Robin Gray (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Robin Trevor Gray is a former Australia
n politician who was Premier
of Tasmania
from 1982 to 1989. A Liberal
, he was elected Liberal state leader in 1981 and in 1982 defeated the Labor
government of Harry Holgate
on a policy of "state development," particularly the building of the Franklin Dam
, a hydroelectric
dam on the Franklin River
.
Gray's campaign to build the dam aroused protests from the Tasmanian Greens
, led by Dr Bob Brown
(later a Senator
). Gray in 1982 allied with militant left wing FEDFA trade union leader Kelvin McCoy to form in November 1982 the Organisation for Tasmanian Development (OTD) which was directly associated with notable stickers seen on cars in Tasmania like Doze in a Greenie: help Fertilize the South-West, If It's Brown, Flush It, and Keep Warm This Winter:Burn a Greenie. Gray and McCoy praised each other publicly in their promotion of the Gordon-below-Franklin dam. One of the more notable events of Gray's involvement with the OTD was the 3000 strong rally in Queenstown on the 11th December which included former Premier Eric Reece
. Despite Reece's ALP
background, Gray praised Reece as "the greatest living Tasmanian."
In 1983, the newly elected federal Labor government led by Bob Hawke
intervened to prevent the building of the dam. However it was finally a High Court of Australia
decision (Commonwealth v Tasmania
) - despite the persistent clamour for states' rights in which even Joh Bjelke-Petersen
was utilised - which stopped the dam's construction. Tasmania was the recipient of $276 million in grants by way of compensation.
After seven years in power, Gray's government lost the 1989 election by one seat, when the ALP formed an accord
with the Greens
, whose unprecedented five seats gave them the balance of power. Gray refused to resign and tried to secure a fresh election, but the Governor Sir Phillip Bennett
refused to accept his advice. ALP leader Michael Field
became the new Premier.
A Royal Commission
later found that prominent Launceston
businessman and chairman of Gunns
, Edmund Rouse
, had tried to bribe a Labor backbencher to cross the floor and keep Gray in power. Gray denied any knowledge of this but the Royal Commission criticised his conduct (having an unexplained $10,000 in the freezer was a problem). He resigned as Liberal leader on 17 December 1991, left politics on 1 December 1995, and went into business.
From 1996 until his retirement on 5 May 2010, Gray was a director of the forestry company Gunns Limited.
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 who was Premier
Premiers of Tasmania
The Premier of Tasmania is the head of the executive government in the Australian state of Tasmania. By convention, the party or political grouping which has majority support in the House of Assembly will nominate its leader to be Premier. The nominated politician is then invited by the Governor of...
of Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
from 1982 to 1989. A 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...
, he was elected Liberal state leader in 1981 and in 1982 defeated the 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...
government of Harry Holgate
Harry Holgate
Harold Norman "Harry" Holgate AO was an Australian Labor Party politician and Premier of Tasmania from 11 November 1981 to 26 May 1982....
on a policy of "state development," particularly the building of the Franklin Dam
Franklin Dam
The Franklin Dam or Gordon-below-Franklin Dam project was a proposed dam on the Gordon River in Tasmania, Australia, that was never constructed. The movement that eventually led to the project's cancellation became one of most significant environmental campaigns in Australian history.The dam was...
, a hydroelectric
Hydroelectricity
Hydroelectricity is the term referring to electricity generated by hydropower; the production of electrical power through the use of the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. It is the most widely used form of renewable energy...
dam on the Franklin River
Franklin River
The Franklin River lies in the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park at the mid northern area of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. Its source is situated at the western edge of the Central Highlands and it continues west towards the West Coast of Tasmania...
.
Gray's campaign to build the dam aroused protests from the Tasmanian Greens
Tasmanian Greens
The Tasmanian Greens are a political party in Australia which developed from numerous environmental campaigns in Tasmania, including the flooding of Lake Pedder and the Franklin Dam campaign...
, led by Dr Bob Brown
Bob Brown
Robert James Brown is an Australian senator, the inaugural Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Greens and was the first openly gay member of the Parliament of Australia...
(later a Senator
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,...
). Gray in 1982 allied with militant left wing FEDFA trade union leader Kelvin McCoy to form in November 1982 the Organisation for Tasmanian Development (OTD) which was directly associated with notable stickers seen on cars in Tasmania like Doze in a Greenie: help Fertilize the South-West, If It's Brown, Flush It, and Keep Warm This Winter:Burn a Greenie. Gray and McCoy praised each other publicly in their promotion of the Gordon-below-Franklin dam. One of the more notable events of Gray's involvement with the OTD was the 3000 strong rally in Queenstown on the 11th December which included former Premier Eric Reece
Eric Reece
Eric Elliott Reece, AC was Premier of Tasmania on two occasions: from 26 August 1958 to 26 May 1969, and from 3 May 1972 to 31 March 1975.-Biography:...
. Despite Reece's ALP
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...
background, Gray praised Reece as "the greatest living Tasmanian."
In 1983, the newly elected federal Labor government led by Bob Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
intervened to prevent the building of the dam. However it was finally a High Court of Australia
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
decision (Commonwealth v Tasmania
Commonwealth v Tasmania
Commonwealth v Tasmania 158 CLR 1, was a significant Australian court case, decided in the High Court of Australia on 1 July 1983. The case was a landmark decision in Australian constitutional law, and was a significant moment in the history of conservation in Australia...
) - despite the persistent clamour for states' rights in which even Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Sir Johannes "Joh" Bjelke-Petersen, KCMG , was an Australian politician. He was the longest-serving and longest-lived Premier of Queensland, holding office from 1968 to 1987, a period that saw considerable economic development in the state...
was utilised - which stopped the dam's construction. Tasmania was the recipient of $276 million in grants by way of compensation.
After seven years in power, Gray's government lost the 1989 election by one seat, when the ALP formed an accord
Labor-Green Accord
The Labor–Green Accord was a 1989 political agreement between the Australian Labor Party and the Tasmanian Greens to form government in the Australian state of Tasmania after the 1989 general election had resulted in a hung parliament.-1989 Tasmanian election:The election took place on 13 May 1989...
with the Greens
Tasmanian Greens
The Tasmanian Greens are a political party in Australia which developed from numerous environmental campaigns in Tasmania, including the flooding of Lake Pedder and the Franklin Dam campaign...
, whose unprecedented five seats gave them the balance of power. Gray refused to resign and tried to secure a fresh election, but the Governor Sir Phillip Bennett
Phillip Bennett
General Sir Phillip Harvey Bennett AC, KBE, DSO is a retired senior officer of the Australian Army who served as Chief of the Australian Defence Force from 1984 to 1987, and later as Governor of Tasmania from 1987 to 1995....
refused to accept his advice. ALP leader Michael Field
Michael Field
Michael Field may refer to:* Michael Field , Premier of Tasmania* Michael Field , pseudonym of Katherine Bradley and Edith CooperSee also*Michael Fields...
became the new Premier.
A Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
later found that prominent Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
businessman and chairman of Gunns
Gunns
Gunns Limited is a major forestry enterprise located in Tasmania, Australia. Founded in 1875 by brothers John and Thomas Gunn, it is one of Australia's oldest companies. It has over 900 square kilometres of plantations, mainly eucalyptus trees. It is Tasmania’s largest private land-owner...
, Edmund Rouse
Edmund Rouse
Edmund Alexander Rouse was an Australian businessman and political figure. He spent three decades as the chairman of Tasmanian media company ENT before being embroiled in a political scandal in 1989....
, had tried to bribe a Labor backbencher to cross the floor and keep Gray in power. Gray denied any knowledge of this but the Royal Commission criticised his conduct (having an unexplained $10,000 in the freezer was a problem). He resigned as Liberal leader on 17 December 1991, left politics on 1 December 1995, and went into business.
From 1996 until his retirement on 5 May 2010, Gray was a director of the forestry company Gunns Limited.
Further reading
- Gray, Robin (1982) National Press Club luncheon address. Premier of Tasmania spoke about Tasmania ; the dams and the future of Australia's smallest state. held at National Library of Australia - tape and transcript
- Lines, William J. (2006) Patriots : defending Australia's natural heritage St. Lucia, Qld. : University of Queensland Press, 2006. ISBN 0-70223-554-7