Daryl Williams
Encyclopedia
Daryl Robert Williams AM QC
(born 21 August 1942), Australian
politician, was a Liberal
member of the Australian House of Representatives
from March 1993 to October 2004, representing the Division of Tangney
, Western Australia.
, and was educated at the University of Western Australia
and Wadham College, Oxford
, where he was a Rhodes Scholar in 1965.
In 1968, Williams started work as a barrister. In 1971, he became counsel for the Asian Development Bank
. However, four years later, he returned to practicing law on his own. He was appointed Queen's Counsel
in 1982, and became a Member of the Order of Australia
in 1989. Williams continued to practice law until his election to Parliament in 1993.
Williams was briefly a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry in 1994, serving as Shadow Attorney-General and Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader of the Opposition on Constitutional Reform.
In 1996, when the Liberals won office, he was appointed to the Cabinet as Attorney-General
. He served in this capacity until 2003. Williams was also Minister for Justice
for a period in 1996–97. He had also attended the 1998 Constitutional Convention
as a parliamentary delegate.
After the Liberal ministerial shakeup of 2003, Williams was appointed Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. In April 2004, he announced he would not be contesting the 2004 election. He stood down from the ministry in July 2004.
Williams was seriously considered as a candidate to replace Justice Mary Gaudron as a judge of the High Court of Australia
in 2003, and was the nominee of the Western Australian Law Society for the post. Dyson Heydon
was eventually appointed to the post.
Williams was also considered a possible candidate for appointment to the High Court prior to the retirement of Justice Michael McHugh
in 2005, following his retirement from politics. Susan Crennan
was eventually appointed as McHugh's replacement.
In addition, Williams has been mooted as a contender for appointment as Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia
and as a Justice of the Federal Court of Australia
, the Supreme Court of Western Australia
., or the Court of Appeal of Western Australia.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(born 21 August 1942), Australian
politician, was a 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...
member of the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
from March 1993 to October 2004, representing the Division of Tangney
Division of Tangney
The Division of Tangney is an Australian electoral division in the state of Western Australia. Eligible voters within the Division elect a single representative, known as the member for Tangney, to the Australian House of Representatives...
, Western Australia.
Biography
He was born in East Fremantle, Western AustraliaEast Fremantle, Western Australia
The Town of East Fremantle is a Local Government Area in the southern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, located immediately northeast of the port city of Fremantle and about southwest of Perth's central business district...
, and was educated at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
and Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
, where he was a Rhodes Scholar in 1965.
In 1968, Williams started work as a barrister. In 1971, he became counsel for the Asian Development Bank
Asian Development Bank
The Asian Development Bank is a regional development bank established on 22 August 1966 to facilitate economic development of countries in Asia...
. However, four years later, he returned to practicing law on his own. He was appointed Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1982, and became a Member 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"...
in 1989. Williams continued to practice law until his election to Parliament in 1993.
Williams was briefly a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry in 1994, serving as Shadow Attorney-General and Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader of the Opposition on Constitutional Reform.
In 1996, when the Liberals won office, he was appointed to the Cabinet as Attorney-General
Attorney-General of Australia
The Attorney-General of Australia is the first law officer of the Crown, chief law officer of the Commonwealth of Australia and a minister of the Crown. The Attorney-General is usually a member of the Federal Cabinet, but there is no constitutional requirement that this be the case since the...
. He served in this capacity until 2003. Williams was also Minister for Justice
Minister for Justice (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Justice is the Hon Brendan O'Connor MP. The position supports the Attorney-General. Michael Tate was appointed the first minister with this title on 18 September 1987 and there have ministers with responsibilities for justice ever since except between 3 December 2007...
for a period in 1996–97. He had also attended the 1998 Constitutional Convention
Constitutional Convention (Australia)
In Australian history, the term Constitutional Convention refers to four distinct gatherings.-1891 convention:The 1891 Constitutional Convention was held in Sydney in March 1891 to consider a draft Constitution for the proposed federation of the British colonies in Australia and New Zealand. There...
as a parliamentary delegate.
After the Liberal ministerial shakeup of 2003, Williams was appointed Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. In April 2004, he announced he would not be contesting the 2004 election. He stood down from the ministry in July 2004.
Williams was seriously considered as a candidate to replace Justice Mary Gaudron as a judge of the High Court of Australia
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
in 2003, and was the nominee of the Western Australian Law Society for the post. Dyson Heydon
Dyson Heydon
John Dyson Heydon AC QC is a Justice of the High Court of Australia; the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.-Education:...
was eventually appointed to the post.
Williams was also considered a possible candidate for appointment to the High Court prior to the retirement of Justice Michael McHugh
Michael McHugh
Michael Hudson McHugh, AC, QC is a former justice of the High Court of Australia; the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.-Judicial Activity:...
in 2005, following his retirement from politics. Susan Crennan
Susan Crennan
Susan Maree Crennan AC , is an Australian judge, a Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.-Biography:...
was eventually appointed as McHugh's replacement.
In addition, Williams has been mooted as a contender for appointment as Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia
Family Court of Australia
The Family Court of Australia is a superior Australian federal court of record which deals with family law matters. Together with the Federal Magistrates Court, it covers family law matters in all states and territories of Australia except Western Australia...
and as a Justice of the Federal Court of Australia
Federal Court of Australia
The Federal Court of Australia is an Australian superior court of record which has jurisdiction to deal with most civil disputes governed by federal law , along with some summary criminal matters. Cases are heard at first instance by single Judges...
, the Supreme Court of Western Australia
Supreme Court of Western Australia
The Supreme Court of Western Australia is the highest state court in the Australian State of Western Australia. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the state in civil matters , and hears the most serious criminal matters.The Supreme Court consists of a General Division The Supreme Court of Western...
., or the Court of Appeal of Western Australia.