Ray Groom

Infobox Officeholder


honorific-prefix = The Hon.
name = Ray Groom
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order = 39th
office = Premier of Tasmania
term_start = 17 February 1992
term_end = 18 March 1996
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predecessor = Michael Field
successor = Tony Rundle
constituency = Denison
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birth_date = birth date and age|1944|9|3
birth_place = Elsternwick, Victoria, Australia
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nationality = flagicon|Australia Australian
party = Liberal Party of Australia
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Raymond John "Ray" Groom (born 3 September 1944) was an Australian Liberal Party politician and Premier of the Australian State of Tasmania from 17 September 1992 to 18 March 1996. He succeeded Michael Field to the position and was himself succeeded by Tony Rundle. He retired from parliament in 2002. Formerly a lawyer, and now in private practice, he is married to Gillian Crisp and they have four sons and two daughters.

After graduating as a barrister and solicitor from the University of Melbourne he practised for a period in the north-west Tasmanian town of Burnie.

He served in the second Fraser Ministry (under Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser) as Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development from December 1977 to December 1978 and then Minister for Housing and Construction until November 1980.

In 1975 he won the Australian House of Representatives seat of Braddon, and held the seat until 1984. His 1982 election result were significant in that as liberal candidate he outpolled a Labor opponent on the West Coast of Tasmania - the first time - due to the divisions in the community over the Franklin Dam issue [ Pink. Kerry (2001) "Through Hells Gates: A History of Strahan and Macquarie Harbour" Fifth edition ISBN 06463666653 p.84 for photo and p.85 text re poll results ]

In 1984 he had announced retirement from politics, however instead became senior advisor to Premier Robin Gray. In 1986 he re-entered politics as member of the Tasmanian parliament. In 1991 he became Leader of the Liberals defeating Gray - in opposition. Consequently he became Premier after the 1992 election and Gray resigned from politics [ Pink. Kerry (2001) "Through Hells Gates: A History of Strahan and Macquarie Harbour" Fifth edition ISBN 06463666653 . "epilogue" - p.89 and the washup after the Franklin Dam issues had effected state politics ] He also played Australian rules football with the Melbourne Football Club from 1963-1968 in 92 games, kicking 36 goals. Won the Keith 'Bluey' Truscott Medal as Melbourne's Best and Fairest player in 1968.

References

External links

* [http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/history/tasparl/groomr658.htm Parliamentary Library profile]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20010305031854/www.parliament.tas.gov.au/ha/ISGroomRay.htm Ray Groom's maiden speech to parliament]