# Cahill ministry (1953–1956)

The Cahill ministry (1953–1956) or Second Cahill ministry was the 56th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 29th Premier, Joe Cahill, of the Labor Party. The ministry was the second of four consecutive occasions when the Government was led by Cahill as Premier.
Cahill was first elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1925 and served until 1932, representing the seats of St George and Arncliffe before being defeated. He was re-elected in 1935, again representing Arncliffe, and then represented Cook's River between 1941 and 1959. Having served continuously as Secretary for Public Works in the first, second, and third ministries of Jim McGirr, when Deputy Premier Jack Baddeley resigned, Cahill was appointed as McGirr's deputy on 21 September 1949. Labor had lost its majority at the 1950 state election and McGirr resigned as Premier on 2 April 1952, with Cahill elected as Labor Leader and became Premier. Cahill led Labor to victory at the 1953 state election, gaining 11 seats and regaining its majority. The main changes from the first Cahill ministry were that Frank Finnan, the Minister for Labour, Industry and Social Welfare whose electorate of Darlinghurst was abolished, he lost a preselection contest for Concord, and failed to win Albury and Joshua Arthur voluntarily stood down as a minister pending a Royal Commission concerning his relationship with Reginald Doyle in the lead-up to the state election on 14 February 1953.
This ministry covers the period from 23 February 1953 until 15 March 1956, when Cahill led Labor to victory at the 1956 state election and the Third Cahill ministry was formed.

## Composition of ministry

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Cahill following the 1953 state election on 23 February 1953. There was a minor rearrangement of the ministry in September 1953, triggered by the death of the Minister for Transport, Clarrie Martin, on 5 September 1953. Cahill briefly held the Transport portfolio for nine days before he took the opportunity to make a minor rearrangement of the ministry. The second rearrangement of the ministry was triggered by Cahill forcing the resignation of the Minister for Housing and Minister for Co-operative Societies.Clive Evatt.
| Portfolio | Minister | Party | Term commence | Term end | Term of office |
| Premier Treasurer | Joe Cahill | Labor | 23 February 1953 | 15 March 1956 | 3 years, 21 days |
| Deputy Premier Minister for Education | Bob Heffron | Labor | 23 February 1953 | 15 March 1956 | 3 years, 21 days |
| Secretary for Mines | Bob Heffron | Labor | 23 February 1953 | 16 September 1953 | 205 days |
| Secretary for Mines | Francis Buckley, MLC | Labor | 16 September 1953 | 30 June 1954 | 287 days |
| Secretary for Mines | William Gollan | Labor | 1 July 1954 | 15 March 1956 | 1 year, 258 days |
| Minister for Transport | Clarrie Martin | Labor | 23 February 1953 | 5 September 1953 | 194 days |
| Minister for Transport | Joe Cahill | Labor | 7 September 1953 | 16 September 1953 | 9 days |
| Minister for Transport | Ernest Wetherell | Labor | 16 September 1953 | 15 March 1956 | 2 years, 181 days |
| Minister for Justice Vice-president of the Executive Council Representative of the Government in Legislative Council | Reg Downing, MLC | Labor | 23 February 1953 | 15 March 1956 | 3 years, 21 days |
| Minister for Housing | Clive Evatt | Labor | 23 February 1953 | 1 April 1954 | 1 year, 37 days |
| Minister for Housing | Gus Kelly | Labor | 1 April 1954 | 2 September 1954 | 154 days |
| Minister for Housing | John McGrath | Labor | 2 September 1954 | 15 March 1956 | 1 year, 195 days |
| Minister for Co-operative Societies | Clive Evatt | Labor | 23 February 1953 | 1 April 1954 | 1 year, 37 days |
| Minister for Co-operative Societies | Gus Kelly | Labor | 1 April 1954 | 15 March 1956 | 1 year, 349 days |
| Chief Secretary Minister for Immigration | Gus Kelly | Labor | 23 February 1953 | 15 March 1956 | 3 years, 21 days |
| Minister for Health | Maurice O'Sullivan | Labor | 23 February 1953 | 15 March 1956 | 3 years, 21 days |
| Minister for Agriculture Minister for Food Production | Eddie Graham | Labor | 23 February 1953 | 15 March 1956 | 3 years, 21 days |
| Attorney General | Bill Sheahan, QC | Labor | 23 February 1953 | 15 March 1956 | 3 years, 21 days |
| Secretary for Lands | Frank Hawkins | Labor | 23 February 1953 | 15 March 1956 | 3 years, 21 days |
| Secretary for Public Works Minister for Local Government | Jack Renshaw | Labor | 23 February 1953 | 15 March 1956 | 3 years, 21 days |
| Minister for Conservation | George Enticknap | Labor | 23 February 1953 | 15 March 1956 | 3 years, 21 days |
| Minister for Labour and Industry Minister for Social Welfare | Abe Landa | Labor | 23 February 1953 | 15 March 1956 | 3 years, 21 days |
| Minister without portfolio | John McGrath | Labor | 23 February 1953 | 2 September 1954 | 1 year, 191 days |
| Minister without portfolio | William Gollan | Labor | 16 September 1953 | 1 July 1954 | 288 days |
| Minister without portfolio | Roger Nott | Labor | 10 May 1954 | 15 March 1956 | 1 year, 310 days |
| Minister without portfolio | Jim Maloney, MLC | Labor | 1 July 1954 | 15 March 1956 | 1 year, 258 days |
| Assistant Minister in the Legislative Council | Francis Buckley, MLC | Labor | 23 February 1953 | 16 September 1953 | 205 days |
Ministers are members of the Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted.