Eric Willis
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The Honourable Sir Eric Willis KBE, CMG |
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| 34th Premier of New South Wales Elections: 1976 |
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In office 23 January 1976 – 14 May 1976 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor | Sir Roden Cutler |
| Deputy | Leon Punch |
| Preceded by | Tom Lewis |
| Succeeded by | Neville Wran |
| Minister for Education | |
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In office 19 June 1972 – 23 January 1976 |
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| Premier |
Robert Askin Tom Lewis |
| Preceded by | Sir Charles Cutler |
| Succeeded by | Neil Pickard |
| 24th Leader of the Opposition of New South Wales | |
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In office 14 May 1976 – 16 December 1977 |
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| Deputy | John Maddison |
| Preceded by | Neville Wran |
| Succeeded by | Peter Coleman |
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Earlwood |
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In office 17 June 1950 – 16 June 1978 |
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| Preceded by | New district |
| Succeeded by | Ken Gabb |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
15 January 1922 Murwillumbah, New South Wales |
| Died | 10 May 1999 (aged 77) Sydney, New South Wales |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
| Relations | Max Willis |
| Awards |
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Service/branch | Australian Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1958 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit |
Intelligence Corps Citizen Military Forces |
| Battles/wars | |
Sir Eric Archibald Willis KBE, CMG (15 January 1922 – 10 May 1999) was an Australian politician, Cabinet Minister and the 34th Premier of New South Wales, serving from 23 January 1976 to 14 May 1976. Born in Murwillumbah in 1922, Willis was educated at Murwillumbah High School and the University of Sydney, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts with double honours. Enlisting during the Second World War, Willis served on the homefront and later served in New Guinea and the Philippines. He continued to serve the Citizen Military Forces until 1958.
After serving a period as a geographer, Willis was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly as the Liberal member for Earlwood in 1950. He rose to become a long-serving Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party from 1959 to 1975 under Robert Askin. When the Coalition won the 1965 election, Willis was made a Minister of the Crown as Chief Secretary, Minister for Labour and Industry, Tourism and Sport but rose to prominence in his role as Minister for Education from 1972 to 1976. When Askin retired in 1975, Willis failed in his attempts to succeed him.
Following the ousting of Askin's successor, Tom Lewis, by the party, Willis was elected as the Parliamentary Leader of the Liberal Party and subsequently became Premier. However, after only four months in office, his Liberal/National Country Party Coalition was defeated at the 1976 election by the Labor Party under Neville Wran. Continuing as Leader of the Opposition, Willis resigned in 1977 and retired from politics a year later. Thereafter he served in various organisations and directorships until his death in May 1999.
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