1. Leon Ashton Punch was a New South Wales politician, Deputy Premier, and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Sir Robert Askin, Tom Lewis and Sir Eric Willis.
16 Facts About Leon Punch
1. 2.
Leon Punch was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for 26 years from 21 March 1959 until his retirement on 2 July 1985 for the Country Party, renamed the National Party during his time.
3.
Leon Punch attended Inverell High School and The King's School, Parramatta.
4.
Leon Punch worked on his family's properties in northeastern New South Wales from 1947 to 1959, first at Jerrys Plains and then at Barraba.
5.
On 16 February 1959, the Member for Upper Hunter, d'Arcy Rose, retired and Leon Punch was preselcted to contest the seat for the Country Party.
6.
Leon Punch represented Upper Hunter until 5 February 1962 when he contested the nearby seat of Gloucester at the 1962 election, which had been left vacant by the retirement of the sitting member, Ray Fitzgerald.
7.
Leon Punch contested preselection for Gloucester against Alan Borthwick, who had contested Gloucester three years earlier, as an independent candidate.
8.
Borthwick won the ballot, but Leon Punch appealed to the State Executive, claiming irregularities in the vote.
9.
Leon Punch was re-elected a further eight times with a significant majority.
10.
When Cutler retired on 16 December 1975, Leon Punch was elected to succeed him as Leader of the National Country Party and as Deputy Premier the next day.
11.
Leon Punch served as Deputy Premier of New South Wales, Minister for Public Works and Ports in the government of Sir Eric Willis until it was narrowly defeated at the 1976 election.
12.
Leon Punch remained as leader of the National Country Party under successive Opposition Leaders but did not hold any shadow ministry.
13.
Leon Punch then contested the vacant Leadership of the Opposition, a move which was opposed by former Deputy Leader Tim Bruxner; but he lost to the new leader of the Liberals, John Dowd, whom Leon Punch considered too far left-wing on matters of human rights.
14.
Leon Punch had a reputation as a strong debater and was recognised as one of the few people who could match the style of Premier Neville Wran.
15.
Leon Punch held his shadow portfolio until his retirement from politics on 2 July 1985.
16.
Leon Punch died in the Sydney suburb of Church Point on 28 December 1991.