Jack Ferguson

For other people named Jack Ferguson, see Jack Ferguson (disambiguation).

The Honourable Jack Ferguson AO
9th Deputy Premier of New South Wales
In office 14 May 1976 – 10 February 1984
Premier	Neville Wran
Preceded by	Leon Punch
Succeeded by	Ron Mulock
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Merrylands
In office 21 March 1959 – 5 February 1962
Preceded by	New creation
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Fairfield
In office 3 March 1962 – 23 January 1968
Preceded by	Clarrie Earl
Succeeded by	Eric Bedford
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Merrylands
In office 24 February 1968 – 5 March 1984
Preceded by	New creation
Succeeded by	Geoff Irwin
Personal details
Born	(1924-09-04)4 September 1924 Zetland, New South Wales, Australia
Died	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Political party	Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch)
Spouse(s)	Mary Ellen Bett
Children	Martin Ferguson, Laurie Ferguson

Laurie John ("Jack") Ferguson AO (4 September 1924 – 17 September 2002), was an Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for the Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch). He served in the Wran Government as the Deputy Premier of New South Wales from 1976 to 1984.

Early life

Ferguson was born in the inner Sydney suburb of Zetland and was educated at Granville Convent and Marist Brothers College, Parramatta, both Roman Catholic schools. After leaving school he was variously a farmhand, textile worker, builder's labourer and bricklayer and was an organiser for the Building Workers Industrial Union. From 1942–46 he served in the Second Australian Imperial Force.

Following his demobilisation, he became active in municipal, and then state, politics. He was an alderman on Parramatta Council from 1954–59, and Deputy Mayor in 1959. He married Mary Ellen Bett; the couple had three sons (Laurie, Martin and Andrew Ferguson) and two daughters.

Political career

Ferguson was the member for Merrylands from March 1959 to 1962 and 1968 to 5 March 1984. From 1962 to 1968, he was member for Fairfield. A member of the Australian Labor Party's left wing, he was best known as Deputy Premier and Minister for Public Works and Minister for Ports, from May 1976 until February 1984, in the cabinet headed by Neville Wran. He was also Minister for Housing from May 1976 to February 1977.

Death

Ferguson died in Sydney aged 78, from mesothelioma according to his son Andrew.

References

Parliament of New South Wales
New district	Member for Merrylands 1959 – 1962	Seat abolished
Preceded by Clarrie Earl	Member for Fairfield 1962 – 1968	Succeeded by Eric Bedford
New district	Member for Merrylands 1968 – 1984	Succeeded by Geoff Irwin
Political offices
Preceded by Syd Einfeld	Deputy Leader of the Opposition of New South Wales 1973 – 1976	Succeeded by John Maddison
Preceded by Leon Punch	Deputy Premier of New South Wales 1976 – 1984	Succeeded by Ron Mulock
	Minister for Public Works 1976 – 1984	Succeeded by Laurie Brereton
	Minister for Ports 1976 – 1984	Succeeded by Lin Gordon
Preceded by Ian Griffith	Minister for Housing 1976 – 1977	Succeeded by Ron Mulock
Party political offices
Preceded by Syd Einfeld	Deputy Leader of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales 1973 – 1984	Succeeded by Ron Mulock