Robert Askin - End of Premiership and Legacy

End of Premiership and Legacy

Throughout his time as Premier, he was assisted by Charles Cutler as Deputy Premier and Leader of the Country Party. Cutler served as Acting Premier at times when Askin was suffering from illness, having suffered two heart attacks in 1969 and 1973. In 1972 the Orthodox Church of Antioch presented Askin with the Order of St Peter and St Paul for his services to ethnic minorities.

In 1971 Askin changed his name from "Robin" to "Robert" by a deed poll. On 1 January 1972, on his own recommendation, he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG). Later that year, taking advantage over the unease of the increasingly erratic Labor government of Gough Whitlam and the increasing economic problems seen to caused by the Federal government, Askin called an early election for 1973. However, a setback arose in the northern Sydney seat of Gordon, when the Liberal member Harry Jago failed to nominate his candidacy, thereby losing the seat to the Democratic Labor Party before the election took place.

However, despite this the Coalition went to a record fourth win against the ALP of Pat Hills, increasing the Liberal/Country majority by four seats, and making Askin the only Premier to win four consecutive terms. Askin contested the election in his new seat of Pittwater, replacing his former seat of Collaroy. In 1973 he was appointed an Officer of the Lebanese National Order of the Cedar.

His last term in office was marked by tension between the NSW and Victorian Governments and a view that Askin was getting out of touch with the voters. Askin's last intervention was to support his Minister for Lands, Thomas Lewis, in his bid to be Askin's successor instead of the Deputy Leader and Minister for Education, Sir Eric Willis. It was reported that Lewis had offered to upgrade Askin's knighthood from Knight Commander (KCMG) to Knight Grand Cross (GCMG) of the Order of St Michael and St George, while Willis was uncommitted. Askin retired from politics in January 1975 and was succeeded by Lewis as Premier. On 14 June 1975 he was elevated to Knight Grand Cross, for his service as Premier.

His health declined still further after 1975, and he died of heart failure on 9 September 1981 in St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney. He left an estate valued at just under $2 million, a very substantial sum for the time, to his widow, Lady Askin.

The next day, an editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald, credited him as "one of the ablest, most industrious and colourful political leaders of Australia's post-war era". He was granted a state funeral on 14 September, which was attended by over 1,000 mourners including Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, Premier Neville Wran, Mervyn Wood, Justice Lionel Murphy and former NSW Labor Premier and former Governor-General Sir William McKell.