Nev Warburton
Encyclopedia
Neville George Warburton (born 23 February 1932) was a Queensland
politician
, who served as leader of the opposition
from 1984 to 1988, and as a minister in the Goss Ministry
from 1989 to 1992.
as the Australian Labor Party
candidate for the seat of Sandgate
, succeeding Harold Dean
who had held the seat for the ALP since 1960. In 1982, fellow opposition frontbencher Keith Wright
deposed ALP leader Ed Casey
in a secret ballot, after a string of poor election results. Warburton was appointed deputy premier in Wright's shadow cabinet, despite having served only five years in parliament. Warburton became a member of the then dominant Trades and Labour Council faction, an affiliation he retained during his later career.
. Warburton was elected by caucus as the new Labor leader in Queensland on 29 August 1984. Warburton was often portrayed in the media as being an "old style" Labor leader; uncomplicated and honest. Peter Bowers
, a columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald declared that Warburton was "...a straight up and down politician, no charisma, no nonsense".
Labor approached the 1986 election being given little hope of taking power, given the continued existence of the Bjelkemander
, despite continued disunity and infighting between the Liberal
and National
parties that formed government. Warburton's policies included the introduction of random breath testing in Queensland, and a ban on uranium mining
in Queensland, an idea that would become longstanding Labor party policy. Warburton also made overtures to the Liberals, offering to form a coalition government with them in order to break the National Party's grip on power. However, on polling day, the National party won a resounding victory that enabled them to govern in their own right, and Labor lost two seats, despite polling more votes than the Nationals. Warburton hung on as leader of the opposition after this defeat, but eventually handed over the party leadership to Wayne Goss
in 1988.
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who served as leader of the opposition
Leader of the Opposition (Queensland)
This is a list of Leaders of the Opposition in Queensland. Prior to 1898, opposition to the government of the day was less organised. Thus the Queensland Parliamentary Record does not designate Leaders of the Opposition before then....
from 1984 to 1988, and as a minister in the Goss Ministry
Goss Ministry
The Goss Ministry was a Ministry of the Government of Queensland, led by Labor Premier Wayne Goss. It commenced on 7 December 1989, five days after the Cooper Ministry, led by Premier Russell Cooper of the National Party, was defeated at the 1989 election...
from 1989 to 1992.
Early career
Warburton was elected at the 1977 electionQueensland state election, 1977
Elections were held in the Australian state of Queensland on 12 November 1977 to elect the 82 members of the state's Legislative Assembly.The election resulted in a fourth consecutive victory for the National-Liberal Coalition under Joh Bjelke-Petersen...
as the 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...
candidate for the seat of Sandgate
Electoral district of Sandgate
The district of Sandgate is an electoral division in the state of Queensland, Australia.It is located in the northern suburbs of Brisbane, covering Sandgate, Shorncliffe, Deagon, Brighton, Bracken Ridge, Fitzgibbon, and Taigum...
, succeeding Harold Dean
Harold Dean (Australian politician)
Harold Dean was a Queensland politician, and served as the member for Sandgate for the Australian Labor Party from 1960 to 1977.-References:*...
who had held the seat for the ALP since 1960. In 1982, fellow opposition frontbencher Keith Wright
Keith Wright (Australian politician)
Keith Webb Wright is a former Australian politician and convicted rapist. Born in Toowoomba, Queensland, he was educated at the University of Queensland and Kelvin Grove Teachers College in Brisbane before becoming a teacher and author....
deposed ALP leader Ed Casey
Ed Casey
Edmund Denis Casey was best known as a former leader of the Australian Labor Party in Queensland between 1978 and 1982. He also served as Primary Industries Minister in the government of Wayne Goss between 1989 and 1995...
in a secret ballot, after a string of poor election results. Warburton was appointed deputy premier in Wright's shadow cabinet, despite having served only five years in parliament. Warburton became a member of the then dominant Trades and Labour Council faction, an affiliation he retained during his later career.
Leader of the Opposition
In 1984, Wright resigned from the Legislative Assembly to stand for election to federal parliamentParliament 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...
. Warburton was elected by caucus as the new Labor leader in Queensland on 29 August 1984. Warburton was often portrayed in the media as being an "old style" Labor leader; uncomplicated and honest. Peter Bowers
Peter Bowers (Australian journalist)
Peter Bowers was an Australian journalist. He was awarded the Walkley Award in 1982 for the most outstanding contribution to journalism.-Obituaries:**...
, a columnist with the Sydney Morning Herald declared that Warburton was "...a straight up and down politician, no charisma, no nonsense".
Labor approached the 1986 election being given little hope of taking power, given the continued existence of the Bjelkemander
Bjelkemander
The Bjelkemander was the term given to a system of malapportionment in the Australian State of Queensland in the 1970s and 1980s. Under the system, electorates were allocated to zones such as rural or metropolitan and electoral boundaries drawn so that rural electorates had about half as many...
, despite continued disunity and infighting between 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...
and 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...
parties that formed government. Warburton's policies included the introduction of random breath testing in Queensland, and a ban on uranium mining
Uranium mining
Uranium mining is the process of extraction of uranium ore from the ground. The worldwide production of uranium in 2009 amounted to 50,572 tonnes, of which 27% was mined in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan, Canada, and Australia are the top three producers and together account for 63% of world uranium...
in Queensland, an idea that would become longstanding Labor party policy. Warburton also made overtures to the Liberals, offering to form a coalition government with them in order to break the National Party's grip on power. However, on polling day, the National party won a resounding victory that enabled them to govern in their own right, and Labor lost two seats, despite polling more votes than the Nationals. Warburton hung on as leader of the opposition after this defeat, but eventually handed over the party leadership to Wayne Goss
Wayne Goss
Wayne Keith Goss was Premier of Queensland from 7 December 1989 until 19 February 1996.-Early life:He was born at Mundubbera, Queensland and educated at Inala High School and the University of Queensland...
in 1988.