Askin was elected to the
New South Wales Legislative Assembly in 1950 and served continuously until 1975, representing variously the seats of
Collaroy and
Pittwater. Rising through the Liberal Party ranks, Askin served as Deputy Leader from 1954 until he was elected
Leader of the NSW Liberal Party and
Leader of the NSW Opposition, following the defeat of the
Morton/
Hughes–led coalition by
Cahill's Labor at the
1959 election. Cutler was elected to the NSW Legislative Assembly in 1947 and served continuously until 1975, representing the seat of
Orange. Elected Deputy Leader of the Country Party in 1958 and, like Askin, Cutler was elected as leader of his party following the 1959 state election, replacing Davis Hughes. The Askin–Cutler led Liberal/Country coalition was defeated at the
1962 election by Labor's
Bob Heffron. In April 1964
Jack Renshaw replaced Heffron as Leader of the Labor Party and became Premier. Twelve months later, Renshaw called an election held on 13 May 1965; however after 24 years of consecutive Labor governments, Askin and Cutler led the coalition to government at the
1965 state election. The
first Askin–Cutler ministry was commissioned from 1965 until the
1968 state election; when the coalition again won office. The
second Askin–Cutler ministry was commissioned from the 1968 election until 11 February 1969, when the ministry was reconfigured. The
third Askin–Cutler ministry was commissioned from the 1969 reconfiguration until the
1971 state election. The
fourth Askin–Cutler ministry was commissioned from the 1971 election until 17 January 1973, when the ministry was reconfigured. The
fifth Askin–Cutler ministry was commissioned from the 1973 reconfiguration until the
1973 state election. There were two vacancies in the ministry as a result of the resignation of
Jack Beale, and the failure of
Harry Jago to nominate for his seat before the closure of nominations. The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Askin on 3 December 1973, and covers the period until 3 January 1975, when Askin resigned as Premier and as Member for Pittwater.
Tom Lewis succeeded Askin as Leader of the Liberal Party and Premier. Ministers are members of the
Legislative Assembly unless otherwise noted. ==See also==