The position of leader of the Liberal Party of Australia

Liberal Party of Australia

The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...

's New South Wales

New South Wales

New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...

 division is a formal role held by a Liberal member of the Parliament of New South Wales

Parliament of New South Wales

The Parliament of New South Wales, located in Parliament House on Macquarie Street, Sydney, is the main legislative body in the Australian state of New South Wales . It is a bicameral parliament elected by the people of the state in general elections. The parliament shares law making powers with...

. As the Liberal Party has, since its foundation in 1945, been either the largest or second largest party in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly

New South Wales Legislative Assembly

The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...

, the leader is normally referred to as either the Premier or the Leader of the Opposition

Leader of the Opposition (New South Wales)

The role of the Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition in New South Wales is a title held by the leader of the largest minority party in the state lower house, the New South Wales Legislative Assembly...

, depending on the majority or minority respectively of the party. The role is selected by state members of the parliamentary party, but the position is non-fixed in duration, and is usually only vacated upon resignation, retirement from politics, or a spill motion with the support of the majority of the parliamentary members.

The leader only has a role in a parliamentary context; the party division as a whole is governed by a President and Vice Presidents, who act on the advice of the party division's Director and Deputy Directors. The division also gathers annually at a State Conference to vote on and develop policy to be used by the party's elected representatives.

In the 64 years since its foundation the party has won only six state elections to the Australian Labor Party

Australian Labor Party

The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...

's 13, and has spent only 18 years in office (1965 to 1976 and 1988 to 1995) to Labor's 46. The majority of the 19 Liberal Leaders have been deposed, either after losing elections or when their colleagues determined they could not win an election.

The current leader of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Premier is Barry O'Farrell

Barry O'Farrell

Barry Robert O'Farrell MP, is an Australian politician and is the 43rd Premier of New South Wales, Minister for Western Sydney, Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party and a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Ku-ring-gai for the Liberal Party since 1999.Born in...

, and the deputy leader is Jillian Skinner

Jillian Skinner

Jillian Gell Skinner MP , an Australian politician, is the New South Wales Minister for Health and Minister for Medical Research in the O'Farrell-Stoner Liberal/National coalitition government...

. Both have served in those roles since 4 April 2007.

Leaders of the New South Wales Parliamentary Liberal Party

#	Party leader	|Assumed office	|Left office	Premier	Reason for departure	Time in office
1	Reginald Weaver Reginald Weaver Reginald Walter Darcy Weaver was an Australian conservative parliamentarian who served in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for 28 years. Serving from 1917 in the backbenches, he entered the cabinet of Thomas Bavin in 1929 as Secretary for Mines and Minister for Forests until he returned to...	20 April 1945	12 November 1945		Death in office	6m23d
2	Alexander Mair Alexander Mair Alexander Mair was an Australian politician and served as the Premier of New South Wales from 5 August 1939 to 16 May 1941. Born in Melbourne, working in various businesses, Mair moved to Albury, New South Wales and went on to be a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for fourteen...	13 November 1945	20 March 1946	1939–1941	Resignation; Premier under UAP United Australia Party The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...	4m7d
3	Sir Vernon Treatt Vernon Treatt Sir Vernon Haddon Treatt KBE, MM, QC was an Australian lawyer, soldier, Rhodes Scholar and politician. Born in Singleton, New South Wales and educated at Shore School, Treatt interrupted his studies at the University of Sydney to enlist at the outbreak of the First World War...	20 March 1946	10 August 1954		Resignation	8y4m21d
4	Murray Robson	17 August 1954	20 September 1955		Deposed	1y1m3d
5	Pat Morton Pat Morton Philip Henry Morton was an Australian businessman and politician. Born in Lismore in Northern New South Wales to a prominent political family and educated at Lismore High School, Morton left school at fourteen to be employed in a legal firm, before branching out into various businesses...	20 September 1955	17 July 1959		Deposed	3y9m27d
6	Sir Robert Askin Robert Askin Sir Robert William Askin GCMG, was an Australian politician and the 32nd Premier of New South Wales from 1965 to 1975, the first representing the Liberal Party of Australia. He was born in 1907 as Robin William Askin, but always disliked his first name and changed it by deed poll in 1971...	17 July 1959	3 January 1975	1965–1975	Retirement	15y5m17d
7	Tom Lewis Tom Lewis (Australian politician) Thomas Lancelot Lewis AO is a former New South Wales politician, Premier of New South Wales and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Sir Robert Askin and Sir Eric Willis. He was made the Premier of New South Wales following Askin's retirement from politics and held it until he was replaced by...	3 January 1975	23 January 1976	1975–1976	Deposed	1y20d
8	Sir Eric Willis Eric Willis Sir Eric Archibald Willis KBE, CMG 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...	23 January 1976	16 December 1977	1976	Resignation	1y10m23d
9	Peter Coleman	16 December 1977	7 October 1978		Loss of seat at 1978 election	9m21d
10	John Mason John Mason (Australian politician) John Marsden Mason is a former Australian politician, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for 16 years.-Early life:Mason was born in Rose Bay in Sydney in 1928, the son of Kay Mason and Stella Marsden...	24 October 1978	29 May 1981		Deposed	2y7m5d
11	Bruce McDonald Bruce McDonald (Australian politician) Bruce John McDonald, AM was a New South Wales politician, Leader of the Opposition and Leader for the Liberal Party of New South Wales. McDonald was Leader of the Opposition of New South Wales, Australia from 1 June 1981 to 12 October 1981, when he lost the election to Labor Premier, Neville Wran...	1 June 1981	12 October 1981		Loss of seat at 1981 election	4m11d
12	John Dowd John Dowd (politician) John Robert Arthur Dowd AO QC , a former Australian politician and jurist, is the Chancellor of Southern Cross University and the President of ActionAid Australia, an international aid organisation.-Early years and background:...	20 October 1981	15 March 1983		Resignation	1y4m23d
13	Nick Greiner Nick Greiner Nicholas "Nick" Frank Hugo Greiner AC, is an Australian businessman and former politician. He was the 37th Premier New South Wales from 1988 to 1992. He was Leader of the New South Wales Division of the Liberal Party from 1983 to 1992 and Leader of the Opposition from 1983 to 1988. He is married...	15 March 1983	24 June 1992	1988–1992	Resignation prior to no confidence motion	9y3m9d
14	John Fahey John Fahey (politician) John Joseph Fahey, AC is a former Premier of New South Wales and Federal Minister for Finance in Australia. John Fahey is currently the President of the World Anti-Doping Agency. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1984 to 1996 and the federal House of Representatives...	24 June 1992	4 April 1995	1992–1995	Resignation following 1995 election	2y9m11d
15	Peter Collins Peter Collins (Australian politician) Peter Edward James Collins, AM, RFD, QC was the Leader of the Opposition in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 4 April 1995 to 8 December 1998.-Early years and background:...	4 April 1995	7 December 1998		Deposed	3y8m3d
16	Kerry Chikarovski Kerry Chikarovski Kerry Anne Chikarovski was leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. She served as Leader of the Opposition between 1998 and 2002....	7 December 1998	28 March 2002		Deposed	3y3m21d
17	John Brogden	28 March 2002	29 August 2005		Resignation	3y5m1d
18	Peter Debnam Peter Debnam Peter John Debnam , is a former Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Vaucluse between 1994 and 2011. Debnam is a former Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Western Sydney,...	1 September 2005	4 April 2007		Resignation following 2007 election	1y7m3d
19	Barry O'Farrell Barry O'Farrell Barry Robert O'Farrell MP, is an Australian politician and is the 43rd Premier of New South Wales, Minister for Western Sydney, Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party and a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Ku-ring-gai for the Liberal Party since 1999.Born in...	4 April 2007	Incumbent	2011-Present		(3y10m,21d)

Deputy Leaders

Party Leader	Start of Term	End of Term
Athol Richardson Athol Richardson Athol Railton Richardson OBE, QC was an Australian politician and judge. Richardson represented the Electoral district of Ashfield for the United Australia Party and the Liberal Party of Australia from 26 March 1938 until 5 February 1952.-Early life:Richardson was born to parents Stephen Arthur...	1945	1945
Vernon Treatt Vernon Treatt Sir Vernon Haddon Treatt KBE, MM, QC was an Australian lawyer, soldier, Rhodes Scholar and politician. Born in Singleton, New South Wales and educated at Shore School, Treatt interrupted his studies at the University of Sydney to enlist at the outbreak of the First World War...	1946	1946
Walter Howarth Walter Howarth Walter Arthur Harrex Howarth was an Australian politician who represented the Maitland for the United Australia Party and the Liberal Party of Australia .-Early life:...	1946	1954
Robert Askin Robert Askin Sir Robert William Askin GCMG, was an Australian politician and the 32nd Premier of New South Wales from 1965 to 1975, the first representing the Liberal Party of Australia. He was born in 1907 as Robin William Askin, but always disliked his first name and changed it by deed poll in 1971...	1954	1959
Eric Willis Eric Willis Sir Eric Archibald Willis KBE, CMG 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...	1959	1975
John Maddison John Maddison John Clarkson Maddison, was a New South Wales politician, Attorney General, Minister for Justice and Deputy Leader for the Liberal Party of New South Wales in the cabinets of Robert Askin, Tom Lewis and Sir Eric Willis until the Liberal party lost the 1976 election...	1975	1977
John Mason John Mason (Australian politician) John Marsden Mason is a former Australian politician, a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for 16 years.-Early life:Mason was born in Rose Bay in Sydney in 1928, the son of Kay Mason and Stella Marsden...	1977	1978
Bruce McDonald Bruce McDonald (Australian politician) Bruce John McDonald, AM was a New South Wales politician, Leader of the Opposition and Leader for the Liberal Party of New South Wales. McDonald was Leader of the Opposition of New South Wales, Australia from 1 June 1981 to 12 October 1981, when he lost the election to Labor Premier, Neville Wran...	1978	1981
Jim Cameron	1981	1981
Kevin Rozzoli Kevin Rozzoli Kevin Richard Rozzoli is an Australian politician. He was a Liberal Party of Australia member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1973 until 2003, representing the electorate of Hawkesbury. He also served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 1988 to 1995, during the Greiner and...	1981	1983
Rosemary Foot	1983	1986
Peter Collins Peter Collins (Australian politician) Peter Edward James Collins, AM, RFD, QC was the Leader of the Opposition in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 4 April 1995 to 8 December 1998.-Early years and background:...	1986	1992
Bruce Baird Bruce Baird Bruce George Baird, AM , is a former Australian politician.-Early life:Baird was born in Sydney, and was educated at the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne, holding a master's degree in business administration from the latter...	1992	1994
Kerry Chikarovski Kerry Chikarovski Kerry Anne Chikarovski was leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. She served as Leader of the Opposition between 1998 and 2002....	1994	1995
Ron Phillips	1995	1999
Barry O'Farrell Barry O'Farrell Barry Robert O'Farrell MP, is an Australian politician and is the 43rd Premier of New South Wales, Minister for Western Sydney, Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party and a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Ku-ring-gai for the Liberal Party since 1999.Born in...	1999	2002
Chris Hartcher Chris Hartcher Christopher "Chris" Peter Hartcher MP , an Australian politician, is the New South Wales Minister for Resources and Energy, Special Minister of State and Minister for the Central Coast in the O'Farrell-Stoner Liberal/National coalitition government...	2002	2003
Barry O'Farrell Barry O'Farrell Barry Robert O'Farrell MP, is an Australian politician and is the 43rd Premier of New South Wales, Minister for Western Sydney, Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party and a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Ku-ring-gai for the Liberal Party since 1999.Born in...	2003	2007
Jillian Skinner Jillian Skinner Jillian Gell Skinner MP , an Australian politician, is the New South Wales Minister for Health and Minister for Medical Research in the O'Farrell-Stoner Liberal/National coalitition government...	2007	Incumbent