Les Bury
Encyclopedia
Leslie Harry Ernest Bury CMG
(25 February 1913 – 7 September 1986) was an Australian politician.
Bury was born in London and was educated at Queens' College, Cambridge
. During World War II, he served in the Second Australian Imperial Force
from 1943 to 1945, with heavy artillery fixed defences and with the 12th Australian Radar Detachment. He worked in the Department of the Treasury
in the 1940s and later worked as Executive Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
and the Australian representative on the International Monetary Fund
from 1951 to 1956.
Bury was elected as the Liberal Party of Australia
Member for Wentworth
in 1956 at a by-election following the resignation of Eric Harrison
to become High Commissioner
to the United Kingdom. According to Peter King
, he "... would attend football matches with [Labor leader] Arthur Calwell
in Melbourne and ... [shadow Treasurer] Frank Crean
stayed at the Bury home in Sydney". Bury was appointed Minister for Air
and Minister assisting the Treasurer in Robert Menzies
' ninth ministry
in December 1961. On 27 July 1962 he was sacked for speaking in favour of the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community
, saying that "European integration, of which the Common Market is an essential expression, is a keystone of the grand design for Western survival". This strongly conflicted with Deputy Prime Minister John McEwen
's concerns over its impact on Australian exports to the United Kingdom. In December 1963
, he became Minister for Housing
, when he introduced the First Home Owners Grant, which continues to be a feature of the Australian political landscape.
In January 1966, Bury became Minister for Labour and National Service
in Harold Holt
's first ministry
, during the Vietnam War
, when he was responsible for implementing conscription
. During John Gorton
's first ministry
in 1968 and 1969 when Phillip Lynch
was Minister for the Army, conscription was regularly attacked with the slogan, "Lynch Bury and bury Lynch". In November 1969, Bury became Treasurer
in the second Gorton Ministry
. When William McMahon
became Prime Minister in March 1971
, he initially retained Bury as Treasurer, but 12 days later moved him to the Foreign Affairs
portfolio, and sacked him in August 1971. Bury retired from parliament in 1974
due to ill health.
In the Queen's Birthday Honours
of June 1979, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
(CMG), in recognition of his service to the Parliament of Australia.
Bury died in Sydney and was survived by his wife Anne and his four sons, Peter, Michael, John and Nicholas.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(25 February 1913 – 7 September 1986) was an Australian politician.
Bury was born in London and was educated at Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College, Cambridge
Queens' College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou , and refounded in 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville...
. During World War II, he served in the Second Australian Imperial Force
Second Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
from 1943 to 1945, with heavy artillery fixed defences and with the 12th Australian Radar Detachment. He worked in the Department of the Treasury
Department of the Treasury (Australia)
The Department of the Treasury is an Australian Government department. Its role is to focus and develop economic policy.-History:The Commonwealth Treasury was established in Melbourne in January 1901....
in the 1940s and later worked as Executive Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development is one of five institutions that compose the World Bank Group. The IBRD is an international organization whose original mission was to finance the reconstruction of nations devastated by World War II. Now, its mission has expanded to fight...
and the Australian representative on the International Monetary Fund
International Monetary Fund
The International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
from 1951 to 1956.
Bury was elected as the Liberal Party of Australia
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 for Wentworth
Division of Wentworth
The Division of Wentworth is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It was proclaimed in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. The Division is named after William Charles Wentworth , a noted Australian explorer and statesman...
in 1956 at a by-election following the resignation of Eric Harrison
Eric Harrison
Sir Eric John Harrison KCMG KCVO was an Australian politician who became the first Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia....
to become High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
to the United Kingdom. According to Peter King
Peter King (Australian politician)
Peter Edward King , Australian politician, was a Liberal Party of Australia member of the Australian House of Representatives from November 2001 to October 2004, representing the seat of Wentworth, New South Wales. He was born in Bingara, New South Wales, and was educated at the Shore School,...
, he "... would attend football matches with [Labor leader] Arthur Calwell
Arthur Calwell
Arthur Augustus Calwell Australian politician, was a member of the Australian House of Representatives for 32 years from 1940 to 1972, Immigration Minister in the government of Ben Chifley from 1945 to 1949 and Leader of the Australian Labor Party from 1960 to 1967.-Early life:Calwell was born in...
in Melbourne and ... [shadow Treasurer] Frank Crean
Frank Crean
Frank Crean was a senior minister in the Australian Labor Party government of Gough Whitlam from 1972 to 1975, and was Deputy Prime Minister for the last six months of the government's term....
stayed at the Bury home in Sydney". Bury was appointed Minister for Air
Minister for Defence (Australia)
The Minister for Defence of Australia administers his portfolio through the Australian Defence Organisation, which comprises the Department of Defence and the Australian Defence Force. Stephen Smith is the current Minister.-Ministers for Defence:...
and Minister assisting the Treasurer in Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
' ninth ministry
Ninth Menzies Ministry
The Ninth Menzies Ministry was the fortieth Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 22 December 1961 to 18 December 1963.Liberal Party of Australia–Australian Country Party Coalition-Cabinet:*Rt Hon Robert Menzies, QC MP: Prime Minister...
in December 1961. On 27 July 1962 he was sacked for speaking in favour of the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
, saying that "European integration, of which the Common Market is an essential expression, is a keystone of the grand design for Western survival". This strongly conflicted with Deputy Prime Minister John McEwen
John McEwen
Sir John "Black Jack" McEwen, GCMG, CH , was an Australian politician and the 18th Prime Minister of Australia...
's concerns over its impact on Australian exports to the United Kingdom. In December 1963
Tenth Menzies Ministry
The Tenth Menzies Ministry was the forty-first Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 18 December 1963 to 21 January 1966.Liberal Party of Australia–Australian Country Party Coalition-Cabinet:...
, he became Minister for Housing
Minister for Housing (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness is Mark Arbib, who was appointed on 14 September 2010, following the Labor Party's win at the 2010 election...
, when he introduced the First Home Owners Grant, which continues to be a feature of the Australian political landscape.
In January 1966, Bury became Minister for Labour and National Service
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations is currently the Hon Senator Chris Evans.The Minister administers this portfolio, through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations....
in Harold Holt
Harold Holt
Harold Edward Holt, CH was an Australian politician and the 17th Prime Minister of Australia.His term as Prime Minister was brought to an early and dramatic end in December 1967 when he disappeared while swimming at Cheviot Beach near Portsea, Victoria, and was presumed drowned.Holt spent 32 years...
's first ministry
First Holt Ministry
The First Holt Ministry was the forty-second Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 26 January 1966 to 14 December 1966.Liberal Party of Australia–Australian Country Party Coalition-Cabinet:*Rt Hon Harold Holt, CH MP: Prime Minister...
, during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, when he was responsible for implementing conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
. During John Gorton
John Gorton
Sir John Grey Gorton, GCMG, AC, CH , Australian politician, was the 19th Prime Minister of Australia.-Early life:...
's first ministry
First Gorton Ministry
The First Gorton Ministry was the forty-fifth Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 10 January 1968 to 12 November 1969.Liberal Party of Australia–Australian Country Party Coalition-Cabinet:*Rt Hon John Gorton, MP: Prime Minister...
in 1968 and 1969 when Phillip Lynch
Phillip Lynch
Sir Phillip Reginald Lynch KCMG was an Australian Liberal politician.Lynch held the House of Representatives seat of Flinders from 1966 to 1982. Between 1968 and 1972, he served variously as Minister for the Army, Minister for Immigration, and Minister for Labour and National Service, under Prime...
was Minister for the Army, conscription was regularly attacked with the slogan, "Lynch Bury and bury Lynch". In November 1969, Bury became Treasurer
Treasurer of Australia
The Treasurer of Australia is the minister in the Government of Australia responsible for government expenditure and revenue raising. He is the head of the Department of the Treasury. The Treasurer plays a key role in the economic policy of the government...
in the second Gorton Ministry
Second Gorton Ministry
The Second Gorton Ministry was the forty-sixth Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 12 November 1969 to 10 March 1971.Liberal Party of Australia–Australian Country Party Coalition-Cabinet:*Rt Hon John Gorton, MP: Prime Minister...
. When William McMahon
William McMahon
Sir William "Billy" McMahon, GCMG, CH , was an Australian Liberal politician and the 20th Prime Minister of Australia...
became Prime Minister in March 1971
McMahon Ministry
The McMahon Ministry was the forty-seventh Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 10 March 1971 to 5 December 1972.Liberal Party of Australia–Australian Country Party Coalition-Cabinet:*Rt Hon William McMahon, MP: Prime Minister...
, he initially retained Bury as Treasurer, but 12 days later moved him to the Foreign Affairs
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)
In the Government of Australia, the Minister for Foreign Affairs is responsible for overseeing the international diplomacy section of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In common with international practice, the office is often informally referred to as Foreign Minister...
portfolio, and sacked him in August 1971. Bury retired from parliament in 1974
Australian federal election, 1974
Federal elections were held in Australia on 18 May 1974. All 127 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 60 seats in the Senate were up for election, due to a double dissolution...
due to ill health.
In the Queen's Birthday Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
of June 1979, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(CMG), in recognition of his service to the Parliament of Australia.
Bury died in Sydney and was survived by his wife Anne and his four sons, Peter, Michael, John and Nicholas.
External links
- Address to Canberra Institute of Management – excerpts from the speech that got Bury sacked (25 July 1962)