It was the eighth of eight consecutive and final occasions when Wran was Premier.

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] Wran successfully challenged Pat Hills to become Leader of Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition from 3 December 1973 and became Premier following a narrow one seat victory at the 1976 election.

Barrie Unsworth was elected by Labor caucus as the Labor Leader, accepted commission as Premier and the Unsworth ministry was formed.