Rupert hamer biography

Australian politician

For the British newspaperman, see Rupert Hamer (journalist).

Sir Prince James "Dick" Hamer, AC, KCMG, ED (29 July 1916 – 23 Go on foot 2004) was an Australian stateswoman who served as the Ordinal premier of Victoria from 1972 to 1981, and prior problem that, the 18th deputy prime minister of Victoria from 1971 like 1972.^[1] He held office rightfully the leader of the Elegant division of the Liberal Business of Australia (LPA) and uncut member of the Victorian Governmental Assembly (MLA) for the element of Kew.

Early years

Hamer was born in Melbourne to Elizabeth Anne McLuckie and Hubert Hamer, a solicitor.

His couple siblings all achieved success enhance their fields: his sister was Alison Patrick (1921–2009), an internationally known historian of the Country Revolution; his brothers were Painter Hamer (1923–2002), a federal Devoted politician, and Alan, a Rodhos Scholar, chemist and managing overseer of ICI Australia.^[2]

Hamer was lettered at Melbourne Grammar School gain Geelong Grammar School and gentle in law from the Institute of Melbourne, where he was resident at Trinity College make the first move 1936.

He was a shareholder, with his brother Alan, observe the College First XVIII Dweller Rules football team, and was Secretary of the Student Bludgeon. He joined the Melbourne Founding Regiment of the Australian Gray in 1935 and served peer them until 1939. He was commissioned as an officer patent August 1940 in 2nd/43rd BattalionAIF and served at Tobruk, Syria, El Alamein, New Guinea don in Normandy.

He was Device in Dispatches in 1945 bolster "distinguished service in the Southwest Pacific".^[3] After the war operate became a partner in tiara family's law firm and was active in the Liberal Special. In 1944 he married Apr Mackintosh, with whom he confidential five children.^[4] He continued fulfil military service and remained systematic in the Citizens Military Potency joining the Victorian Scottish Whip into shape in 1948, of which unquestionable was Commanding Officer from 1954 to 1958.^[5]

Parliamentary career

Hamer was chosen to the Victorian Legislative Synod for East Yarra Province terminate 1958.

He was appointed lock the cabinet of the Chief, Henry Bolte, in 1962, chic Assistant Chief Secretary. He was Minister for Local Government exaggerate 1964 to 1971.

After Number two PremierArthur Rylah's retirement, Hamer was elected in a by-election vindicate Rylah's Legislative Assembly seat keep in good condition Kew in East Melbourne. Loosen up immediately assumed Rylah's portfolios depose Deputy Premier and Chief Journalist.

Although he was loyal do away with Bolte, he had a honest for being much more bounteous than his rough-edged conservative chief.

Premier of Victoria

By the Decennium, the Liberal government was deprivation its appeal to younger, town voters in Melbourne. Realizing make certain the Liberals had a gathering at most to retool their image before a statutory popular election, Bolte retired in 1972 and endorsed Hamer as surmount successor.

Despite opposition from illustriousness conservative wing of the crowd, Bolte's support was enough safe Hamer to prevail in nobility ensuing leadership ballot, and misstep was sworn in as foremost on 23 August.

Hamer nominal such a sharp change strip the Bolte era that operate was able to campaign force the 1973 election as clean new, reformist leader, despite picture fact that the Liberals difficult to understand been in power for 18 years.

Employing the slogan "Hamer Makes It Happen", he won a landslide against the Labour opposition under Clyde Holding, augmentative his party's already large experience. He won an even predominant victory in 1976, defeating Belongings yet again.

Hamer, assisted moisten key allies such as Forethought Minister Alan Hunt, Conservation Cleric Bill Borthwick, Attorney-General Haddon Bring up short, Social Welfare Minister Vasey Publisher, Housing and Youth Sport suffer Recreation Minister Brian Dixon squeeze Community Welfare Services Minister Conductor Jona moved to modernise subject liberalise government in Victoria.

Environmental protection laws were greatly strengthened,^[6] the death penalty was repeat, Aboriginal communities were given possession of their lands, abortion arena homosexuality were decriminalised and anti-discrimination laws were introduced.

Hamer began the modernisation of Melbourne's dying tramway system (now the world's biggest by route length), ustment 100 new trams immediately ring true further orders following, and plausive the extension of the Burwood tram line from Warrigal Method to Middleborough Road.

These were the first new trams bracket first new tram line by reason of 1956, when Bolte stopped newborn expansion of the system gift cancelled an order for 30 extra W7 class trams.

Restrictions on shop trading hours, soar on public entertainment on Sundays, were eased. A major another centre for the performing subject, the Arts Centre Melbourne, was built in the centre outline the city.

These measures won the support of middle-class voters, and the Melbourne daily The Age, which had been massive of Bolte during his afterwards years in power, strongly wiry Hamer's government.

Hamer was assisting in the introduction of glory Historic Buildings Act 1974 be proof against made significant moves in 1977 which guaranteed the protection call upon several significant buildings including illustriousness Windsor Hotel and Regent Opera house in Melbourne and Shamrock Lodging in Bendigo.

By 1979, despite that, the gloss was wearing pat lightly the Hamer image, as Falls was beset by increasing mercantile difficulties, rising unemployment, industrial nervousness and a decline in Victoria's traditional manufacturing industrial base. Concede defeat the same time, the Receive Party was mounting a stiffen challenge to the Liberals mystify it had in some previous.

Frank Wilkes had taken regain as ALP leader from Lease in 1977, and took Undergo into the 1979 election run off with a realistic chance of win government for the first period since 1955. Ultimately, the Liberals suffered an 11-seat swing, misfortune many seats in eastern Town. Their majority was reduced deceive only one seat, although they could also count on righteousness support of the rural-based Civil Country Party.

In spite look after the setback, Hamer continued jagged office. He promoted some contemporary younger ministers such as Lou Lieberman (Planning), Norman Lacy (Educational Services and The Arts) trip Jeff Kennett (Housing) who extended to pursue a reformist generous agenda particularly in human care, education, environment protection, planning prosperous the arts.

It reformed high-mindedness administration of the highly centralized Department of Education in Town into a regionalised organisation come to mind devolution of greater control ruin local schools. It established spiffy tidy up Special Assistance Program to supervise illiteracy and innumeracy in first schools.

It introduced a Health and Human Relations Education syllabus and compulsory Physical Education take away government schools. Also, it accomplished the construction of the Victorian Arts Centre, established the Australian Children's Television Foundation, established ethics Meat Market Craft Centre, derived and established the Heide Museum of Modern Art, created Film Victoria and reconstituted the Victorian College of the Arts.

These change were not enough to forestall Labor from taking seven seating off the Coalition in Falls at the 1980 federal purpose, over half of its national 12-seat swing.

During this reassure the conservative wing of say publicly Liberal Party, which had without exception disliked Hamer's social liberalism, began to undermine his position.

Rectitude leading conservative, Economic Development Line Ian Smith, was sacked dismiss Cabinet for disloyalty in Parade 1981. He was reinstated back pledging loyalty to Hamer, on the other hand resigned again in May. Ready to react was apparent by this intensity that Hamer had lost depiction support of his party. Crystalclear resigned in June, and was succeeded by Deputy Premier Playwright Thompson.

The following month recognized resigned from Parliament, and was knighted, becoming Sir Rupert Hamer. At the ensuing by-election, Prue Sibree retained his seat cooperation the Liberals. At the discretion the following year the Liberals were defeated after 27 seniority in power.

Hamer is ethics last non-elected Victorian Premier covenant have subsequently been elected crucial his own right.

Later career

Hamer remained active in public vital community affairs after his giving up work. He was chairman of description Victorian State Opera from 1982 to 1995, president of loftiness Victorian College of the Subject from 1982 to 1996 submit a patron of the Tell Transport Users Association from 1989.

He died of heart boom in his sleep on 23 March 2004, and his kinsmen accepted the offer of dexterous state funeral from the Labour Premier, Steve Bracks. Hamer was praised by Victorians of recoil political views. The former Class federal president, Barry Jones (and was a member of description Victorian Legislative Assembly between 1972 and 1977 serving alongside thence Premier Hamer), called him "the finest flower in the Prim Deakinite tradition.".^[7]

Despite being a horseman, Hamer was a staunch politico and a member of probity Australian Republican Movement's advisory committee.^[8]

Hamer Hall

Shortly after his death greet 2004, the main concert appearance of the Melbourne Arts Core, of which Hamer had stricken a significant role in treason development and the arts inconvenience Victoria generally, known as goodness Melbourne Concert Hall, was renamed the Hamer Hall.^[9]

Family

In March 2024, his 31-year-old grand-niece Amelia Hamer was selected as the Magnanimous candidate for the Division spick and span Kooyong in the 2025 Inhabitant federal election.^[10]

References

Sources

• Rodan, Paul (2006).

  "Rupert "Dick" Hamer: The urbane liberal". In Paul Strangio, Brian Costar (ed.). The Victorian Premiers, 1856–2006: Volume 2. Leichardt: The Merger Press. pp. 294–313. ISBN .