Bruxner held positions as a Minister of the Crown for Housing, Cooperative Societies, Decentralisation and Development and Tourism in the cabinets of Sir Robert Askin and Tom Lewis.
James Caird Bruxner, better known as 'Tim' (which was an old family nickname),[1] was born 18 May 1923 in Tenterfield, New South Wales, the youngest son of NSW Country Party leader Michael Frederick Bruxner, who had served as Deputy Premier of New South Wales between 1932 and 1941, and Winifred Hay "Midge" Caird.
[3] Leaving the Army on 10 July 1944, Bruxner joined the Royal Australian Air Force, 7th Operational Training Unit, as a Pilot Officer.
Upon being discharged on 15 October 1945, Bruxner became a grazier as the owner of 'Old Auburnvale' station near Inverell, where he was a breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle.
[7] On 17 December 1975, in addition to his responsibilities for Decentralisation and Development, the new Premier, Tom Lewis, appointed him as the Minister for Tourism, which had been vacated by Cutler.
[2] A month later, on 22 January 1976, Lewis was deposed as Premier and Liberal Leader by several backbenchers and was succeeded by Education Minister Sir Eric Willis.
[1] Inheriting a department that was in "dire financial straits", Bruxner found it difficult to make an impression before the Willis Government was defeated at the election on 14 May 1976.
Eventually he decided to retire as an MP and as Deputy Leader to allow younger members of the party to gain experience.