Eric Willis

The Honourable Sir Eric Willis KBE, CMG
Willis c. 1965
34th Premier of New South Wales Elections: 1976
In office 23 January 1976 – 14 May 1976
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor	Sir Roden Cutler
Deputy	Leon Punch
Preceded by	Tom Lewis
Succeeded by	Neville Wran
Minister for Education
In office 19 June 1972 – 23 January 1976
Premier	Robert Askin Tom Lewis
Preceded by	Sir Charles Cutler
Succeeded by	Neil Pickard
24th Leader of the Opposition of New South Wales
In office 14 May 1976 – 16 December 1977
Deputy	John Maddison
Preceded by	Neville Wran
Succeeded by	Peter Coleman
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Earlwood
In office 17 June 1950 – 16 June 1978
Preceded by	New district
Succeeded by	Ken Gabb
Personal details
Born	(1922-01-15)15 January 1922 Murwillumbah, New South Wales
Died	10 May 1999(1999-05-10) (aged 77) Sydney, New South Wales
Political party	Liberal Party
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
Branch/service	Australian Army
Years of service	1941–1958
Rank	Major
Unit	Intelligence Corps Citizen Military Forces
Battles/wars	World War II Korean War New Guinea campaign Philippines campaign

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 World War II, Willis served on the homefront and later served in New Guinea and the Philippines. He continued to serve the Citizen Military Forces until 1958.^[1]

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.^[1]

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.^[1] Thereafter he served in various organisations and directorships until his death in May 1999.^[2]