John Hyde (Australian federal politician)
Encyclopedia
John Martin Hyde is a former Australia
n politician
. He was elected as the member for the Division of Moore
in Western Australia
for the Liberal Party
.
Hyde was born and educated in Western Australia before farming wheat and sheep at Dalwallinu
. He lost his right arm as a result of a farming accident. A successful farmer, he was a councillor and deputy-President of the Shire of Dalwallinu
and won the federal seat of Moore
in 1974, holding it until he was defeated in 1983. With three other MPs he formed 'the Dries' which were then a backbench group which advocated economic rectitude and soundness in public finances and rejected short-term populism. He opposed the economic policies of the Whitlam
Government which was defeated in December 1975, and also many of the policies of the succeeding Fraser
Coalition Government which he considered to be in many ways hardly if at all better.
Among his campaigns was to stop the two-airline monopoly and various subsidies to the aircraft, shipping and car industries (former Navy Minister and "Dry" Bert Kelly
, author of "The Modest Member" and "The Modest Farmer" columns in various papers, had described the aircraft and shipping industries in Australia as "Our flying and floating feather beds."). Hyde's central concern was the harm being done to the Australian economy, particularly to the export industries, by tariffs and other trade-barriers, and he approved Whitlam's 25% across-the-board tariff cut, though it was unpopular with much of his own party, or at least sen by them as something to be used against Labor. Indeed, although a competent and professional politician and a hard-working electorate member, his outspoken and independent attitude and readiness to erxpress his strong economic convictions, probably affected his career within the Liberal Party adversely. Despite his undoubted high abilities, his frequent outspoken opposition to Fraser probably prevented him being considered for the Ministry which his intelligence and grasp of affairs would ordinarily have warranted.
Upon his defeat in 1983, with the Clough family
, he developed the Australian Institute for Public Policy in Perth
and was its Executive Director until it merged with the Institute of Public Affairs
, a rather similar "dry" and pro-free-enterprise think tank
, in 1991. His wife Helen also worked there. Political Scientist Professor Patrick O'Brien of the University of Western Australia
described him as: "The only ex-politician I know who continues to do sane and useful work." A feature of the AIPP was a weekly "Soviet" where new ideas could be put forward by all staff and discussed. He joined the Institute of Public Affairs
(IPA) on a part-time basis in 1998.
A disciple of Bert Kelly, he wrote a long series of articles in The Australian
and elsewhere, mainly on economic topics. He has also recently written a book, "Dry," published by IPA and mainly concerned with the fight for public economic rectitude during the years of the Fraser Government, and the elimination of uneconomic tariffs and bounties. Although critical of some of Prime Minister John Howard
's policies. he wrote of him warmly in "Dry" as "a man of more than ordinary decency."
He and his wife Helen are notable growers of roses.
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
Parliament of Australia
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Commonwealth Parliament or Federal Parliament, is the legislative branch of the government of Australia. It is bicameral, largely modelled in the Westminster tradition, but with some influences from the United States Congress...
. He was elected as the member for the Division of Moore
Division of Moore
The Division of Moore 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 Moore, to the Australian House of Representatives...
in 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...
for the Liberal Party
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...
.
Hyde was born and educated in Western Australia before farming wheat and sheep at Dalwallinu
Dalwallinu, Western Australia
Dalwallinu is a town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, located 248 km from Perth via the Great Northern Highway. Agriculture and supporting industries are the town's primary economic activities. The town is also the first town on The Wildflower Way, a world-famous Western...
. He lost his right arm as a result of a farming accident. A successful farmer, he was a councillor and deputy-President of the Shire of Dalwallinu
Shire of Dalwallinu
The Shire of Dalwallinu is a Local Government Area located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, about NNE of Perth, the state capital. The Shire covers an area of and its seat of government is the town of Dalwallinu.-History:...
and won the federal seat of Moore
Division of Moore
The Division of Moore 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 Moore, to the Australian House of Representatives...
in 1974, holding it until he was defeated in 1983. With three other MPs he formed 'the Dries' which were then a backbench group which advocated economic rectitude and soundness in public finances and rejected short-term populism. He opposed the economic policies of the 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...
Government which was defeated in December 1975, and also many of the policies of the succeeding Fraser
Malcolm Fraser
John Malcolm Fraser AC, CH, GCL, PC is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was the 22nd Prime Minister of Australia. He came to power in the 1975 election following the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor government, in which he played a key role...
Coalition Government which he considered to be in many ways hardly if at all better.
Among his campaigns was to stop the two-airline monopoly and various subsidies to the aircraft, shipping and car industries (former Navy Minister and "Dry" Bert Kelly
Bert Kelly
Charles Robert "Bert" Kelly CMG , was an Australian politician and government minister. He was influential in moving Australian political parties away from support for high-tariff policies....
, author of "The Modest Member" and "The Modest Farmer" columns in various papers, had described the aircraft and shipping industries in Australia as "Our flying and floating feather beds."). Hyde's central concern was the harm being done to the Australian economy, particularly to the export industries, by tariffs and other trade-barriers, and he approved Whitlam's 25% across-the-board tariff cut, though it was unpopular with much of his own party, or at least sen by them as something to be used against Labor. Indeed, although a competent and professional politician and a hard-working electorate member, his outspoken and independent attitude and readiness to erxpress his strong economic convictions, probably affected his career within the Liberal Party adversely. Despite his undoubted high abilities, his frequent outspoken opposition to Fraser probably prevented him being considered for the Ministry which his intelligence and grasp of affairs would ordinarily have warranted.
Upon his defeat in 1983, with the Clough family
Clough Engineering Limited
Clough Limited is an international public company based in Perth, Western Australia with projects in engineering, construction, operation and maintenance services, principally in the oil and gas industry. .- History :...
, he developed the Australian Institute for Public Policy in 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....
and was its Executive Director until it merged with the Institute of Public Affairs
Institute of Public Affairs
The Institute of Public Affairs is a public policy think tank based in Melbourne, Australia. It advocates free market economic policies such as privatisation and deregulation of state-owned enterprises, trade liberalisation and deregulated workplaces, climate change skepticism , and the...
, a rather similar "dry" and pro-free-enterprise think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
, in 1991. His wife Helen also worked there. Political Scientist Professor Patrick O'Brien of 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...
described him as: "The only ex-politician I know who continues to do sane and useful work." A feature of the AIPP was a weekly "Soviet" where new ideas could be put forward by all staff and discussed. He joined the Institute of Public Affairs
Institute of Public Affairs
The Institute of Public Affairs is a public policy think tank based in Melbourne, Australia. It advocates free market economic policies such as privatisation and deregulation of state-owned enterprises, trade liberalisation and deregulated workplaces, climate change skepticism , and the...
(IPA) on a part-time basis in 1998.
A disciple of Bert Kelly, he wrote a long series of articles in The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
and elsewhere, mainly on economic topics. He has also recently written a book, "Dry," published by IPA and mainly concerned with the fight for public economic rectitude during the years of the Fraser Government, and the elimination of uneconomic tariffs and bounties. Although critical of some of Prime Minister John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
's policies. he wrote of him warmly in "Dry" as "a man of more than ordinary decency."
He and his wife Helen are notable growers of roses.