John Bannon
Encyclopedia
John Charles Bannon AO
(born 7 May 1943) is a former Australian politician. He was the 39th Premier of South Australia, leading the Labor Party
to government at the 1982 election
. The Bannon Labor government was re-elected at the 1985 election
and the 1989 election
. As a result of the State Bank collapse
, Bannon resigned as Premier and Labor leader in 1992, and from politics in 1993.
, Victoria
and attended Parkside Primary School
and Unley High School
. He completed degrees in Arts and Law at the University of Adelaide
. While at university, he was co-editor of the student newspaper On Dit
along with Ken Scott and Jacqui Dibden in 1964. In 1968, he was elected president of the Australian Union of Students
. Following the completion of his studies, he was an advisor to various governments, including Gough Whitlam
's ministry.
in the South Australian House of Assembly
at the 1977 election
and promoted to cabinet within a year. Following the resignation of Premier Don Dunstan
and Labor's loss in the 1979 election
, Bannon was elected to the Labor leadership. Despite factional struggles within the party Bannon (aged 39) managed to return Labor to government in the 1982 election
with a 5.9 percent two-party swing, stressing the continuation of prudent budgetary measures that had begun under David Tonkin
and emphasising the economic development of the state.
Bannon's consensual approach to government differed markedly from the Dunstan era. While then there had been a stream of social reform, Bannon's priorities were oriented elsewhere. He sold land reserved for freeways under the MATS
plan, established the Olympic Dam
copper and uranium mine, the submarine project, the defence industry, conversion of part of the Adelaide Railway Station
into the Adelaide Convention Centre
, the Hyatt
and Adelaide Casino
complex, and the staging of the Formula One Grand Prix
. Poker machines (pokies) were introduced in South Australia, a decision later regretted by Bannon.
The economic situation, moribund in the early 80s, rebounded, and Bannon's government was easily re-elected at the 1985 election
, achieving a 2.3 percent two-party swing towards them from the Liberal opposition. However, the economy experienced another downturn in the late 80s/early 90s recession, and Bannon was stung at the 1989 election
with only 48.1 percent of the two-party vote, a swing of 5.1 percent. Both major parties won 22 seats each, with Labor able to form minority government with the support of two Labor independents. Shortly thereafter, electoral legislation was passed that attempted to ensure that a party that won 50 percent of the two-party-preferred vote would gain office, through a compulsory strategic redrawing of electoral boundaries before each election, making South Australia the only state to do so.
's board and managing director Tim Marcus Clark were exposed. As the bank's owner, the government was the guarantor of $3 billion worth of loans. Bannon remained as Premier during three inquiries, the last two of which cleared him of any deliberate wrongdoing. Bannon stepped down from the offices of Premier and Treasurer and announced that he would not contest his seat of Ross Smith
in the coming election. Lynn Arnold
replaced Bannon, but at the 1993 election, Labor won only 39 percent of the two-party vote, a swing of 9.1 percent, and were left with only 10 seats in a house of 47.
. He later studied and obtained a PhD
in Australian political history at Flinders University where he now works as an Adjutant Professor. He was Master of St Mark's College
from 2000 to 2007. On Australia Day 2007, he was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia.
Bannon has authored one book, Supreme Federalist: The political life of Sir John Downer
, which was released in 2009.
. Bannon's first wife was Supreme Court Justice Robyn Layton, with whom he had a daughter, Victoria. His second wife Angela is the mother of musician and television personality Dylan Lewis
.
Bannon has been a fitness enthusiast and regular marathon runner throughout his life, but was diagnosed with cancer in 2007, for which he has undergone surgery and chemotherapy.
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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 7 May 1943) is a former Australian politician. He was the 39th Premier of South Australia, leading the 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...
to government at the 1982 election
South Australian state election, 1982
State elections were held in Australia on November 6, 1982. All 47 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Premier of South Australia David Tonkin was defeated by the Australian Labor Party led by Leader of the Opposition...
. The Bannon Labor government was re-elected at the 1985 election
South Australian state election, 1985
State elections were held in Australia on December 7, 1985. All 47 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly were up for election. The incumbent Australian Labor Party led by Premier of South Australia John Bannon defeated the Liberal Party of Australia led by Leader of the Opposition John...
and the 1989 election
South Australian state election, 1989
State elections were held in Australia on November 25, 1989. All 47 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly were up for election. The incumbent Australian Labor Party led by Premier of South Australia John Bannon defeated the Liberal Party of Australia led by Leader of the Opposition John...
. As a result of the State Bank collapse
State Bank of South Australia
The State Bank of South Australia was a bank owned by the Government of South Australia. Its collapse in 1991 was a major political event in South Australia...
, Bannon resigned as Premier and Labor leader in 1992, and from politics in 1993.
Early life
Bannon was born in BendigoBendigo, Victoria
Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and attended Parkside Primary School
Parkside Primary School
Parkside Primary School is a coeducational R-7 school located in the Adelaide inner suburb of Parkside. The school is located at 12 Robsart Street and occupies the land between Young Street, Robsart Street and Castle Street...
and Unley High School
Unley High School
Unley High School, located in Netherby, is one of the largest public high schools in South Australia. In recent years the number of students enrolled typically ranges from 1,100 to 1,300, but in the early 1960s the school had a peak enrolment of 2,000 students.The school currently has 30...
. He completed degrees in Arts and Law at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
. While at university, he was co-editor of the student newspaper On Dit
On Dit
On Dit is a student newspaper funded by the Adelaide University Union and advertising revenue which is published fortnightly during semester time. Founded in 1932, it is the third oldest student newspaper in Australia along with Semper Floreat On Dit is a student newspaper funded by the Adelaide...
along with Ken Scott and Jacqui Dibden in 1964. In 1968, he was elected president of the Australian Union of Students
Australian Union of Students
The Australian Union of Students was formed in December 1970 as the successor to the National Union of Australian University Students as a representative body and lobby group for Australian University and College of Advanced Education students. It collapsed in 1984 and was succeeded by the...
. Following the completion of his studies, he was an advisor to various governments, including Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
's ministry.
Political career
He was elected to Ross SmithElectoral district of Ross Smith
The electoral district of Ross Smith was an electorate for the South Australian Legislative Assembly. It was replaced by the electoral district of Enfield for the 2002 election. Sir Ross Macpherson Smith was a member of the Australian Light Horse at Gallipoli and Sinai during World War I. He then...
in the South Australian House of Assembly
South Australian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. The other is the Legislative Council. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Adelaide.- Overview :...
at the 1977 election
South Australian state election, 1977
State elections were held in South Australia on 17 September 1977. All 47 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly were up for election...
and promoted to cabinet within a year. Following the resignation of Premier Don Dunstan
Don Dunstan
Donald Allan "Don" Dunstan, AC, QC was a South Australian politician. He entered politics as the Member for Norwood in 1953, became state Labor leader in 1967, and was Premier of South Australia between June 1967 and April 1968, and again between June 1970 and February 1979.The son of a business...
and Labor's loss in the 1979 election
South Australian state election, 1979
State elections were held in Australia on 15 September 1979. All 47 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly were up for election. The incumbent Australian Labor Party led by Premier of South Australia Des Corcoran was defeated by the Liberal Party of Australia led by Leader of the...
, Bannon was elected to the Labor leadership. Despite factional struggles within the party Bannon (aged 39) managed to return Labor to government in the 1982 election
South Australian state election, 1982
State elections were held in Australia on November 6, 1982. All 47 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Premier of South Australia David Tonkin was defeated by the Australian Labor Party led by Leader of the Opposition...
with a 5.9 percent two-party swing, stressing the continuation of prudent budgetary measures that had begun under David Tonkin
David Tonkin
Dr David Oliver Tonkin AO was the 38th Premier of South Australia, serving from 18 September 1979 to 10 November 1982. He was elected to the House of Assembly seat of Bragg at the 1970 election, serving until 1983. He became the leader of the South Australian division of the Liberal Party of...
and emphasising the economic development of the state.
Metropolitan Adelaide Transport Study
The Metropolitan Adelaide Transport Study, or "MATS Plan" as it became known, was a comprehensive transport plan released in 1968 examining the then-current and future needs of transport for the city of Adelaide....
plan, established the Olympic Dam
Olympic Dam, South Australia
Olympic Dam is a mining centre in South Australia located some 550 km NNW of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia. It is the site of an extremely large iron oxide copper gold deposit producing copper, uranium, gold and silver. The site hosts an underground mine as well as an...
copper and uranium mine, the submarine project, the defence industry, conversion of part of the Adelaide Railway Station
Adelaide Railway Station
Adelaide Railway Station is the central terminus of the Adelaide Metro railway system. It is at on the north side of North Terrace, west of Parliament House. The Adelaide Casino is in part of the building that is no longer required for the station....
into the Adelaide Convention Centre
Adelaide Convention Centre
The Adelaide Convention Centre is a large convention centre on North Terrace, Adelaide, Australia. It was the first purpose-built convention centre to be built in Australia....
, the Hyatt
Hyatt
Hyatt Hotels Corporation , is an international operator of hotels.Hyatt Center is the headquarters for Hyatt corporation...
and Adelaide Casino
SKYCITY Adelaide
Adelaide Casino is a large casino and recreational venue on the north edge of the Adelaide city centre. Located in the heritage-listed Adelaide Railway Station building on North Terrace, Adelaide, the Casino has 90 gaming tables and 950 gaming machines, as well as several bars, function areas and...
complex, and the staging of the Formula One Grand Prix
Australian Grand Prix
The Australian Grand Prix is a motor race held annually and is held to be the pinnacle of motor racing in Australia. The Grand Prix is the oldest surviving motor racing competition held in Australia having been held 76 times since it was first run at Phillip Island in 1928. Since 1985 the race has...
. Poker machines (pokies) were introduced in South Australia, a decision later regretted by Bannon.
The economic situation, moribund in the early 80s, rebounded, and Bannon's government was easily re-elected at the 1985 election
South Australian state election, 1985
State elections were held in Australia on December 7, 1985. All 47 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly were up for election. The incumbent Australian Labor Party led by Premier of South Australia John Bannon defeated the Liberal Party of Australia led by Leader of the Opposition John...
, achieving a 2.3 percent two-party swing towards them from the Liberal opposition. However, the economy experienced another downturn in the late 80s/early 90s recession, and Bannon was stung at the 1989 election
South Australian state election, 1989
State elections were held in Australia on November 25, 1989. All 47 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly were up for election. The incumbent Australian Labor Party led by Premier of South Australia John Bannon defeated the Liberal Party of Australia led by Leader of the Opposition John...
with only 48.1 percent of the two-party vote, a swing of 5.1 percent. Both major parties won 22 seats each, with Labor able to form minority government with the support of two Labor independents. Shortly thereafter, electoral legislation was passed that attempted to ensure that a party that won 50 percent of the two-party-preferred vote would gain office, through a compulsory strategic redrawing of electoral boundaries before each election, making South Australia the only state to do so.
State Bank and resignation
Bad lending decisions made by the State Bank of South AustraliaState Bank of South Australia
The State Bank of South Australia was a bank owned by the Government of South Australia. Its collapse in 1991 was a major political event in South Australia...
's board and managing director Tim Marcus Clark were exposed. As the bank's owner, the government was the guarantor of $3 billion worth of loans. Bannon remained as Premier during three inquiries, the last two of which cleared him of any deliberate wrongdoing. Bannon stepped down from the offices of Premier and Treasurer and announced that he would not contest his seat of Ross Smith
Electoral district of Ross Smith
The electoral district of Ross Smith was an electorate for the South Australian Legislative Assembly. It was replaced by the electoral district of Enfield for the 2002 election. Sir Ross Macpherson Smith was a member of the Australian Light Horse at Gallipoli and Sinai during World War I. He then...
in the coming election. Lynn Arnold
Lynn Arnold
Lynn Maurice Ferguson Arnold, AO , former Australian politician, was the Labor Premier of South Australia between 4 September 1992 and 14 December 1993....
replaced Bannon, but at the 1993 election, Labor won only 39 percent of the two-party vote, a swing of 9.1 percent, and were left with only 10 seats in a house of 47.
Post politics
After retiring from politics, the ABC offered a directorial position to Bannon in 1994 which he accepted. With an interest in South Australian history, he researches at Flinders UniversityFlinders University
Flinders University, , is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1966, it was named in honour of navigator Matthew Flinders, who explored and surveyed the South Australian coastline in the early 19th century.The university has established a reputation as a leading research...
. He later studied and obtained a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in Australian political history at Flinders University where he now works as an Adjutant Professor. He was Master of St Mark's College
St. Mark's College (University of Adelaide)
St Mark's College is a co-residential college in North Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1925, it is affiliated with the Anglican Church of Australia, yet accepts individuals from all faiths...
from 2000 to 2007. On Australia Day 2007, he was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia.
Bannon has authored one book, Supreme Federalist: The political life of Sir John Downer
John Downer
Sir John William Downer, KCMG was the Premier of South Australia from 16 June 1885 until 11 June 1887 and again from 1892 to 1893. He was the first of three Australian politicians from the Downer family dynasty.-Early life:...
, which was released in 2009.
Personal life
Bannon's family suffered tragedy in 1959 when his brother was lost bushwalking in Wilpena PoundWilpena Pound
Wilpena Pound is a natural amphitheatre of mountains located north of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia in the heart of the Flinders Ranges National Park. The Pound is the most northern point with access via a sealed road in this part of the Flinders Ranges...
. Bannon's first wife was Supreme Court Justice Robyn Layton, with whom he had a daughter, Victoria. His second wife Angela is the mother of musician and television personality Dylan Lewis
Dylan Lewis
Dylan Lewis is an Australian television and radio personality.-Personal life:He was educated at Caulfield Grammar School, graduating in 1990, and studied for a Bachelor of Education in Drama and Music degree at the University of Melbourne. John Bannon, former South Australian premier is Dylan's...
.
Bannon has been a fitness enthusiast and regular marathon runner throughout his life, but was diagnosed with cancer in 2007, for which he has undergone surgery and chemotherapy.
External references
- Parkin, Andrew and Patience, Allan (1992). The Bannon Decade: The Politics of Restraint in South Australia. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86373-366-3.
- When the state's assets fell into a black hole. The Advertiser (Adelaide). 11-04-2006
- Past Elections, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Accessed 17 January 2007
- Past Premier: John Bannon. SA Parliament. Accessed 17 January 2007
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