Minister for Sport (New South Wales)

The Minister for Sport is a minister in the Government of New South Wales with responsibilities for the administration and support for all sporting bodies in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It has often been combined with other portfolio responsibilities, most commonly Tourism.

Minister for Culture, Sport and Recreation (1975-1976)
The formation of the ministry and supporting department was a response to the Government’s growing involvement in leisure and sporting activities. Included in these activities were sport, recreation, the visual arts and crafts, and the performing arts. Some of the government controls relating to motor, horse and greyhound racing, Sunday entertainment and the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground were also transferred to the new Department from the Chief Secretary, although the Chief Secretary’s successor, the Department of Services, continued to provide the administrative staff for many of these activities.

The responsibilities of the portfolio included the Advisory Committee on Cultural Grants, Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Archives Authority of New South Wales, the Library and Library Board of New South Wales, Museums, Film Council, Observatory and Opera House and the sport and recreation service of New South Wales. The last organisation aimed to promote physical fitness and recreational opportunities which was achieved by providing camping facilities, swimming instruction, school vacation play centres.

The ministry was abolished in the first Wran ministry in 1976, separated into the portfolio of Sport and Recreation and while cultural activities became the responsibility of the Premier.

List of ministers
The following individuals have served as minister where sport was one of the responsibilities in the portfolio: