Wran had been elected to the Legislative Council of New South Wales by a joint sitting of the New South Wales Parliament on 12 March 1970.

[2] He resigned from the council on 19 October 1973 to switch to the Legislative Assembly, successfully contesting the election for Bass Hill, which he would hold until his retirement in 1986.

[3] Labor, led by Pat Hills, was defeated at the 1973 election and Wran successfully challenged Hills to become Leader of Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition from 3 December 1973.

[4] The composition of the ministry was announced by Premier Wran and sworn in on 14 May 1976.

There were minor rearrangements of the ministry in August 1976[a][b] and February 1977.