# Cahill ministry (1952–53)

The Cahill ministry (1952–1953) or First Cahill ministry was the 55th ministry of the New South Wales Government, and was led by the 29th Premier, Joe Cahill, of the Labor Party. The ministry was the first 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. McGirr resigned as Premier several years later, on 2 April 1952, and Cahill was elected as Labor Leader and became Premier.
This ministry covers the period from 2 April 1952 until 23 February 1953 when Cahill led Labor to victory at the 1953 state election and the Second Cahill ministry was formed.

## Composition of ministry

The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Cahill following his election as Labor Leader and his appointment as Premier on 2 April 1952, and covers the period until 23 February 1953. Ministers are listed in order of seniority and in most cases, serve the full term of this ministry.
| Portfolio | Minister | Party | Term commence | Term end | Term of office |
| Premier | Joe Cahill | Labor | 2 April 1952 | 23 February 1953 | 327 days |
| Treasurer Minister for Local Government | Joe Cahill | Labor | 3 April 1952 | 23 February 1953 | 326 days |
| Deputy Premier Minister of Education | Bob Heffron | Labor | 3 April 1952 | 23 February 1953 | 326 days |
| Minister for Housing Minister for Co-operative Societies Assistant Treasurer | Clive Evatt | Labor | 3 April 1952 | 23 February 1953 | 326 days |
| Attorney General | Clarrie Martin, KC | Labor | 3 April 1952 | 23 February 1953 | 326 days |
| Minister for Justice Vice-president of the Executive Council Representative of the Government in Legislative Council | Reg Downing, MLC | Labor | 3 April 1952 | 23 February 1953 | 326 days |
| Chief Secretary | Gus Kelly | Labor | 3 April 1952 | 23 February 1953 | 326 days |
| Minister for Health | Maurice O'Sullivan | Labor | 3 April 1952 | 23 February 1953 | 326 days |
| Minister for Secondary Industries and Minister for Building Materials | William Dickson, MLC | Labor | 3 April 1952 | 15 August 1952 | 135 days |
| Minister for Agriculture | Eddie Graham | Labor | 3 April 1952 | 23 February 1953 | 326 days |
| Minister for Conservation | George Weir | Labor | 3 April 1952 | 3 November 1952 | 214 days |
| Minister for Conservation | George Enticknap [Acting] | Labor | 28 August 1952 | 3 November 1952 | 179 days |
| Minister for Conservation | George Enticknap | Labor | 3 November 1952 | 23 February 1953 | 179 days |
| Minister for Transport | Bill Sheahan | Labor | 3 April 1952 | 23 February 1953 | 326 days |
| Minister for Transport | George Weir [Acting] | Labor | 3 November 1952 | 29 December 1952 | 56 days |
| Minister for Labour and Industry Minister for Social Welfare | Frank Finnan | Labor | 3 April 1952 | 23 February 1953 | 326 days |
| Secretary for Mines Minister for Immigration | Joshua Arthur | Labor | 3 April 1952 | 12 February 1953 | |315 days |
| Secretary for Lands | Frank Hawkins | Labor | 3 April 1952 | 23 February 1953 | 326 days |
| Secretary for Public Works Assistant Minister for Local Government | Jack Renshaw | Labor | 3 April 1952 | 23 February 1953 | 326 days |
| Minister without portfolio | George Enticknap | Labor | 3 April 1952 | 3 November 1952 | 214 days |
| Minister without portfolio | George Weir | Labor | 3 November 1952 | 23 February 1953 | 112 days |
| Assistant Minister in the Legislative Council | Francis Buckley, MLC | Labor | 19 November 1952 | 23 February 1953 | 96 days |
* ↑ Retained portfolio of Education from third McGirr ministry.
* ↑ Retained portfolios of Co-operative societies and Assistant Treasurer from third McGirr ministry.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Retained portfolios from third McGirr ministry.
* ↑ Dickson resigned from the ministry in August 1952 and was appointed as President of the New South Wales Legislative Council. The portfolios of Secondary Industries and Building Materials were abolished.
* 1 2 3 George Weir, who was Minister for Conservation, was appointed as a Minister without Portfolio, acting briefly in the Transport portfolio, before his resignation from Parliament in 1953 and taking up an appointment as a Judge on the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales.
* 1 2 3 George Enticknap, who was without portfolio, acted as Minister for Conservation before being appointed to the role in November 1952.
* ↑ On 12 February 1953 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.