William Deane

For the English cricketer, see William Deane (cricketer).

The Honourable Sir William Deane AC, KBE, KStJ, QC
22nd Governor-General of Australia
In office 16 February 1996 – 29 June 2001
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Bill Hayden
Succeeded by	Peter Hollingworth
Nominated by	Paul Keating
Puisne Justice of the High Court of Australia
In office 25 June 1982 – 11 November 1995
Nominated by	Malcolm Fraser
Preceded by	Ninian Stephen
Succeeded by	Michael Kirby
Personal details
Born	4 January 1931 (1931-01-04) Sunbury, Victoria, Australia
Profession	Judge
Religion	Roman Catholic

Sir William Patrick Deane, AC, KBE, QC (born 4 January 1931) is an Australian judge and the 22nd Governor-General of Australia.

Early life

William Deane was born in Melbourne, Victoria. He was educated at Catholic schools including St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill and at the University of Sydney, where he graduated in arts and law. He also attended the Hague Academy of International Law. After graduation he worked in the federal Attorney-General's Department in Canberra and at the law firm Minter Simpson that became Minter Ellison. He also travelled to Europe to study international law. He was called to the Sydney Bar in 1957 and also lectured in law at university.

During this time Deane was active in the Catholic community and was interested in politics. In 1955 he was briefly a member of the Democratic Labor Party, a predominantly Catholic and anti-Communist breakaway from the Australian Labor Party. He soon became disillusioned with the party and played no further part in active politics, but he was strongly influenced by progressive Catholic doctrines of social justice and opposition to racial discrimination. anf

Judicial career

In 1977 Deane was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and, in the same year, he was appointed to the Federal Court of Australia and as President of the Australian Trade Practices Tribunal. In June 1982 he was appointed to the High Court of Australia, replacing Sir Ninian Stephen on his appointment as Governor-General. He was knighted in August 1982. On the court he formed part of the majority who recognised native title in the landmark Mabo case of 1992.

Governor-General

In August 1995, the Labor Prime Minister, Paul Keating, announced that the Queen of Australia had agreed to the appointment of Deane as Governor-General to succeed Bill Hayden. He retired from the High Court in November and was sworn in as Governor-General on 16 February 1996. Less than a month later, Keating's government was defeated by the Liberal/National coalition led by John Howard.

During his six-year term of office Deane became increasingly outspoken on social issues.^{[citation needed]} While he never directly criticised the government, the tenor of his comments was clear to most observers.^{[citation needed]} Conversely, Howard and his ministers were careful not to criticise Deane, but conservative press commentators and activists were less restrained. Unlike Deane's two immediate predecessors, Sir Ninian Stephen and Bill Hayden, his term in office was not extended. After Deane's term ended in 2001, Deane became openly critical of the Howard Government. Previous governors-general had generally avoided embroiling themselves in criticising an Australian government.

In 2001, Deane was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize "for his consistent support of vulnerable and disadvantaged Australians and his strong commitment to the cause of reconciliation".^{[citation needed]}

Deane is also a Patron of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation.

Honours

Deane was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in August 1982, a few weeks after being appointed to the High Court. On Australia Day 1988 he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia.

External links

• Governor General of Australia - Official biography of Sir William Deane and Lady Deane, published by Government House, Canberra.
• A Mirror to the People, documentary film on the Office of Governor-General of Australia (1999), featuring Deane, Zelman Cowen and Ninian Stephen.

Government offices
Preceded by Bill Hayden	Governor-General of Australia 1996–2001	Succeeded by Peter Hollingworth