Pat Morton - Revision history

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	[[Category:Australian people of Scottish descent]]		[[Category:Australian people of Scottish descent]]
	[[Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of New South Wales]]		[[Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of New South Wales]]
	[[Category:New South Wales local government politicians]]
	[[Category:Mayors of Mosman]]		[[Category:Mayors of Mosman]]
	[[Category:Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly]]		[[Category:Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly]]

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	\| predecessor = [[Murray Robson]]		\| predecessor = [[Murray Robson]]
	\| successor = [[Robert Askin]]		\| successor = [[Robert Askin]]
	\|office1 = [[Minister for Local Government (New South Wales)\|Minister for Local Government]]<br />[[~~List~~ of New South Wales ~~government agencies#Roads~~\|Minister for Highways]]		\|office1 = [[Minister for Local Government (New South Wales)\|Minister for Local Government]]<br />[[Minister for Roads (New South Wales)\|Minister for Highways]]
	\|term_start1 = 13 May 1965		\|term_start1 = 13 May 1965
	\|term_end1 = 19 June 1972		\|term_end1 = 19 June 1972
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	Morton soon rose through the party ranks, becoming touted as a possible leader. When the Liberals lost their third election under party leader [[Vernon Treatt]], Morton contested the leadership in July 1954. Although Morton was defeated, Treatt did not stay long, resigning in August. Morton then stood, but was deadlocked against party whip, [[Robert Askin]], and Askin then asked [[Murray Robson]] to take the leadership. Robson proved ineffective and was deposed in September 1955 in a party spill and Morton was elected to succeed him as [[Leader of the Opposition (New South Wales)\|Leader of the New South Wales Opposition]].		Morton soon rose through the party ranks, becoming touted as a possible leader. When the Liberals lost their third election under party leader [[Vernon Treatt]], Morton contested the leadership in July 1954. Although Morton was defeated, Treatt did not stay long, resigning in August. Morton then stood, but was deadlocked against party whip, [[Robert Askin]], and Askin then asked [[Murray Robson]] to take the leadership. Robson proved ineffective and was deposed in September 1955 in a party spill and Morton was elected to succeed him as [[Leader of the Opposition (New South Wales)\|Leader of the New South Wales Opposition]].

	Morton contested as Leader the [[1956 New South Wales state election\|1956]] and [[1959 New South Wales state election\|1959]] elections, gaining seats each time but failing to defeat the long-standing Labor Government. A few months after the 1959 election, Morton was deposed as Leader by now-Deputy Leader Askin in July 1959. He remained on the backbenches until Askin led the Liberal Party to its first electoral victory in [[1965 New South Wales state election\|May 1965]], whereupon Morton was appointed as the [[Minister for Local Government (New South Wales)\|Minister for Local Government]] and [[~~List~~ of New South Wales ~~government agencies#Roads~~\|Minister for Highways]]. He served in the cabinet, becoming prominent and controversial in his role in the reorganisation of the [[City of Sydney]] as Local Government Minister and state planning regulations, until he retired from parliament in June 1972. He died in Mosman aged 88 in 1999.<ref name=nsw/>		Morton contested as Leader the [[1956 New South Wales state election\|1956]] and [[1959 New South Wales state election\|1959]] elections, gaining seats each time but failing to defeat the long-standing Labor Government. A few months after the 1959 election, Morton was deposed as Leader by now-Deputy Leader Askin in July 1959. He remained on the backbenches until Askin led the Liberal Party to its first electoral victory in [[1965 New South Wales state election\|May 1965]], whereupon Morton was appointed as the [[Minister for Local Government (New South Wales)\|Minister for Local Government]] and [[Minister for Roads (New South Wales)\|Minister for Highways]]. He served in the cabinet, becoming prominent and controversial in his role in the reorganisation of the [[City of Sydney]] as Local Government Minister and state planning regulations, until he retired from parliament in June 1972. He died in Mosman aged 88 in 1999.<ref name=nsw/>

	==Early life and background==		==Early life and background==
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	===Minister of the Crown===		===Minister of the Crown===
	Askin then named Morton as the [[Minister for Local Government (New South Wales)\|Minister for Local Government]] and [[~~List~~ of New South Wales ~~government agencies#Roads~~\|Minister for Highways]], being sworn in by the [[Governor of New South Wales]], [[Eric Woodward\|Sir Eric Woodward]] at [[Government House, Sydney]] on 13 May 1965.<ref>{{cite web\| title = Cabinet of the Liberal-Country Party Government with Governor Woodward\| publisher =State Library of NSW\| url = http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=99745\| access-date = 2 February 2011 }}</ref> As Minister, Morton was involved in the first dismissal of [[Warringah Council\|Warringah Shire Council]] in April 1967 which was triggered by the gaoling of two councillors for bribery. The Councillors involved, Dennis Thomas and George Knight, were prosecuted under the ''Secret Commissions Prohibition Act 1919 (NSW)'' for receiving bribes from a development company to influence planning and development decisions, and both received gaol sentences.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yAgRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XJMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6828,5295508&dq=warringah+council+1967\|title=Councillor admits taking a bribe\|date=31 March 1967 \|newspaper=[[The Age]] \|access-date=27 May 2009 \|via=Google news archive}}</ref> From 1967 to 1968 he appointed several public servants as Administrators to serve until a new council could be elected.		Askin then named Morton as the [[Minister for Local Government (New South Wales)\|Minister for Local Government]] and [[Minister for Roads (New South Wales)\|Minister for Highways]], being sworn in by the [[Governor of New South Wales]], [[Eric Woodward\|Sir Eric Woodward]] at [[Government House, Sydney]] on 13 May 1965.<ref>{{cite web\| title = Cabinet of the Liberal-Country Party Government with Governor Woodward\| publisher =State Library of NSW\| url = http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=99745\| access-date = 2 February 2011 }}</ref> As Minister, Morton was involved in the first dismissal of [[Warringah Council\|Warringah Shire Council]] in April 1967 which was triggered by the gaoling of two councillors for bribery. The Councillors involved, Dennis Thomas and George Knight, were prosecuted under the ''Secret Commissions Prohibition Act 1919 (NSW)'' for receiving bribes from a development company to influence planning and development decisions, and both received gaol sentences.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yAgRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XJMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6828,5295508&dq=warringah+council+1967\|title=Councillor admits taking a bribe\|date=31 March 1967 \|newspaper=[[The Age]] \|access-date=27 May 2009 \|via=Google news archive}}</ref> From 1967 to 1968 he appointed several public servants as Administrators to serve until a new council could be elected.

	As a Minister of the Crown, Morton oversaw the rapid escalation of building development in inner-city Sydney and the central business district, which followed in the wake of his controversial 1967 abolition of Sydney City Council and a redistribution of municipal electoral boundaries that was aimed at reducing the power of the rival [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)\|Labor Party]]. On its abolition, Morton commented that it was "essential for Sydney's progress" and replaced the City Council with a Commission, headed by his predecessor, Vernon Treatt.<ref>{{cite news \|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2ngQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bJMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1166,3332500&dq=pat+morton&hl=en \|title=The Battle of Sydney \|newspaper=[[The Age]] \|date=19 September 1967 \|page=3 \|via=Google News Archive \|access-date=2 February 2011}}</ref> At the [[1968 New South Wales state election\|24 February 1968 election]], Askin increased his majority by six seats. Morton retained his seat with 73.55%.<ref>{{Cite NSW election \|year=1968 \|district=Mosman \|access-date=24 July 2020}}</ref>		As a Minister of the Crown, Morton oversaw the rapid escalation of building development in inner-city Sydney and the central business district, which followed in the wake of his controversial 1967 abolition of Sydney City Council and a redistribution of municipal electoral boundaries that was aimed at reducing the power of the rival [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)\|Labor Party]]. On its abolition, Morton commented that it was "essential for Sydney's progress" and replaced the City Council with a Commission, headed by his predecessor, Vernon Treatt.<ref>{{cite news \|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2ngQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bJMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1166,3332500&dq=pat+morton&hl=en \|title=The Battle of Sydney \|newspaper=[[The Age]] \|date=19 September 1967 \|page=3 \|via=Google News Archive \|access-date=2 February 2011}}</ref> At the [[1968 New South Wales state election\|24 February 1968 election]], Askin increased his majority by six seats. Morton retained his seat with 73.55%.<ref>{{Cite NSW election \|year=1968 \|district=Mosman \|access-date=24 July 2020}}</ref>
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	{{s-ttl \|title= [[Minister for Local Government (New South Wales)\|Minister for Local Government]]\|years=1965{{spaced ndash}}1971}}		{{s-ttl \|title= [[Minister for Local Government (New South Wales)\|Minister for Local Government]]\|years=1965{{spaced ndash}}1971}}
	{{s-aft\|rows=2\|after= [[Charles Cutler]] }}		{{s-aft\|rows=2\|after= [[Charles Cutler]] }}
	{{s-ttl\|title=[[~~List~~ of New South Wales ~~government agencies#Roads~~\|Minister for Highways]]\|years= 1965{{spaced ndash}}1971}}		{{s-ttl\|title=[[Minister for Roads (New South Wales)\|Minister for Highways]]\|years= 1965{{spaced ndash}}1971}}
	{{s-ppo}}		{{s-ppo}}
	{{s-bef\|before= [[Murray Robson]]}}		{{s-bef\|before= [[Murray Robson]]}}

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	{{Short description\|Australian politician}}		{{Short description\|Australian businessman and politician (1910-1999)}}
	{{About\|Philip Henry Morton, the former Leader of the New South Wales Opposition\|his uncle of the same name\|Philip Morton (politician)\|the South African Olympic wrestler\|Pat Morton (wrestler)}}		{{About\|Philip Henry Morton, the former Leader of the New South Wales Opposition\|his uncle of the same name\|Philip Morton (politician)\|the South African Olympic wrestler\|Pat Morton (wrestler)}}

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			{{Short description\|Australian politician}}
	{{About\|Philip Henry Morton, the former Leader of the New South Wales Opposition\|his uncle of the same name\|Philip Morton (politician)\|the South African Olympic wrestler\|Pat Morton (wrestler)}}		{{About\|Philip Henry Morton, the former Leader of the New South Wales Opposition\|his uncle of the same name\|Philip Morton (politician)\|the South African Olympic wrestler\|Pat Morton (wrestler)}}

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	\| residence =		\| residence =
	\| occupation = Politician/ businessman		\| occupation = Politician/ businessman
	\| religion = [[Church of England]]
	\| signature =		\| signature =
	\| website =		\| website =

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	==Early life and background==		==Early life and background==
	Pat Morton was born on 28 October 1910 in [[Lismore, New South Wales]], the son of Arthur Richmond Morton and Maria Morton. Although born on the north coast of New South Wales, Morton's family were prominent members of the [[City of Shoalhaven\|Shoalhaven District]] on the New South Wales south coast. Morton's grandfather, Henry Gordon Morton, born in [[Edinburgh]], [[Scotland]] in 1828, arrived in Australia in 1852 and was a surveyor for the [[Berry, New South Wales\|Berry Estate]] and the first Mayor of Numbaa, the private town founded by [[Alexander Berry]].<ref name=papers>{{cite web\|url=http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=402751\|title= P. H. Morton – papers and photographs\|publisher=State Library of New South Wales 2007\|~~accessdate~~=31 January 2011}}</ref>		Pat Morton was born on 28 October 1910 in [[Lismore, New South Wales]], the son of Arthur Richmond Morton and Maria Morton. Although born on the north coast of New South Wales, Morton's family were prominent members of the [[City of Shoalhaven\|Shoalhaven District]] on the New South Wales south coast. Morton's grandfather, Henry Gordon Morton, born in [[Edinburgh]], [[Scotland]] in 1828, arrived in Australia in 1852 and was a surveyor for the [[Berry, New South Wales\|Berry Estate]] and the first Mayor of Numbaa, the private town founded by [[Alexander Berry]].<ref name=papers>{{cite web\|url=http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=402751\|title= P. H. Morton – papers and photographs\|publisher=State Library of New South Wales 2007\|access-date=31 January 2011}}</ref>

	Henry Morton and his wife Jane Fairless had eight sons: [[Mark Morton (politician)\|Mark Fairles Morton]], who served as Mayor and Alderman on Nowra Municipal Council and the NSW Parliament from 1901 to 1938 for [[Electoral district of Shoalhaven\|Shoalhaven]], [[Electoral district of Allowrie\|Allowrie]] and [[Electoral district of Wollondilly\|Wollondilly]];<ref name="Mark Moton NSW parl">{{cite NSW Parliament \|title=Mr Mark Fairles Morton (1865–1938) \|id=1157 \|former=Yes \|accessdate=11 May 2019}}</ref> [[Henry Morton (politician)\|Henry Douglas Morton]], who served the NSW Parliament from 1910 to 1920 for [[Electoral district of Hastings and Macleay\|Hastings and Macleay]] and as [[Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly\|Speaker of the Legislative Assembly]] in 1913;<ref name="Henry Morton NSW parl">{{cite NSW Parliament\| title =Mr Henry Douglas Morton (1867–1932) \|id=1189 \|former=Yes \|accessdate=11 May 2019}}</ref> [[Philip Morton (politician)\|Philip Henry Morton]], who served as member for Shoalhaven from 1889 to 1898 and later as an Alderman on the [[Sydney City Council]] from 1904 to 1908;<ref name="Philip Morton NSW parl">{{cite NSW Parliament\| title =Mr Philip Henry (1) Morton (1862–1932) \|id=1086 \|former=Yes \|accessdate=11 May 2019}}</ref> and Pat's father, Alexander Richmond Morton, who, after serving as an Alderman on Nowra Municipal Council, moved with his wife to Lismore and served as an Alderman on [[City of Lismore\|Lismore Municipal Council]].<ref name=papers/>		Henry Morton and his wife Jane Fairless had eight sons: [[Mark Morton (politician)\|Mark Fairles Morton]], who served as Mayor and Alderman on Nowra Municipal Council and the NSW Parliament from 1901 to 1938 for [[Electoral district of Shoalhaven\|Shoalhaven]], [[Electoral district of Allowrie\|Allowrie]] and [[Electoral district of Wollondilly\|Wollondilly]];<ref name="Mark Moton NSW parl">{{cite NSW Parliament \|title=Mr Mark Fairles Morton (1865–1938) \|id=1157 \|former=Yes \|accessdate=11 May 2019}}</ref> [[Henry Morton (politician)\|Henry Douglas Morton]], who served the NSW Parliament from 1910 to 1920 for [[Electoral district of Hastings and Macleay\|Hastings and Macleay]] and as [[Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly\|Speaker of the Legislative Assembly]] in 1913;<ref name="Henry Morton NSW parl">{{cite NSW Parliament\| title =Mr Henry Douglas Morton (1867–1932) \|id=1189 \|former=Yes \|accessdate=11 May 2019}}</ref> [[Philip Morton (politician)\|Philip Henry Morton]], who served as member for Shoalhaven from 1889 to 1898 and later as an Alderman on the [[Sydney City Council]] from 1904 to 1908;<ref name="Philip Morton NSW parl">{{cite NSW Parliament\| title =Mr Philip Henry (1) Morton (1862–1932) \|id=1086 \|former=Yes \|accessdate=11 May 2019}}</ref> and Pat's father, Alexander Richmond Morton, who, after serving as an Alderman on Nowra Municipal Council, moved with his wife to Lismore and served as an Alderman on [[City of Lismore\|Lismore Municipal Council]].<ref name=papers/>
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	At the [[1953 New South Wales state election\|14 February 1953 election]], Morton retained his seat with 75.59%,<ref>{{Cite NSW election \|year=1953 \|district=Mosman \|accessdate=24 July 2020}}</ref> The Liberals, however, suffered a total loss of ten seats and a swing against them of 7.2%.<ref>{{Cite NSW election \|year=1953 \|district=Totals \|title=1953 overall election results \|accessdate=24 July 2020}}</ref> This result wiped out nearly all of the electoral gains made in 1950; and not surprisingly, the party's confidence in Treatt's leadership decayed, now that Treatt had led the party to three consecutive losses.		At the [[1953 New South Wales state election\|14 February 1953 election]], Morton retained his seat with 75.59%,<ref>{{Cite NSW election \|year=1953 \|district=Mosman \|accessdate=24 July 2020}}</ref> The Liberals, however, suffered a total loss of ten seats and a swing against them of 7.2%.<ref>{{Cite NSW election \|year=1953 \|district=Totals \|title=1953 overall election results \|accessdate=24 July 2020}}</ref> This result wiped out nearly all of the electoral gains made in 1950; and not surprisingly, the party's confidence in Treatt's leadership decayed, now that Treatt had led the party to three consecutive losses.

	The Liberal Party soon descended into factional in-fighting, culminating in the resignation of Deputy Leader [[Walter Howarth]] on 22 July 1954. Howarth announced on 4 July his imminent departure, and accused Treatt of having doubted Howarth's loyalty. [[Robert Askin]] became Deputy Leader in Howarth's stead.<ref>{{cite news \|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23423453 \|title=Leader quits L.C.P. post \|newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)\|The Argus]] \|date=5 July 1954 \|~~accessdate~~=25 July 2020 \|page=10 \|via=Trove}}</ref> The resignation split the party and sparked a leadership challenge from Morton, who criticised Treatt's "lack of aggression" towards the Labor Government. At the party meeting on 6 July, Treatt narrowly defeated Morton by 12 votes to 10.<ref>{{cite news \|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50593573 \|title=Treatt by 12–10 vote \|newspaper=[[The Courier-Mail]] \|date=7 July 1954 \|page=3 \|via=Trove \|~~accessdate~~=12 January 2011}}</ref>		The Liberal Party soon descended into factional in-fighting, culminating in the resignation of Deputy Leader [[Walter Howarth]] on 22 July 1954. Howarth announced on 4 July his imminent departure, and accused Treatt of having doubted Howarth's loyalty. [[Robert Askin]] became Deputy Leader in Howarth's stead.<ref>{{cite news \|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23423453 \|title=Leader quits L.C.P. post \|newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)\|The Argus]] \|date=5 July 1954 \|access-date=25 July 2020 \|page=10 \|via=Trove}}</ref> The resignation split the party and sparked a leadership challenge from Morton, who criticised Treatt's "lack of aggression" towards the Labor Government. At the party meeting on 6 July, Treatt narrowly defeated Morton by 12 votes to 10.<ref>{{cite news \|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50593573 \|title=Treatt by 12–10 vote \|newspaper=[[The Courier-Mail]] \|date=7 July 1954 \|page=3 \|via=Trove \|access-date=12 January 2011}}</ref>

	Nevertheless, with party support eroded, Treatt did not remain long as leader afterwards. On 6 August, Treatt announced that he would resign as leader four days later. At the following party meeting, after a deadlocked vote between Askin and Morton, Askin persuaded [[Murray Robson]] to accept the Leadership of the Liberal Party as a compromise candidate.<ref>{{cite news \|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18442153 \|title=Liberals elect Robson As leader \|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] \|date=18 August 1954 \|page=1 \|via=Trove \|~~accessdate~~=15 January 2011}}</ref>		Nevertheless, with party support eroded, Treatt did not remain long as leader afterwards. On 6 August, Treatt announced that he would resign as leader four days later. At the following party meeting, after a deadlocked vote between Askin and Morton, Askin persuaded [[Murray Robson]] to accept the Leadership of the Liberal Party as a compromise candidate.<ref>{{cite news \|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18442153 \|title=Liberals elect Robson As leader \|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] \|date=18 August 1954 \|page=1 \|via=Trove \|access-date=15 January 2011}}</ref>

	Like other senior members of the party, Robson had no experience in government. The last non-ALP administration in the state had been that of [[Alexander Mair]], who was defeated in 1941. Also, Robson had little interest in policy except for Cold War anti-communism. He ignored majority views of his party and parliamentary colleagues, and further alienated party members by trying to forge a closer alliance with [[Michael Bruxner]]'s [[National Party of Australia – NSW\|Country Party]]. Scarcely more than a year after Robson had assumed the leadership, at a party meeting on 20 September 1955, senior party member [[Ken McCaw]] moved that the leadership be declared vacant, maintaining that Robson's leadership lacked the qualities necessary for winning the next election. The motion was carried by 15 votes to five. Robson then moved a motion to prevent Morton, who was the only person nominated for leader, from taking the leadership. This was defeated 16 votes to six, and Morton was elected unopposed as leader, with Askin remaining as Deputy Leader.<ref>{{cite book \|last=Hancock \|first=Ian \|title=The Liberals: The NSW Division 1945–2000 \|publisher=Federation Press \|year=2007 \|location=Sydney \|page=97\| ~~nopp~~=y \|isbn=978-1-86287-659-0}}</ref>		Like other senior members of the party, Robson had no experience in government. The last non-ALP administration in the state had been that of [[Alexander Mair]], who was defeated in 1941. Also, Robson had little interest in policy except for Cold War anti-communism. He ignored majority views of his party and parliamentary colleagues, and further alienated party members by trying to forge a closer alliance with [[Michael Bruxner]]'s [[National Party of Australia – NSW\|Country Party]]. Scarcely more than a year after Robson had assumed the leadership, at a party meeting on 20 September 1955, senior party member [[Ken McCaw]] moved that the leadership be declared vacant, maintaining that Robson's leadership lacked the qualities necessary for winning the next election. The motion was carried by 15 votes to five. Robson then moved a motion to prevent Morton, who was the only person nominated for leader, from taking the leadership. This was defeated 16 votes to six, and Morton was elected unopposed as leader, with Askin remaining as Deputy Leader.<ref>{{cite book \|last=Hancock \|first=Ian \|title=The Liberals: The NSW Division 1945–2000 \|publisher=Federation Press \|year=2007 \|location=Sydney \|page=97\| no-pp=y \|isbn=978-1-86287-659-0}}</ref>

	===Leadership===		===Leadership===
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	===Minister of the Crown===		===Minister of the Crown===
	Askin then named Morton as the [[Minister for Local Government (New South Wales)\|Minister for Local Government]] and [[List of New South Wales government agencies#Roads\|Minister for Highways]], being sworn in by the [[Governor of New South Wales]], [[Eric Woodward\|Sir Eric Woodward]] at [[Government House, Sydney]] on 13 May 1965.<ref>{{cite web\| title = Cabinet of the Liberal-Country Party Government with Governor Woodward\| publisher =State Library of NSW\| url = http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=99745\| ~~accessdate~~ = 2 February 2011 }}</ref> As Minister, Morton was involved in the first dismissal of [[Warringah Council\|Warringah Shire Council]] in April 1967 which was triggered by the gaoling of two councillors for bribery. The Councillors involved, Dennis Thomas and George Knight, were prosecuted under the ''Secret Commissions Prohibition Act 1919 (NSW)'' for receiving bribes from a development company to influence planning and development decisions, and both received gaol sentences.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yAgRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XJMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6828,5295508&dq=warringah+council+1967\|title=Councillor admits taking a bribe\|date=31 March 1967 \|newspaper=[[The Age]] \|~~accessdate~~=27 May 2009 \|via=Google news archive}}</ref> From 1967 to 1968 he appointed several public servants as Administrators to serve until a new council could be elected.		Askin then named Morton as the [[Minister for Local Government (New South Wales)\|Minister for Local Government]] and [[List of New South Wales government agencies#Roads\|Minister for Highways]], being sworn in by the [[Governor of New South Wales]], [[Eric Woodward\|Sir Eric Woodward]] at [[Government House, Sydney]] on 13 May 1965.<ref>{{cite web\| title = Cabinet of the Liberal-Country Party Government with Governor Woodward\| publisher =State Library of NSW\| url = http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=99745\| access-date = 2 February 2011 }}</ref> As Minister, Morton was involved in the first dismissal of [[Warringah Council\|Warringah Shire Council]] in April 1967 which was triggered by the gaoling of two councillors for bribery. The Councillors involved, Dennis Thomas and George Knight, were prosecuted under the ''Secret Commissions Prohibition Act 1919 (NSW)'' for receiving bribes from a development company to influence planning and development decisions, and both received gaol sentences.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yAgRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XJMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6828,5295508&dq=warringah+council+1967\|title=Councillor admits taking a bribe\|date=31 March 1967 \|newspaper=[[The Age]] \|access-date=27 May 2009 \|via=Google news archive}}</ref> From 1967 to 1968 he appointed several public servants as Administrators to serve until a new council could be elected.

	As a Minister of the Crown, Morton oversaw the rapid escalation of building development in inner-city Sydney and the central business district, which followed in the wake of his controversial 1967 abolition of Sydney City Council and a redistribution of municipal electoral boundaries that was aimed at reducing the power of the rival [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)\|Labor Party]]. On its abolition, Morton commented that it was "essential for Sydney's progress" and replaced the City Council with a Commission, headed by his predecessor, Vernon Treatt.<ref>{{cite news \|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2ngQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bJMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1166,3332500&dq=pat+morton&hl=en \|title=The Battle of Sydney \|newspaper=[[The Age]] \|date=19 September 1967 \|page=3 \|via=Google News Archive \|~~accessdate~~=2 February 2011}}</ref> At the [[1968 New South Wales state election\|24 February 1968 election]], Askin increased his majority by six seats. Morton retained his seat with 73.55%.<ref>{{Cite NSW election \|year=1968 \|district=Mosman \|accessdate=24 July 2020}}</ref>		As a Minister of the Crown, Morton oversaw the rapid escalation of building development in inner-city Sydney and the central business district, which followed in the wake of his controversial 1967 abolition of Sydney City Council and a redistribution of municipal electoral boundaries that was aimed at reducing the power of the rival [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)\|Labor Party]]. On its abolition, Morton commented that it was "essential for Sydney's progress" and replaced the City Council with a Commission, headed by his predecessor, Vernon Treatt.<ref>{{cite news \|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2ngQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bJMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1166,3332500&dq=pat+morton&hl=en \|title=The Battle of Sydney \|newspaper=[[The Age]] \|date=19 September 1967 \|page=3 \|via=Google News Archive \|access-date=2 February 2011}}</ref> At the [[1968 New South Wales state election\|24 February 1968 election]], Askin increased his majority by six seats. Morton retained his seat with 73.55%.<ref>{{Cite NSW election \|year=1968 \|district=Mosman \|accessdate=24 July 2020}}</ref>

	Morton soon gained a reputation as a strong advocate for allowing free enterprise and business to take precedence over planning controls and government regulation. His time as Minister was marked by increasing strains on state infrastructure and his pro-development stance was largely attributed as an attempt to alleviate these problems. Despite this, Morton and his State Planning Authority were continuously criticised for not being totally accountable to the public, particularly as the pro-business Sydney Commissioners worked side-by-side with the Planning authority to increase developments in the Sydney CBD to their highest levels ever, embodied by the construction of the [[MLC Centre]], the demolition of the [[Theatre Royal, Sydney]] and the [[Australia Hotel]].<ref name=retire/> Among the most controversial schemes planned by his government were also a massive freeway system that was planned to be driven through the hearts of historic inner-city suburbs including [[Glebe, New South Wales\|Glebe]] and [[Newtown, New South Wales\|Newtown]] and an equally ambitious scheme of '[[slum clearance]]' that would have brought about the wholescale destruction of the historic areas of [[Woolloomooloo]] and [[The Rocks, New South Wales\|The Rocks]]. This eventually culminated in the 1970s [[Green ban]] movement led by Unions Leader [[Jack Mundey]], to protect the architectural heritage of Sydney.<ref name=retire>{{cite news \|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=acpQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=f-UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2298,5630604&dq=pat+morton&hl=en \|title=A free enterpriser bows out \|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] \|date=16 June 1972 \|page=4 \|via=Google News Archive\|~~accessdate~~=2 February 2011}}</ref>		Morton soon gained a reputation as a strong advocate for allowing free enterprise and business to take precedence over planning controls and government regulation. His time as Minister was marked by increasing strains on state infrastructure and his pro-development stance was largely attributed as an attempt to alleviate these problems. Despite this, Morton and his State Planning Authority were continuously criticised for not being totally accountable to the public, particularly as the pro-business Sydney Commissioners worked side-by-side with the Planning authority to increase developments in the Sydney CBD to their highest levels ever, embodied by the construction of the [[MLC Centre]], the demolition of the [[Theatre Royal, Sydney]] and the [[Australia Hotel]].<ref name=retire/> Among the most controversial schemes planned by his government were also a massive freeway system that was planned to be driven through the hearts of historic inner-city suburbs including [[Glebe, New South Wales\|Glebe]] and [[Newtown, New South Wales\|Newtown]] and an equally ambitious scheme of '[[slum clearance]]' that would have brought about the wholescale destruction of the historic areas of [[Woolloomooloo]] and [[The Rocks, New South Wales\|The Rocks]]. This eventually culminated in the 1970s [[Green ban]] movement led by Unions Leader [[Jack Mundey]], to protect the architectural heritage of Sydney.<ref name=retire>{{cite news \|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=acpQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=f-UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2298,5630604&dq=pat+morton&hl=en \|title=A free enterpriser bows out \|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] \|date=16 June 1972 \|page=4 \|via=Google News Archive\|access-date=2 February 2011}}</ref>

	At the [[1971 New South Wales state election\|13 February 1971 election]], Askin's majority was reduced by four seats to the Labor Party under [[Pat Hills]]. Morton retained his seat, despite a significant reduction in his majority to 62.68%.<ref>{{Cite NSW election \|year=1971 \|district=Mosman \|accessdate=24 July 2020}}</ref> Morton stayed in office for another year when, on 16 June 1972 he retired from politics. At the time of his departure it had been rumoured that he had been threatening to dismiss [[Blacktown City Council]] if they did not stop blocking a $200 million development in [[Mount Druitt, New South Wales\|Mount Druitt]].<ref name=retire/>		At the [[1971 New South Wales state election\|13 February 1971 election]], Askin's majority was reduced by four seats to the Labor Party under [[Pat Hills]]. Morton retained his seat, despite a significant reduction in his majority to 62.68%.<ref>{{Cite NSW election \|year=1971 \|district=Mosman \|accessdate=24 July 2020}}</ref> Morton stayed in office for another year when, on 16 June 1972 he retired from politics. At the time of his departure it had been rumoured that he had been threatening to dismiss [[Blacktown City Council]] if they did not stop blocking a $200 million development in [[Mount Druitt, New South Wales\|Mount Druitt]].<ref name=retire/>

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2021-01-11T23:41:36Z

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	\| children = Patricia Morton<br />Margaret Morton		\| children = Patricia Morton<br />Margaret Morton
	\| residence =		\| residence =
	\| occupation = Politician/ ~~Businessman~~		\| occupation = Politician/ businessman
	\| religion = [[Church of England]]		\| religion = [[Church of England]]
	\| signature =		\| signature =

BattyBot: /* Political career */Fixed CS1 errors: extra text: pages and general fixes

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	Nevertheless, with party support eroded, Treatt did not remain long as leader afterwards. On 6 August, Treatt announced that he would resign as leader four days later. At the following party meeting, after a deadlocked vote between Askin and Morton, Askin persuaded [[Murray Robson]] to accept the Leadership of the Liberal Party as a compromise candidate.<ref>{{cite news \|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18442153 \|title=Liberals elect Robson As leader \|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] \|date=18 August 1954 \|page=1 \|via=Trove \|accessdate=15 January 2011}}</ref>		Nevertheless, with party support eroded, Treatt did not remain long as leader afterwards. On 6 August, Treatt announced that he would resign as leader four days later. At the following party meeting, after a deadlocked vote between Askin and Morton, Askin persuaded [[Murray Robson]] to accept the Leadership of the Liberal Party as a compromise candidate.<ref>{{cite news \|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18442153 \|title=Liberals elect Robson As leader \|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] \|date=18 August 1954 \|page=1 \|via=Trove \|accessdate=15 January 2011}}</ref>

	Like other senior members of the party, Robson had no experience in government. The last non-ALP administration in the state had been that of [[Alexander Mair]], who was defeated in 1941. Also, Robson had little interest in policy except for Cold War anti-communism. He ignored majority views of his party and parliamentary colleagues, and further alienated party members by trying to forge a closer alliance with [[Michael Bruxner]]'s [[National Party of Australia – NSW\|Country Party]]. Scarcely more than a year after Robson had assumed the leadership, at a party meeting on 20 September 1955, senior party member [[Ken McCaw]] moved that the leadership be declared vacant, maintaining that Robson's leadership lacked the qualities necessary for winning the next election. The motion was carried by 15 votes to five. Robson then moved a motion to prevent Morton, who was the only person nominated for leader, from taking the leadership. This was defeated 16 votes to six, and Morton was elected unopposed as leader, with Askin remaining as Deputy Leader.<ref>{{cite book \|last=Hancock \|first=Ian \|title=The Liberals: The NSW Division 1945–2000 \|publisher=Federation Press \|year=2007 \|location=Sydney \|page=pg 97\| nopp=y \|isbn=978-1-86287-659-0}}</ref>		Like other senior members of the party, Robson had no experience in government. The last non-ALP administration in the state had been that of [[Alexander Mair]], who was defeated in 1941. Also, Robson had little interest in policy except for Cold War anti-communism. He ignored majority views of his party and parliamentary colleagues, and further alienated party members by trying to forge a closer alliance with [[Michael Bruxner]]'s [[National Party of Australia – NSW\|Country Party]]. Scarcely more than a year after Robson had assumed the leadership, at a party meeting on 20 September 1955, senior party member [[Ken McCaw]] moved that the leadership be declared vacant, maintaining that Robson's leadership lacked the qualities necessary for winning the next election. The motion was carried by 15 votes to five. Robson then moved a motion to prevent Morton, who was the only person nominated for leader, from taking the leadership. This was defeated 16 votes to six, and Morton was elected unopposed as leader, with Askin remaining as Deputy Leader.<ref>{{cite book \|last=Hancock \|first=Ian \|title=The Liberals: The NSW Division 1945–2000 \|publisher=Federation Press \|year=2007 \|location=Sydney \|page=97\| nopp=y \|isbn=978-1-86287-659-0}}</ref>

	===Leadership===		===Leadership===

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2020-09-15T11:56:06Z

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	[[Category:1999 deaths]]		[[Category:1999 deaths]]
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	[[Category:Australian businesspeople]]
	[[Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of New South Wales]]		[[Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of New South Wales]]
	[[Category:New South Wales local government politicians]]		[[Category:New South Wales local government politicians]]

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	==Early life and background==		==Early life and background==
	Pat Morton was born on 28 October 1910 in [[Lismore, New South Wales]], the son of Arthur Richmond Morton and Maria Morton. Although born on the north coast of New South Wales, Morton's family were prominent members of the [[City of Shoalhaven\|Shoalhaven District]] on the New South Wales south coast. Morton's grandfather, Henry Gordon Morton, born in [[Edinburgh]], [[Scotland]] in 1828, arrived in Australia in 1852 and was a surveyor for the [[Berry, New South Wales\|Berry Estate]] and the first Mayor of Numbaa, the private town founded by [[Alexander Berry]].<ref name=papers>{{cite web\|url=http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=402751\|title= P. H. Morton – papers and photographs\|publisher=State Library of New South Wales 2007\|~~accessdate~~=31 January 2011}}</ref>		Pat Morton was born on 28 October 1910 in [[Lismore, New South Wales]], the son of Arthur Richmond Morton and Maria Morton. Although born on the north coast of New South Wales, Morton's family were prominent members of the [[City of Shoalhaven\|Shoalhaven District]] on the New South Wales south coast. Morton's grandfather, Henry Gordon Morton, born in [[Edinburgh]], [[Scotland]] in 1828, arrived in Australia in 1852 and was a surveyor for the [[Berry, New South Wales\|Berry Estate]] and the first Mayor of Numbaa, the private town founded by [[Alexander Berry]].<ref name=papers>{{cite web\|url=http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=402751\|title= P. H. Morton – papers and photographs\|publisher=State Library of New South Wales 2007\|access-date=31 January 2011}}</ref>

	Henry Morton and his wife Jane Fairless had eight sons: [[Mark Morton (politician)\|Mark Fairles Morton]], who served as Mayor and Alderman on Nowra Municipal Council and the NSW Parliament from 1901 to 1938 for [[Electoral district of Shoalhaven\|Shoalhaven]], [[Electoral district of Allowrie\|Allowrie]] and [[Electoral district of Wollondilly\|Wollondilly]];<ref name="Mark Moton NSW parl">{{cite NSW Parliament \|title=Mr Mark Fairles Morton (1865–1938) \|id=1157 \|former=Yes \|accessdate=11 May 2019}}</ref> [[Henry Morton (politician)\|Henry Douglas Morton]], who served the NSW Parliament from 1910 to 1920 for [[Electoral district of Hastings and Macleay\|Hastings and Macleay]] and as [[Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly\|Speaker of the Legislative Assembly]] in 1913;<ref name="Henry Morton NSW parl">{{cite NSW Parliament\| title =Mr Henry Douglas Morton (1867–1932) \|id=1189 \|former=Yes \|accessdate=11 May 2019}}</ref> [[Philip Morton (politician)\|Philip Henry Morton]], who served as member for Shoalhaven from 1889 to 1898 and later as an Alderman on the [[Sydney City Council]] from 1904 to 1908;<ref name="Philip Morton NSW parl">{{cite NSW Parliament\| title =Mr Philip Henry (1) Morton (1862–1932) \|id=1086 \|former=Yes \|accessdate=11 May 2019}}</ref> and Pat's father, Alexander Richmond Morton, who, after serving as an Alderman on Nowra Municipal Council, moved with his wife to Lismore and served as an Alderman on [[City of Lismore\|Lismore Municipal Council]].<ref name=papers/>		Henry Morton and his wife Jane Fairless had eight sons: [[Mark Morton (politician)\|Mark Fairles Morton]], who served as Mayor and Alderman on Nowra Municipal Council and the NSW Parliament from 1901 to 1938 for [[Electoral district of Shoalhaven\|Shoalhaven]], [[Electoral district of Allowrie\|Allowrie]] and [[Electoral district of Wollondilly\|Wollondilly]];<ref name="Mark Moton NSW parl">{{cite NSW Parliament \|title=Mr Mark Fairles Morton (1865–1938) \|id=1157 \|former=Yes \|accessdate=11 May 2019}}</ref> [[Henry Morton (politician)\|Henry Douglas Morton]], who served the NSW Parliament from 1910 to 1920 for [[Electoral district of Hastings and Macleay\|Hastings and Macleay]] and as [[Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly\|Speaker of the Legislative Assembly]] in 1913;<ref name="Henry Morton NSW parl">{{cite NSW Parliament\| title =Mr Henry Douglas Morton (1867–1932) \|id=1189 \|former=Yes \|accessdate=11 May 2019}}</ref> [[Philip Morton (politician)\|Philip Henry Morton]], who served as member for Shoalhaven from 1889 to 1898 and later as an Alderman on the [[Sydney City Council]] from 1904 to 1908;<ref name="Philip Morton NSW parl">{{cite NSW Parliament\| title =Mr Philip Henry (1) Morton (1862–1932) \|id=1086 \|former=Yes \|accessdate=11 May 2019}}</ref> and Pat's father, Alexander Richmond Morton, who, after serving as an Alderman on Nowra Municipal Council, moved with his wife to Lismore and served as an Alderman on [[City of Lismore\|Lismore Municipal Council]].<ref name=papers/>
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	At the [[1953 New South Wales state election\|14 February 1953 election]], Morton retained his seat with 75.59%,<ref>{{Cite NSW election \|year=1953 \|district=Mosman \|accessdate=24 July 2020}}</ref> The Liberals, however, suffered a total loss of ten seats and a swing against them of 7.2%.<ref>{{Cite NSW election \|year=1953 \|district=Totals \|title=1953 overall election results \|accessdate=24 July 2020}}</ref> This result wiped out nearly all of the electoral gains made in 1950; and not surprisingly, the party's confidence in Treatt's leadership decayed, now that Treatt had led the party to three consecutive losses.		At the [[1953 New South Wales state election\|14 February 1953 election]], Morton retained his seat with 75.59%,<ref>{{Cite NSW election \|year=1953 \|district=Mosman \|accessdate=24 July 2020}}</ref> The Liberals, however, suffered a total loss of ten seats and a swing against them of 7.2%.<ref>{{Cite NSW election \|year=1953 \|district=Totals \|title=1953 overall election results \|accessdate=24 July 2020}}</ref> This result wiped out nearly all of the electoral gains made in 1950; and not surprisingly, the party's confidence in Treatt's leadership decayed, now that Treatt had led the party to three consecutive losses.

	The Liberal Party soon descended into factional in-fighting, culminating in the resignation of Deputy Leader [[Walter Howarth]] on 22 July 1954. Howarth announced on 4 July his imminent departure, and accused Treatt of having doubted Howarth's loyalty. [[Robert Askin]] became Deputy Leader in Howarth's stead.<ref>{{cite news \|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23423453 \|title=Leader quits L.C.P. post \|newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)\|The Argus]] \|date=5 July 1954 \|~~accessdate~~=25 July 2020 \|page=10 \|via=Trove}}</ref> The resignation split the party and sparked a leadership challenge from Morton, who criticised Treatt's "lack of aggression" towards the Labor Government. At the party meeting on 6 July, Treatt narrowly defeated Morton by 12 votes to 10.<ref>{{cite news \|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50593573 \|title=Treatt by 12–10 vote \|newspaper=[[The Courier-Mail]] \|date=7 July 1954 \|page=3 \|via=Trove \|~~accessdate~~=12 January 2011}}</ref>		The Liberal Party soon descended into factional in-fighting, culminating in the resignation of Deputy Leader [[Walter Howarth]] on 22 July 1954. Howarth announced on 4 July his imminent departure, and accused Treatt of having doubted Howarth's loyalty. [[Robert Askin]] became Deputy Leader in Howarth's stead.<ref>{{cite news \|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23423453 \|title=Leader quits L.C.P. post \|newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)\|The Argus]] \|date=5 July 1954 \|access-date=25 July 2020 \|page=10 \|via=Trove}}</ref> The resignation split the party and sparked a leadership challenge from Morton, who criticised Treatt's "lack of aggression" towards the Labor Government. At the party meeting on 6 July, Treatt narrowly defeated Morton by 12 votes to 10.<ref>{{cite news \|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article50593573 \|title=Treatt by 12–10 vote \|newspaper=[[The Courier-Mail]] \|date=7 July 1954 \|page=3 \|via=Trove \|access-date=12 January 2011}}</ref>

	Nevertheless, with party support eroded, Treatt did not remain long as leader afterwards. On 6 August, Treatt announced that he would resign as leader four days later. At the following party meeting, after a deadlocked vote between Askin and Morton, Askin persuaded [[Murray Robson]] to accept the Leadership of the Liberal Party as a compromise candidate.<ref>{{cite news \|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18442153 \|title=Liberals elect Robson As leader \|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] \|date=18 August 1954 \|page=1 \|via=Trove \|~~accessdate~~=15 January 2011}}</ref>		Nevertheless, with party support eroded, Treatt did not remain long as leader afterwards. On 6 August, Treatt announced that he would resign as leader four days later. At the following party meeting, after a deadlocked vote between Askin and Morton, Askin persuaded [[Murray Robson]] to accept the Leadership of the Liberal Party as a compromise candidate.<ref>{{cite news \|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18442153 \|title=Liberals elect Robson As leader \|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] \|date=18 August 1954 \|page=1 \|via=Trove \|access-date=15 January 2011}}</ref>

	Like other senior members of the party, Robson had no experience in government. The last non-ALP administration in the state had been that of [[Alexander Mair]], who was defeated in 1941. Also, Robson had little interest in policy except for Cold War anti-communism. He ignored majority views of his party and parliamentary colleagues, and further alienated party members by trying to forge a closer alliance with [[Michael Bruxner]]'s [[National Party of Australia – NSW\|Country Party]]. Scarcely more than a year after Robson had assumed the leadership, at a party meeting on 20 September 1955, senior party member [[Ken McCaw]] moved that the leadership be declared vacant, maintaining that Robson's leadership lacked the qualities necessary for winning the next election. The motion was carried by 15 votes to five. Robson then moved a motion to prevent Morton, who was the only person nominated for leader, from taking the leadership. This was defeated 16 votes to six, and Morton was elected unopposed as leader, with Askin remaining as Deputy Leader.<ref>{{cite book \|last=Hancock \|first=Ian \|title=The Liberals: The NSW Division 1945–2000 \|publisher=Federation Press \|year=2007 \|location=Sydney \|page=97\| ~~nopp~~=y \|isbn=978-1-86287-659-0}}</ref>		Like other senior members of the party, Robson had no experience in government. The last non-ALP administration in the state had been that of [[Alexander Mair]], who was defeated in 1941. Also, Robson had little interest in policy except for Cold War anti-communism. He ignored majority views of his party and parliamentary colleagues, and further alienated party members by trying to forge a closer alliance with [[Michael Bruxner]]'s [[National Party of Australia – NSW\|Country Party]]. Scarcely more than a year after Robson had assumed the leadership, at a party meeting on 20 September 1955, senior party member [[Ken McCaw]] moved that the leadership be declared vacant, maintaining that Robson's leadership lacked the qualities necessary for winning the next election. The motion was carried by 15 votes to five. Robson then moved a motion to prevent Morton, who was the only person nominated for leader, from taking the leadership. This was defeated 16 votes to six, and Morton was elected unopposed as leader, with Askin remaining as Deputy Leader.<ref>{{cite book \|last=Hancock \|first=Ian \|title=The Liberals: The NSW Division 1945–2000 \|publisher=Federation Press \|year=2007 \|location=Sydney \|page=97\| no-pp=y \|isbn=978-1-86287-659-0}}</ref>

	===Leadership===		===Leadership===
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	===Minister of the Crown===		===Minister of the Crown===
	Askin then named Morton as the [[Minister for Local Government (New South Wales)\|Minister for Local Government]] and [[List of New South Wales government agencies#Roads\|Minister for Highways]], being sworn in by the [[Governor of New South Wales]], [[Eric Woodward\|Sir Eric Woodward]] at [[Government House, Sydney]] on 13 May 1965.<ref>{{cite web\| title = Cabinet of the Liberal-Country Party Government with Governor Woodward\| publisher =State Library of NSW\| url = http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=99745\| ~~accessdate~~ = 2 February 2011 }}</ref> As Minister, Morton was involved in the first dismissal of [[Warringah Council\|Warringah Shire Council]] in April 1967 which was triggered by the gaoling of two councillors for bribery. The Councillors involved, Dennis Thomas and George Knight, were prosecuted under the ''Secret Commissions Prohibition Act 1919 (NSW)'' for receiving bribes from a development company to influence planning and development decisions, and both received gaol sentences.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yAgRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XJMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6828,5295508&dq=warringah+council+1967\|title=Councillor admits taking a bribe\|date=31 March 1967 \|newspaper=[[The Age]] \|~~accessdate~~=27 May 2009 \|via=Google news archive}}</ref> From 1967 to 1968 he appointed several public servants as Administrators to serve until a new council could be elected.		Askin then named Morton as the [[Minister for Local Government (New South Wales)\|Minister for Local Government]] and [[List of New South Wales government agencies#Roads\|Minister for Highways]], being sworn in by the [[Governor of New South Wales]], [[Eric Woodward\|Sir Eric Woodward]] at [[Government House, Sydney]] on 13 May 1965.<ref>{{cite web\| title = Cabinet of the Liberal-Country Party Government with Governor Woodward\| publisher =State Library of NSW\| url = http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemDetailPaged.aspx?itemID=99745\| access-date = 2 February 2011 }}</ref> As Minister, Morton was involved in the first dismissal of [[Warringah Council\|Warringah Shire Council]] in April 1967 which was triggered by the gaoling of two councillors for bribery. The Councillors involved, Dennis Thomas and George Knight, were prosecuted under the ''Secret Commissions Prohibition Act 1919 (NSW)'' for receiving bribes from a development company to influence planning and development decisions, and both received gaol sentences.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yAgRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XJMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6828,5295508&dq=warringah+council+1967\|title=Councillor admits taking a bribe\|date=31 March 1967 \|newspaper=[[The Age]] \|access-date=27 May 2009 \|via=Google news archive}}</ref> From 1967 to 1968 he appointed several public servants as Administrators to serve until a new council could be elected.

	As a Minister of the Crown, Morton oversaw the rapid escalation of building development in inner-city Sydney and the central business district, which followed in the wake of his controversial 1967 abolition of Sydney City Council and a redistribution of municipal electoral boundaries that was aimed at reducing the power of the rival [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)\|Labor Party]]. On its abolition, Morton commented that it was "essential for Sydney's progress" and replaced the City Council with a Commission, headed by his predecessor, Vernon Treatt.<ref>{{cite news \|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2ngQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bJMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1166,3332500&dq=pat+morton&hl=en \|title=The Battle of Sydney \|newspaper=[[The Age]] \|date=19 September 1967 \|page=3 \|via=Google News Archive \|~~accessdate~~=2 February 2011}}</ref> At the [[1968 New South Wales state election\|24 February 1968 election]], Askin increased his majority by six seats. Morton retained his seat with 73.55%.<ref>{{Cite NSW election \|year=1968 \|district=Mosman \|accessdate=24 July 2020}}</ref>		As a Minister of the Crown, Morton oversaw the rapid escalation of building development in inner-city Sydney and the central business district, which followed in the wake of his controversial 1967 abolition of Sydney City Council and a redistribution of municipal electoral boundaries that was aimed at reducing the power of the rival [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)\|Labor Party]]. On its abolition, Morton commented that it was "essential for Sydney's progress" and replaced the City Council with a Commission, headed by his predecessor, Vernon Treatt.<ref>{{cite news \|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2ngQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bJMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1166,3332500&dq=pat+morton&hl=en \|title=The Battle of Sydney \|newspaper=[[The Age]] \|date=19 September 1967 \|page=3 \|via=Google News Archive \|access-date=2 February 2011}}</ref> At the [[1968 New South Wales state election\|24 February 1968 election]], Askin increased his majority by six seats. Morton retained his seat with 73.55%.<ref>{{Cite NSW election \|year=1968 \|district=Mosman \|accessdate=24 July 2020}}</ref>

	Morton soon gained a reputation as a strong advocate for allowing free enterprise and business to take precedence over planning controls and government regulation. His time as Minister was marked by increasing strains on state infrastructure and his pro-development stance was largely attributed as an attempt to alleviate these problems. Despite this, Morton and his State Planning Authority were continuously criticised for not being totally accountable to the public, particularly as the pro-business Sydney Commissioners worked side-by-side with the Planning authority to increase developments in the Sydney CBD to their highest levels ever, embodied by the construction of the [[MLC Centre]], the demolition of the [[Theatre Royal, Sydney]] and the [[Australia Hotel]].<ref name=retire/> Among the most controversial schemes planned by his government were also a massive freeway system that was planned to be driven through the hearts of historic inner-city suburbs including [[Glebe, New South Wales\|Glebe]] and [[Newtown, New South Wales\|Newtown]] and an equally ambitious scheme of '[[slum clearance]]' that would have brought about the wholescale destruction of the historic areas of [[Woolloomooloo]] and [[The Rocks, New South Wales\|The Rocks]]. This eventually culminated in the 1970s [[Green ban]] movement led by Unions Leader [[Jack Mundey]], to protect the architectural heritage of Sydney.<ref name=retire>{{cite news \|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=acpQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=f-UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2298,5630604&dq=pat+morton&hl=en \|title=A free enterpriser bows out \|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] \|date=16 June 1972 \|page=4 \|via=Google News Archive\|~~accessdate~~=2 February 2011}}</ref>		Morton soon gained a reputation as a strong advocate for allowing free enterprise and business to take precedence over planning controls and government regulation. His time as Minister was marked by increasing strains on state infrastructure and his pro-development stance was largely attributed as an attempt to alleviate these problems. Despite this, Morton and his State Planning Authority were continuously criticised for not being totally accountable to the public, particularly as the pro-business Sydney Commissioners worked side-by-side with the Planning authority to increase developments in the Sydney CBD to their highest levels ever, embodied by the construction of the [[MLC Centre]], the demolition of the [[Theatre Royal, Sydney]] and the [[Australia Hotel]].<ref name=retire/> Among the most controversial schemes planned by his government were also a massive freeway system that was planned to be driven through the hearts of historic inner-city suburbs including [[Glebe, New South Wales\|Glebe]] and [[Newtown, New South Wales\|Newtown]] and an equally ambitious scheme of '[[slum clearance]]' that would have brought about the wholescale destruction of the historic areas of [[Woolloomooloo]] and [[The Rocks, New South Wales\|The Rocks]]. This eventually culminated in the 1970s [[Green ban]] movement led by Unions Leader [[Jack Mundey]], to protect the architectural heritage of Sydney.<ref name=retire>{{cite news \|url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=acpQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=f-UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2298,5630604&dq=pat+morton&hl=en \|title=A free enterpriser bows out \|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] \|date=16 June 1972 \|page=4 \|via=Google News Archive\|access-date=2 February 2011}}</ref>

	At the [[1971 New South Wales state election\|13 February 1971 election]], Askin's majority was reduced by four seats to the Labor Party under [[Pat Hills]]. Morton retained his seat, despite a significant reduction in his majority to 62.68%.<ref>{{Cite NSW election \|year=1971 \|district=Mosman \|accessdate=24 July 2020}}</ref> Morton stayed in office for another year when, on 16 June 1972 he retired from politics. At the time of his departure it had been rumoured that he had been threatening to dismiss [[Blacktown City Council]] if they did not stop blocking a $200 million development in [[Mount Druitt, New South Wales\|Mount Druitt]].<ref name=retire/>		At the [[1971 New South Wales state election\|13 February 1971 election]], Askin's majority was reduced by four seats to the Labor Party under [[Pat Hills]]. Morton retained his seat, despite a significant reduction in his majority to 62.68%.<ref>{{Cite NSW election \|year=1971 \|district=Mosman \|accessdate=24 July 2020}}</ref> Morton stayed in office for another year when, on 16 June 1972 he retired from politics. At the time of his departure it had been rumoured that he had been threatening to dismiss [[Blacktown City Council]] if they did not stop blocking a $200 million development in [[Mount Druitt, New South Wales\|Mount Druitt]].<ref name=retire/>