Brian Greig
Encyclopedia
Brian Andrew Greig OAM
(born 22 February 1966), Australia
n politician, was an Australian Democrats
member of the Australian Senate
from 1999 to 2005, representing the state of Western Australia
.
Greig was born in Fremantle
, but his family moved to the small village of Lancelin
at the age of four. He went to primary school there, but received his secondary education as a boarder at Hale School
, Perth
. He studied arts at Murdoch University
, where he became involved in student politics.
While in university, Greig campaigned on the issue of student fees and, in 1986, he helped re-establish the National Union of Students
. He began to get involved in gay rights activism during the 1990s, and helped establish an Australian Council for Lesbian and Gay Rights, which is now defunct.
During the 1990s, Greig worked for several Australian Labor Party
politicians, including Senator Peter Cook
, but became disillusioned with Labor and joined the Democrats. Between 1995 and 1999, he was an elected local-government councillor in the West Australian town of Vincent.
At the October 1998 federal election, Greig was elected to the Senate. He declared his homosexuality in his maiden parliamentary speech, being the first Federal parliamentarian to do so. Though he campaigned strongly on issues of social justice, he remained little known until 2002. Former leader Meg Lees
had been attempting to oust her successor and, with the assistance of three other senators - deputy leader Aden Ridgeway
(NSW), Andrew Murray
(WA) and John Cherry (Qld), forced the resignation of leader Natasha Stott Despoja
. Ridgeway was expected to fill the vacancy but Greig made a late challenge and won a surprise victory. He led the party for six weeks until he was beaten in the resulting leadership election by Andrew Bartlett
in October, 2002.
In the Senate, Greig was responsible for introducing three pieces of legislation - a bill to outlaw genocide
in Australia, a bill to eliminate discrimination against gay
, lesbian
, bisexual
, transgender
and intersex
people and a bill to promote government use of open source
software above all others. However, all three were unsuccessful, as they were blocked by the Liberal
-National
government.
Greig stood for re-election at the 2004 election, but lost his seat to Rachel Siewert
of the Australian Greens
. His term expired 30 June 2005.
Since retiring from politics, Greig has worked in real estate and has contributed to forums such as Online Opinion and Crikey.com.au.
On 13 June 2011, Greig was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia
for service to the community as a social justice advocate for the gay and lesbian community.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 22 February 1966), Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician, was an Australian Democrats
Australian Democrats
The Australian Democrats is an Australian political party espousing a socially liberal ideology. It was formed in 1977, by a merger of the Australia Party and the New LM, after principals of those minor parties secured the commitment of former Liberal minister Don Chipp, as a high profile leader...
member of the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
from 1999 to 2005, representing the state of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
Greig was born in Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
, but his family moved to the small village of Lancelin
Lancelin, Western Australia
Lancelin is a small fishing and tourist town 110 km north of Perth, Western Australia. It is located in the Shire of Gingin at the end of Wanneroo Road , and a few kilometres from the start of the Indian Ocean Drive....
at the age of four. He went to primary school there, but received his secondary education as a boarder at Hale School
Hale School
Hale School is a selective, independent, Anglican day and boarding school for boys, located in Wembley Downs, a coastal suburb of Perth, Western Australia....
, Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. He studied arts at Murdoch University
Murdoch University
Murdoch University is a public university based in Perth, Australia. It began operations as the state's second university in 1973, and accepted its first students in 1975...
, where he became involved in student politics.
While in university, Greig campaigned on the issue of student fees and, in 1986, he helped re-establish the National Union of Students
National Union of Students of Australia
The National Union of Students is the peak representative body for Australian university students. Most student unions in Australian campuses are affiliated to NUS...
. He began to get involved in gay rights activism during the 1990s, and helped establish an Australian Council for Lesbian and Gay Rights, which is now defunct.
During the 1990s, Greig worked for several Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
politicians, including Senator Peter Cook
Peter Cook (Australian politician)
Peter Francis Salmon Cook was an Australian politician. He served as a Labor member of the Senate from 1983 to 2005, representing the state of Western Australia....
, but became disillusioned with Labor and joined the Democrats. Between 1995 and 1999, he was an elected local-government councillor in the West Australian town of Vincent.
At the October 1998 federal election, Greig was elected to the Senate. He declared his homosexuality in his maiden parliamentary speech, being the first Federal parliamentarian to do so. Though he campaigned strongly on issues of social justice, he remained little known until 2002. Former leader Meg Lees
Meg Lees
Meg Heather Lees was a member of the Australian Senate from 1990 to 2005, representing the state of South Australia. She represented the Australian Democrats from 1990 to 2002, and was an independent senator between 2002 and 2005, adopting the party designation Australian Progressive Alliance from...
had been attempting to oust her successor and, with the assistance of three other senators - deputy leader Aden Ridgeway
Aden Ridgeway
Aden Derek Ridgeway , Australian politician, was a member of the Australian Senate for New South Wales, from 1999 to 2005, representing the Australian Democrats. During his term he was the only Aboriginal member of the Australian Parliament.-Early history:Ridgeway was born in Macksville, New South...
(NSW), Andrew Murray
Andrew Murray (politician)
Andrew James Marshall Murray is an Australian politician. He was an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate from 1996 to 2008, representing Western Australia.Murray was born in Hove, in the United Kingdom...
(WA) and John Cherry (Qld), forced the resignation of leader Natasha Stott Despoja
Natasha Stott Despoja
Natasha Jessica Stott Despoja AM is an Australian former politician and former leader of the Australian Democrats. She was a Democrats senator for South Australia from 1995 to 2008...
. Ridgeway was expected to fill the vacancy but Greig made a late challenge and won a surprise victory. He led the party for six weeks until he was beaten in the resulting leadership election by Andrew Bartlett
Andrew Bartlett
Andrew John Julian Bartlett is an Australian politician. He was formerly an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate from 1997 to 2008, representing the state of Queensland. He was the leader of the Democrats from 2002 to 2004, and deputy leader from 2004 to 2008.-Early life and...
in October, 2002.
In the Senate, Greig was responsible for introducing three pieces of legislation - a bill to outlaw genocide
Genocide
Genocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
in Australia, a bill to eliminate discrimination against gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
, lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, bisexual
Bisexuality
Bisexuality is sexual behavior or an orientation involving physical or romantic attraction to both males and females, especially with regard to men and women. It is one of the three main classifications of sexual orientation, along with a heterosexual and a homosexual orientation, all a part of the...
, transgender
Transgender
Transgender is a general term applied to a variety of individuals, behaviors, and groups involving tendencies to vary from culturally conventional gender roles....
and intersex
Intersex
Intersex, in humans and other animals, is the presence of intermediate or atypical combinations of physical features that usually distinguish female from male...
people and a bill to promote government use of open source
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
software above all others. However, all three were unsuccessful, as they were blocked by the Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
-National
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
government.
Greig stood for re-election at the 2004 election, but lost his seat to Rachel Siewert
Rachel Siewert
Rachel Mary Siewert is an Australian Greens politician who was elected to represent Western Australia in the Australian Senate at the 2004 federal election....
of the Australian Greens
Australian Greens
The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which...
. His term expired 30 June 2005.
Since retiring from politics, Greig has worked in real estate and has contributed to forums such as Online Opinion and Crikey.com.au.
On 13 June 2011, Greig was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
for service to the community as a social justice advocate for the gay and lesbian community.