mulock MLA for St Marys (1930–2014) | 10 February 1984 | 25 March 1988 | 4 years, 44 days | Minister for Health (until 1986) Minister for Transport (1986–1987) Attorney General (from 1987) | | Labor | | Barrie Unsworth Labor (1986–1988) |
| 11 | | Wal Murray MP for Barwon (1931–2004) | 25 March 1988 | 26 May 1993 | 5 years, 62 days | Minister for Public Works Minister for State Development (1988–1990) Minister for Roads (from 1990) | | National | | Nick Greiner Liberal (1988–1992) |
| 11 | | Wal Murray MP for Barwon (1931–2004) | 25 March 1988 | 26 May 1993 | 5 years, 62 days | Minister for Public Works Minister for State Development (1988–1990) Minister for Roads (from 1990) | | National | | John Fahey Liberal (1992–1995) |
| 12 | | Ian Armstrong MP for Barwon (1937–2020) | 26 May 1993 | 4 April 1995 | 1 year, 313 days | Minister for Ports Minister for Public Works | | National | | John Fahey Liberal (1992–1995) |
| 13 | | Andrew Refshauge MP for Marrickville (born 1949) | 4 April 1995 | 4 August 2005 | 10 years, 121 days | Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Minister for Health (until 1999) Minister for Housing (1999–2003) Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning (1999–2001) Minister for Planning (2001–2003) Minister for Education and Training (2003–2005) Minister for State Development (from 2005) | | Labor | | Bob Carr Labor (1995–2005) |
| 14 | | John Watkins MP for Ryde (born 1955) | 10 August 2005 | 3 September 2008 | 3 years, 24 days | Minister for Transport Minister for State Development (until 2006) Minister for Police (2006–2007) Minister for Finance (from 2008) | | Labor | | Morris Iemma Labor (2005–2008) |
| 15 | | Carmel Tebbutt MP for Marrickville (born 1964) | 5 September 2008 | 26 March 2011 | 2 years, 202 days | Minister for Commerce (until 2009) Minister for Climate Change and the Environment (until 2009) Minister for Health (from 2009) | | Labor | | Nathan Rees Labor (2008–2009) |
| 15 | | Carmel Tebbutt MP for Marrickville (born 1964) | 5 September 2008 | 26 March 2011 | 2 years, 202 days | Minister for Commerce (until 2009) Minister for Climate Change and the Environment (until 2009) Minister for Health (from 2009) | | Labor | | Kristina Keneally Labor (2009–2011) |
| 16 | | Andrew Stoner MP for Oxley (born 1960) | 28 March 2011 | 16 October 2014 | 3 years, 202 days | Minister for Trade and Investment Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Services Minister for Small Business (from 2014) Minister for the North Coast (from 2014) Minister for Tourism and Major Events (from 2014) | | National | | Barry O'Farrell Liberal (2011–2014) |
| 16 | | Andrew Stoner MP for Oxley (born 1960) | 28 March 2011 | 16 October 2014 | 3 years, 202 days | Minister for Trade and Investment Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Services Minister for Small Business (from 2014) Minister for the North Coast (from 2014) Minister for Tourism and Major Events (from 2014) | | National | | Mike Baird Liberal (2014–2017) |
| 17 | | Troy Grant MP for Dubbo (born 1970) | 16 October 2014 | 15 November 2016 | 2 years, 30 days | Minister for the Arts Minister for Hospitality, Gaming and Racing (until 2015) Minister for Trade and Investment (until 2015) Minister for Tourism and Major Events (until 2015) Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Services (until 2015) Minister for Racing (from 2015) Minister for Justice and Police (from 2015) | | National | | Mike Baird Liberal (2014–2017) |
| 18 | | John Barilaro MP for Monaro (born 1971) | 15 November 2016 | 6 October 2021 | 4 years, 325 days | Minister for Small Business (until 2019) Minister for Skills (until 2019) Minister for Regional Development (until 2017) Minister for Regional New South Wales (2017–2019) Minister for Regional New South Wales, Industry and Trade (from 2019) | | National | | Mike Baird Liberal (2014–2017) |
| 18 | | John Barilaro MP for Monaro (born 1971) | 15 November 2016 | 6 October 2021 | 4 years, 325 days | Minister for Small Business (until 2019) Minister for Skills (until 2019) Minister for Regional Development (until 2017) Minister for Regional New South Wales (2017–2019) Minister for Regional New South Wales, Industry and Trade (from 2019) | | National | | Gladys Berejiklian Liberal (2017–2021) |
| 19 | | Paul Toole MP for Bathurst (born 1970) | 6 October 2021 | 28 March 2023 | 1 year, 173 days | Minister for Regional New South Wales Minister for Regional Transport and Roads (until 2021) Minister for Police (from 2021) | | National | | Dominic Perrottet Liberal (2021–2023) |
| 20 | | Prue Car MP for Londonderry (born 1982 or 1983) | 28 March 2023 | Incumbent | 1 year, 243 days | Minister for Education and Early Learning Minister for Western Sydney Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education (2023) | | Labor | | Chris Minns Labor (since 2023) |