# Bavin ministry

The Bavin ministry was the 44th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 24th Premier, Thomas Bavin, in a Nationalist coalition with the Country Party, led by Ernest Buttenshaw.
Bavin was first elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1917 and served continuously until 1935. Having served as a senior minister in the first and second Fuller ministries, in 1925 Bavin was elected leader of the Nationalist Party in New South Wales and became Leader of the Opposition. Buttenshaw was also first elected to the Assembly in 1917 and served continuously until 1938. Initially a member of the Nationalist Party, in 1922 he helped establish the Progressive Party and became a member of its successor, the Country Party, and elected as party leader in 1925.
Following an agreement by the Nationalist and Country parties not to stand candidates against each other, the coalition won the 1927 state election, defeating the Labor government led by Jack Lang. Bavin became Premier and Colonial Treasurer; and Buttenshaw, a senior minister.
This ministry covers the period from 18 October 1927 until 3 November 1930 when the 1930 state election was held in the wake of the Great Depression resulting in the loss of the Coalition, with Lang regaining government as the third Lang ministry.

## Composition of ministry

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Bavin on 18 October 1927 and covers the period up to 3 November 1930.
| Portfolio | Minister | Party | Term commence | Term end | Term of office |
| Premier | Thomas Bavin | Nationalist | 18 October 1927 | 3 November 1930 | 3 years, 16 days |
| Treasurer | Thomas Bavin | Nationalist | 18 October 1927 | 15 April 1929 | 1 year, 179 days |
| Treasurer | Bertram Stevens | Nationalist | 16 April 1929 | 3 November 1930 | 1 year, 201 days |
| Assistant Treasurer | Bertram Stevens | Nationalist | 18 October 1927 | 15 April 1929 | 1 year, 179 days |
| Secretary for Public Works | Ernest Buttenshaw | Country | 18 October 1927 | 3 November 1930 | 3 years, 16 days |
| Minister for Railways | Ernest Buttenshaw | Country | 18 October 1927 | 16 April 1929 | 1 year, 180 days |
| Attorney General Vice-president of the Executive Council Representative of the Government in Legislative Council | Francis Boyce, MLC | Nationalist | 18 October 1927 | 3 November 1930 | 3 years, 16 days |
| Chief Secretary | Albert Bruntnell | Nationalist | 18 October 1927 | 31 January 1929 | 1 year, 105 days |
| Chief Secretary | Thomas Bavin | Nationalist | 1 February 1929 | 15 April 1929 | 73 days |
| Chief Secretary | Frank Chaffey | Nationalist | 16 April 1929 | 3 November 1930 | 1 year, 201 days |
| Minister for Lands | Richard Ball | Nationalist | 18 October 1927 | 3 November 1930 | 3 years, 16 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Harold Thorby | Country | 18 October 1927 | 3 November 1930 | 3 years, 16 days |
| Minister for Education | David Drummond | Country | 18 October 1927 | 3 November 1930 | 3 years, 16 days |
| Minister for Local Government | Michael Bruxner | Country | 18 October 1927 | 3 November 1930 | 3 years, 16 days |
| Secretary for Mines Minister for Forests | Frank Chaffey | Nationalist | 18 October 1927 | 15 April 1929 | 1 year, 179 days |
| Secretary for Mines Minister for Forests | Reginald Weaver | Nationalist | 16 April 1929 | 3 November 1930 | 1 year, 201 days |
| Minister of Justice | John Lee | Nationalist | 18 October 1927 | 3 November 1930 | 3 years, 16 days |
| Minister for Labour and Industry | Ernest Farrar, MLC | Nationalist | 18 October 1927 | 3 November 1930 | 3 years, 16 days |
| Minister for Public Health | Richard Arthur | Nationalist | 18 October 1927 | 3 November 1930 | 3 years, 16 days |
| Honorary Minister | James Ryan, MLC | Nationalist | 18 October 1927 | 3 November 1930 | 3 years, 16 days |
Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.
* ↑ Ernest Buttenshaw resigned the portfolio of Minister for Railways on 16 April 1929, but no other Minister was allotted that portfolio, the Railways being administered by the Colonial Treasurer, except in regard to Railway Construction, which remained with the Secretary for Public Works.
* ↑ Died in office.