# Wran ministry (1981–1983)

The Wran ministry (1981–1983) or Fourth Wran ministry was the 74th 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 fourth 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 retained government at the 1981 election, gaining an additional 6 seats despite a 2% swing against Labor, giving a majority of 19 seats in the Legislative Assembly and two seats in the Legislative Council.

## Composition of ministry

The ministry covers the period from 2 October 1981. There was a slight rearrangement in May 1982 that altered the titles of two ministers. The ministry ended on 1 February 1983, when Wran reconfigured his ministry, and the Fifth Wran ministry was formed.
| Portfolio | Minister | Party | Term commence | Term end | Term of office |
| Premier Minister for Mineral Resources | Neville Wran | Labor | 2 October 1981 | 1 February 1983 | 1 year, 122 days |
| Deputy Premier Minister for Public Works Minister for Ports | Jack Ferguson | Labor | 2 October 1981 | 1 February 1983 | 1 year, 122 days |
| Minister for Transport | Peter Cox | Labor | 2 October 1981 | 1 February 1983 | 1 year, 122 days |
| Attorney General Minister for Justice Minister for Aboriginal Affairs | Frank Walker, QC | Labor | 2 October 1981 | 1 February 1983 | 1 year, 122 days |
| Minister for Industrial Relations Minister for Technology | Pat Hills | Labor | 2 October 1981 | 1 February 1983 | 1 year, 122 days |
| Minister for Energy Minister for Water Resources Vice-President of the Executive Council Leader of the Government in Legislative Council | Paul Landa, MLC | Labor | 2 October 1981 | 1 February 1983 | 1 year, 122 days |
| Treasurer | Ken Booth | Labor | 2 October 1981 | 1 February 1983 | 1 year, 122 days |
| Minister for Industrial Development Minister for Decentralisation | Don Day | Labor | 2 October 1981 | 1 February 1983 | 1 year, 122 days |
| Minister for Corrective Services | Rex Jackson | Labor | 2 October 1981 | 1 February 1983 | 1 year, 122 days |
| Minister for Planning and Environment | Eric Bedford | Labor | 2 October 1981 | 1 February 1983 | 1 year, 122 days |
| Minister for Youth and Community Services | Kevin Stewart | Labor | 2 October 1981 | 1 February 1983 | 1 year, 122 days |
| Minister for Education | Ron Mulock | Labor | 2 October 1981 | 1 February 1983 | 1 year, 122 days |
| Minister for Local Government Minister for Lands Minister for Forests | Lin Gordon | Labor | 2 October 1981 | 1 February 1983 | 1 year, 122 days |
| Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries | Jack Hallam, MLC | Labor | 2 October 1981 | 1 February 1983 | 1 year, 122 days |
| Minister for Housing Minister for Co-operative Societies Minister Assisting the Premier | Terry Sheahan | Labor | 2 October 1981 | 1 February 1983 | 1 year, 122 days |
| Minister for Health | Laurie Brereton | Labor | 2 October 1981 | 1 February 1983 | 1 year, 122 days |
| Minister for Police Minister for Services | Peter Anderson | Labor | 2 October 1981 | 26 May 1982 | 1 year, 122 days |
| Minister for Police and Emergency Services | Peter Anderson | Labor | 26 May 1982 | 1 February 1983 | 1 year, 122 days |
| Minister for Sport and Recreation Minister for Tourism | Michael Cleary | Labor | 2 October 1981 | 26 May 1982 | 236 days |
| Minister for Leisure, Sport and Tourism | Michael Cleary | Labor | 26 May 1982 | 1 February 1983 | 251 days |
| Minister for Consumer Affairs Minister for Roads | Paul Whelan | Labor | 2 October 1981 | 1 February 1983 | 1 year, 122 days |
Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.