Neville Wran

The Honourable Neville Wran AC, CNZM, QC
35th Premier of New South Wales Elections: 1976, 1978, 1981, 1984
In office 14 May 1976 – 4 July 1986
Deputy	Jack Ferguson (1976–1984) Ron Mulock (1984–1986)
Preceded by	Sir Eric Willis
Succeeded by	Barrie Unsworth
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Bass Hill
In office 17 November 1973 – 4 July 1986
Preceded by	Clarrie Earl
Succeeded by	Michael Joseph Owen
Personal details
Born	11 October 1926 (1926-10-11) (age 85) Balmain, New South Wales
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Occupation	Lawyer

Neville Kenneth Wran, AC, CNZM, QC (born 11 October 1926) was the Premier of New South Wales from 1976 until 1986. He was National President of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) from 1980 to 1986 and Chairman of both the Lionel Murphy Foundation and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) from 1986 to 1991.

Early years

Wran was born in the Sydney suburb of Paddington and educated at Nicholson Street Public School, Balmain, Fort St Boys' High and the University of Sydney,^[1] where, ironically enough, he was a member of the Liberal Club,^[2] and from which he gained a Bachelor of Laws in 1948. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1951, called to the Bar in 1957, and became a Queen's Counsel in 1968.

Political career

He began his political career in 1970 when he became a member of the upper house of the Parliament of New South Wales, the Legislative Council. Three years afterwards, he moved to the lower house, the Legislative Assembly, in the seat of Bass Hill, He then challenged Pat Hills for the state leadership of the ALP (which Hills had held since 1968). With support from right-wing powerbroker John Ducker and his left-wing running mate Jack Ferguson, Wran won the leadership contest by just one vote.

In May 1976, six months after Gough Whitlam's federal ALP government's dismissal, Wran became NSW premier with a one-seat majority, defeating the Liberal Party's Sir Eric Willis. In 1978, campaigning with the slogan 'Wran's our Man', his government was returned with a 'Wranslide' election victory. It was the largest primary vote of any party in a century; and the Opposition Leader on that occasion, Peter Coleman, lost his seat. In 1981, Wran won a second 'Wranslide', earning for Labor its largest proportion of seats in Parliament. His fourth victory in 1984 (though much smaller than the previous two) still produced a larger majority than any of the victories won by the Liberals' Sir Robert Askin in the 1960s and 1970s.

Wran was also very popular, at one stage rating over 80 per cent approval in opinion polls. He was often talked about as a national political leader and rated highly in national polls as an alternative Labor Leader to Bill Hayden. He featured in Hayden's 1980 Federal election campaign, along with Bob Hawke.

Neville Wran's childhood home in Balmain

Wran was a Labor premier at a time when most Australian governments were held by conservative coalitions. During Wran's 10 years as Premier of New South Wales, the government embarked on a program of reform and change. Priorities were public transport (with the exception of the Warringah Transport Corridor which was cancelled despite a recommendation by Justice Kirby that it be built), the environment, consumer protection and job creation. He also achieved significant electoral institutional reform such as a democratic Legislative Council, four year terms, public funding and disclosure laws and a pecuniary interests register for members of parliament. He also undertook the state's largest capital works program and refurbished many iconic places in Sydney. His government also built the modern-day Darling Harbour precinct.

Wran resigned both the premiership and his seat in Parliament on 4 July 1986, after continuously holding office longer than any other Premier in the history of NSW until that time. Bob Carr has since broken that record. Henry Parkes served longer than Wran in total, serving five terms between 1872 and 1891. The by-election for Wran's seat of Bass Hill was narrowly won by Michael Owen for the Liberal Party.

Controversy

In 1977, Wran supported Al Grassby, former Federal Immigration Minister, in allowing Domenico Barbaro, a Mafia figure in the Griffith region of New South Wales, back into Australia after having been earlier deported because of his criminal record.^[3] However, as journalist David Hickie explains, Wran attempted to undermine the influence of organised crime, particularly in the area of illegal casinos.^[4]

Further, in 1983, Wran faced the Street Royal Commission over claims by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) current affairs show Four Corners that he had tried to influence the magistracy over the 1977 committal of Kevin Humphreys, who had been charged with misappropriation of funds. His Corrective Services Minister, Rex Jackson, was jailed in 1987 for accepting bribes for the early release of prisoners.

Honours

• In June 1987 he was appointed an Officer in the Order of the Golden Ark (Netherlands) "for his contribution to the environment".^[5]

• In October 1987 he was appointed "Grande Ufficiale" by the President of the Republic of Italy.^[5]
• He was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia on 26 January 1988 "For service to government and politics and to the New South Wales Parliament".^[6]

• On 6 May 1995 Sydney University awarded Wran the degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa).^[5]

• On 31 December 2009, the New Zealand Government appointed him a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to New Zealand – Australia relations.^[7]

References

1. ^ "The Hon. Neville Kenneth Wran (1926 – )". Members of Parliament. Parliament of New South Wales. http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/members.nsf/1fb6ebed995667c2ca256ea100825164/34bbaf980c2a8174ca256cb7007f0867?OpenDocument. Retrieved 8 February 2010. 
2. ^ "History". Sydney University Liberal Club. http://www.liberals-usyd.org/history.html. Retrieved 6 May 2007. 
3. ^ Bob Bottom, "Shadow of Shame: How the mafia got away with the murder of Donald Mackay," Sun Books, South Melbourne, 198, pp. 13-14.
4. ^ David Hickie, "The Prince and the Premier: The story of Perce Galea, Bob Askin and the others who gave organised crime its start in Australia," Angus & Robertson Publishers, NSW, Australia, 1985.
5. ^ ^{a b c} "Neville Kenneth Wran AC QC". Sydney University Senate. University of Sydney. http://www.usyd.edu.au/senate/committees/advisoryNKWran.shtml. Retrieved 8 February 2010. 
6. ^ "WRAN, Neville Kenneth: AC". It's an Honour. Australian Government. http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=884369&search_type=quick&showInd=true. Retrieved 23 February 2009. 
7. ^ "New Year Honours 2010". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2009. http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours/lists/list.asp?id=47. Retrieved 31 December 2009. 

• Troy Bramston (ed.)(2006), The Wran Era, Federation Press, Sydney (NSW).
• Brian Dale (1985), Ascent to Power, Allen and Unwin Australia, North Sydney (NSW)
• Mike Steketee and Milton Cockburn (1986), Wran. An Unauthorised Biography, Allen and Unwin Australia, North Sydney (NSW).

Parliament of New South Wales
Preceded by Clarrie Earl	Member for Bass Hill 1973 – 1986	Succeeded by Michael Owen
Political offices
Preceded by Pat Hills	Leader of the Opposition of New South Wales 1973 – 1976	Succeeded by Sir Eric Willis
Preceded by Sir Eric Willis	Premier of New South Wales 1976 – 1986	Succeeded by Barrie Unsworth
Preceded by Jack Renshaw	Treasurer of New South Wales 1980 – 1981	Succeeded by Ken Booth
Preceded by Ron Mulock	Minister for Mineral Resources 1981 – 1983	Succeeded by Donald Day
Vacant Title last held by David Arblaster as Minister for Culture, Sport and Recreation	Minister for Arts 1984 – 1986	Succeeded by Frank Walker
Preceded by Paul Landa	Attorney-General of New South Wales 1984	Succeeded by Terry Sheahan
New title	Minister for Ethnic Affairs 1985 – 1986	Succeeded by Barrie Unsworth
Preceded by George Paciullo	Minister for Industry and Decentralisation 1986	Succeeded by Eric Bedford
	Minister for Small Business and Technology 1986
Party political offices
Preceded by Pat Hills	Leader of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales 1973 – 1986	Succeeded by Barrie Unsworth

Persondata
Name	Wran, Neville Kenneth
Alternative names
Short description	Australian politician and Premier of New South Wales
Date of birth	11 October 1926
Place of birth	Paddington, New South Wales
Date of death
Place of death