Robin Millhouse
Encyclopedia
Robin Rhodes Millhouse QC (born 9 December 1929) has been, at various times, the South Australia
n Attorney-General
, the first Australian Democrats
parliamentarian, and the Chief Justice
of both Kiribati
and Nauru
.
Millhouse was born in Adelaide
, to father Vivian Rhodes Millhouse, and mother Grace Lilly Ayliffe. Millhouse gained an LLB from the University of Adelaide
in 1951 and after working as a barrister
, entered the South Australian Legislative Assembly on 7 May 1955 as the Liberal and Country League
(LCL) member for the conservative electorate of Mitcham
. Millhouse rapidly gained a reputation as both the intellectual driving force behind the LCL and an outspoken spokesperson for the urban middle class faction of the LCL, a group under-represented within the party hierarchy.
Millhouse ran for the LCL leadership pre-selection following leader Sir Thomas Playford's
retirement, but lost to colleague Steele Hall
. Instead, following the LCL's return to power in the 1968 election, Millhouse was given the portfolios of Attorney-General, Aboriginal
Affairs, Social Welfare, and Labour and Industry. In these roles, Millhouse gained a reputation as a crusader for progressive social change as he sought to position South Australia as a national leader on social issues.
In the wake of the LCL's 1970 election loss, Millhouse was elected Deputy Leader of the Opposition on 2 June but resigned from the party on 18 March 1973 to form the Liberal Movement following growing dissatisfaction at the continuing conservatism of the LCL. While a number of other senior LCL members, including former premier Steele Hall, also joined the Liberal Movement, all except Millhouse eventually returned to the Liberal Party
. Millhouse chose instead to form a new political party, named the New LM
, before merging that with the Australia Party
, the Centre-Line Party and other like minded groups to form the Australian Democrats
and, as a sitting member, became the first Australian Democrats Member of Parliament. As a Democrat, he continued to campaign for progressive social issues, including the introduction of a bill to legalise prostitution
in South Australia.
After having been made a Queen's Counsel
in 1979, Millhouse resigned from parliament on 7 July 1982, sparking a Mitcham by-election
, upon accepting a position as a South Australian Supreme Court justice. He served on the Supreme Court until his enforced retirement in December 1999. At his Retirement Sitting he announced his appointment as Chief Justice of the High Court of Kiribati
, a position he held until Jan 2011. He was Chief Justice of Nauru
from early 2006 to late 2010.
He married Ann (deceased 1992) in 1957 and has three daughters and two sons.
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n Attorney-General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
, the first Australian Democrats
Australian Democrats
The Australian Democrats is an Australian political party espousing a socially liberal ideology. It was formed in 1977, by a merger of the Australia Party and the New LM, after principals of those minor parties secured the commitment of former Liberal minister Don Chipp, as a high profile leader...
parliamentarian, and the Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of both Kiribati
Kiribati
Kiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population exceeds just over 100,000 , and is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the...
and Nauru
Nauru
Nauru , officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just...
.
Millhouse was born in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, to father Vivian Rhodes Millhouse, and mother Grace Lilly Ayliffe. Millhouse gained an LLB from the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
in 1951 and after working as a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, entered the South Australian Legislative Assembly on 7 May 1955 as the Liberal and Country League
Liberal and Country League
The Liberal and Country League was a major political party in South Australia throughout its forty year existence. Thirty-four years were spent in government, in part due to the electoral malapportionment known as the Playmander, introduced after coming to power.Created on 9 June 1932 as the...
(LCL) member for the conservative electorate of Mitcham
Electoral district of Mitcham (South Australia)
Mitcham was an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia from 1938 to 1993. The district was based in the south-eastern suburbs of Adelaide....
. Millhouse rapidly gained a reputation as both the intellectual driving force behind the LCL and an outspoken spokesperson for the urban middle class faction of the LCL, a group under-represented within the party hierarchy.
Millhouse ran for the LCL leadership pre-selection following leader Sir Thomas Playford's
Thomas Playford IV
Sir Thomas Playford, GCMG was a South Australian politician. He served continuously as Premier of South Australia from 5 November 1938 to 10 March 1965, the longest term of any elected government leader in the history of Australia. His tenure as premier was marked by a period of population and...
retirement, but lost to colleague Steele Hall
Steele Hall
Raymond Steele Hall was the 36th Premier of South Australia 1968-70, a senator for South Australia 1974-77, and federal member for the Division of Boothby 1981-96.-Biography:...
. Instead, following the LCL's return to power in the 1968 election, Millhouse was given the portfolios of Attorney-General, Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
Affairs, Social Welfare, and Labour and Industry. In these roles, Millhouse gained a reputation as a crusader for progressive social change as he sought to position South Australia as a national leader on social issues.
In the wake of the LCL's 1970 election loss, Millhouse was elected Deputy Leader of the Opposition on 2 June but resigned from the party on 18 March 1973 to form the Liberal Movement following growing dissatisfaction at the continuing conservatism of the LCL. While a number of other senior LCL members, including former premier Steele Hall, also joined the Liberal Movement, all except Millhouse eventually returned to 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...
. Millhouse chose instead to form a new political party, named the New LM
New LM
The New Liberal Movement was a South Australian political party that had parliamentary representation during the mid-1970s.Formed by Robin Millhouse on 6 May 1976 following the dissolution of the Liberal Movement, the New LM sought to be the true liberal party in South Australia, arguing that the...
, before merging that with the Australia Party
Australia Party
The Australia Party was the name of a minor political party in Australia ....
, the Centre-Line Party and other like minded groups to form the Australian Democrats
Australian Democrats
The Australian Democrats is an Australian political party espousing a socially liberal ideology. It was formed in 1977, by a merger of the Australia Party and the New LM, after principals of those minor parties secured the commitment of former Liberal minister Don Chipp, as a high profile leader...
and, as a sitting member, became the first Australian Democrats Member of Parliament. As a Democrat, he continued to campaign for progressive social issues, including the introduction of a bill to legalise prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
in South Australia.
After having been made a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1979, Millhouse resigned from parliament on 7 July 1982, sparking a Mitcham by-election
Mitcham state by-election, 1982
A by-election was held for the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Mitcham on 8 May 1982. This was triggered by the resignation of former state Democrats MHA Robin Millhouse.-Results:...
, upon accepting a position as a South Australian Supreme Court justice. He served on the Supreme Court until his enforced retirement in December 1999. At his Retirement Sitting he announced his appointment as Chief Justice of the High Court of Kiribati
Kiribati
Kiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population exceeds just over 100,000 , and is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the...
, a position he held until Jan 2011. He was Chief Justice of Nauru
Nauru
Nauru , officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just...
from early 2006 to late 2010.
He married Ann (deceased 1992) in 1957 and has three daughters and two sons.