 Ferguson was the member for Merrylands from March 1959 to 1962 and 1968 to 5 March 1984.From 1962 to 1968, he was member for Fairfield.A member of the Labor Party's left wing, he was best known as Deputy Premier and Minister for Public Works and Minister for Ports, from May 1976 until February 1984, in the cabinet headed by Neville Wran.