Reg Withers
Encyclopedia
Reginald Greive 'Reg' Withers (born 26 October 1924) is a former long-serving member of the Australian Senate
, a former government minister, and former Lord Mayor of Perth.
Born in Bunbury
, Western Australia, Withers was the son of Frederick Withers, a former Labor
member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
. After being educated at Perth Technical College, Withers served in the military from 1942 until 1946 before returning to Australia to study law at the University of Western Australia
under the ex-servicemen's scheme. While at university, Withers opposed what he saw as the authoritarian stance of the Chifley
Labor government and joined the Liberal Party of Australia
. Returning to Bunbury to practise law, first as a solicitor and, from 1953, a barrister, Withers was elected to Bunbury Municipal Council
and began to involve himself in Liberal Party affairs, serving at various times as Liberal Party State President and Vice-President and Federal Vice-President.
Withers entered the Senate on 17 February 1966 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Shane Paltridge, but lost his seat later that year, before returning to the Senate in 1968.
Described as having a "jovial manner and perpetual grin", Withers quickly gained a reputation as the Liberal numbers man and served as Senate Government Whip from 1969–71. After the defeat of the McMahon
government in 1972
, Withers became Opposition Leader in the Senate, where he retained a thin majority and acted to block much of the Whitlam
Government's legislation. Withers was widely known as "The Toecutter" for his alleged approach to enforcing party loyalty and his role in the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis.
After the dismissal of the Whitlam government on 11 November 1975, Withers was appointed to Malcolm Fraser
's first (caretaker) ministry, becoming Vice-President of the Executive Council
as well as briefly holding the portfolios of Special Minister of State
, Capital Territory
, Media, and Tourism and Recreation during the period leading up to the December election
. After the election, Withers became Minister for Administrative Services, and continued as Vice-President of the Executive Council until 7 August 1978. After being dismissed from Cabinet in 1978 he commented about Fraser that "When the man who’s carried the biggest knife in this country for the last ten years starts giving you a lecture about propriety, integrity and the need to resign, then he’s either making a sick joke or playing you for a mug.” He left Fraser's ministry in the reshuffle after the 1980
election.
Withers was appointed a Privy Councillor in 1977, and is entitled to be known as "The Rt Hon Reginald Withers" for life. He retired from federal politics at the 1987 double dissolution, and was subsequently elected Lord Mayor of Perth, in which he served from 1991 until the council's dissolution in 1994, and as a monarchist delegate to the 1998 Constitutional Convention.
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
, a former government minister, and former Lord Mayor of Perth.
Born in Bunbury
Bunbury, Western Australia
The port city of Bunbury is the third largest city in Western Australia after the State Capital Perth and Mandurah. It is situated south of Perth's central business district...
, Western Australia, Withers was the son of Frederick Withers, a former Labor
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...
member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
. After being educated at Perth Technical College, Withers served in the military from 1942 until 1946 before returning to Australia to study law 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...
under the ex-servicemen's scheme. While at university, Withers opposed what he saw as the authoritarian stance of the Chifley
Ben Chifley
Joseph Benedict Chifley , Australian politician, was the 16th Prime Minister of Australia. He took over the Australian Labor Party leadership and Prime Ministership after the death of John Curtin in 1945, and went on to retain government at the 1946 election, before being defeated at the 1949...
Labor government and joined 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...
. Returning to Bunbury to practise law, first as a solicitor and, from 1953, a barrister, Withers was elected to Bunbury Municipal Council
City of Bunbury
The City of Bunbury is a Local Government Area in the South West region of Western Australia, covering an area of along the coast about south of Perth, the capital of Western Australia. The council is responsible for just over half of the Greater Bunbury metropolitan area, and the Port of Bunbury...
and began to involve himself in Liberal Party affairs, serving at various times as Liberal Party State President and Vice-President and Federal Vice-President.
Withers entered the Senate on 17 February 1966 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Shane Paltridge, but lost his seat later that year, before returning to the Senate in 1968.
Described as having a "jovial manner and perpetual grin", Withers quickly gained a reputation as the Liberal numbers man and served as Senate Government Whip from 1969–71. After the defeat of the McMahon
William McMahon
Sir William "Billy" McMahon, GCMG, CH , was an Australian Liberal politician and the 20th Prime Minister of Australia...
government in 1972
Australian federal election, 1972
Federal elections were held in Australia on 2 December 1972. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. The Liberal Party of Australia had been in power since 1949, under Prime Minister of Australia William McMahon since March 1971 with coalition partner the Country Party...
, Withers became Opposition Leader in the Senate, where he retained a thin majority and acted to block much 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's legislation. Withers was widely known as "The Toecutter" for his alleged approach to enforcing party loyalty and his role in the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis.
After the dismissal of the Whitlam government on 11 November 1975, Withers was appointed to Malcolm 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...
's first (caretaker) ministry, becoming Vice-President of the Executive Council
Vice-President of the Executive Council
The Vice-President of the Federal Executive Council is a position in Australian federal governments, whose holder acts as presiding officer of the Federal Executive Council in the absence of the Governor-General....
as well as briefly holding the portfolios of Special Minister of State
Special Minister of State
The Special Minister of State , currently the Special Minister of State for the Public Service and Integrity is a ministerial portfolio in the Australian Government Department of Finance and Deregulation responsible for various parliamentary, electoral, financial and oversight affairs.Other areas...
, Capital Territory
Minister for Home Affairs (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Home Affairs has been Brendan O'Connor since 6 June 2009. The Home Affairs portfolio brings together agencies such as the Australian Customs Service , the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, which were previously the...
, Media, and Tourism and Recreation during the period leading up to the December election
Australian federal election, 1975
Federal elections were held in Australia on 13 December 1975. All 127 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 64 seats in the Senate were up for election following a double dissolution of both Houses....
. After the election, Withers became Minister for Administrative Services, and continued as Vice-President of the Executive Council until 7 August 1978. After being dismissed from Cabinet in 1978 he commented about Fraser that "When the man who’s carried the biggest knife in this country for the last ten years starts giving you a lecture about propriety, integrity and the need to resign, then he’s either making a sick joke or playing you for a mug.” He left Fraser's ministry in the reshuffle after the 1980
Australian federal election, 1980
Federal elections were held in Australia on 18 October 1980. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives, and 34 of the 64 seats in the Senate, were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Malcolm Fraser with coalition partner the National Country Party led by Doug...
election.
Withers was appointed a Privy Councillor in 1977, and is entitled to be known as "The Rt Hon Reginald Withers" for life. He retired from federal politics at the 1987 double dissolution, and was subsequently elected Lord Mayor of Perth, in which he served from 1991 until the council's dissolution in 1994, and as a monarchist delegate to the 1998 Constitutional Convention.