Peter Reith: Difference between revisions
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Following the election of the [[Howard Government]] in [[1996]], Reith became [[Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (Australia)|Minister for Workplace Relations]], and was responsible for implementing the government's industrial relations policy, although he was frustrated in this by the government's lack of a majority in the [[Australian Senate|Senate]]. His handling of the [[1998 Australian waterfront dispute]], in which he openly supported [[Patrick Corporation]] in its successful efforts to defeat the [[Maritime Union of Australia]], led to a great deal of criticism from unions and the ALP.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} |
Following the election of the [[Howard Government]] in [[1996]], Reith became [[Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (Australia)|Minister for Workplace Relations]], and was responsible for implementing the government's industrial relations policy, although he was frustrated in this by the government's lack of a majority in the [[Australian Senate|Senate]]. His handling of the [[1998 Australian waterfront dispute]], in which he openly supported [[Patrick Corporation]] in its successful efforts to defeat the [[Maritime Union of Australia]], led to a great deal of criticism from unions and the ALP.{{Fact|date=February 2007}} |
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Howard shifted Reith to the Defence portfolio in 2000. |
Howard shifted Reith to the Defence portfolio in 2000. He was [http://www.abc.net.au/am/stories/s198382.htm criticised] in 2000 for letting his family and their friends use a telephone account which was provided to him for Government business. |
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Reith featured prominently in the [[Children overboard affair|"children overboard"]] affair. As [[Department of Defence (Australia)|Minister for Defence]], he provided Howard with what was later shown to be inaccurate information about the "children overboard" during the 2001 election campaign. |
Reith featured prominently in the [[Children overboard affair|"children overboard"]] affair. As [[Department of Defence (Australia)|Minister for Defence]], he provided Howard with what was later shown to be inaccurate information about the "children overboard" during the 2001 election campaign. |
Revision as of 02:28, 6 September 2007
Peter Reith | |
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File:Peterreith.jpg | |
48th Australian Defence Minister | |
In office 2000–2001 | |
Preceded by | John Moore |
Succeeded by | Robert Hill |
Constituency | Flinders |
Personal details | |
Born | Melbourne, Victoria | 15 July 1950
Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
Peter Keaston Reith, (born 15 July 1950), Australian former politician, was a senior Cabinet minister in the first two terms of the Howard government.
Education and early career
Reith was born in Melbourne and educated at Brighton Grammar School and Monash University where he graduated with degrees in law and economics. He practised as a solicitor in Cowes, a small town on Phillip Island, south east of Melbourne.
Political life
Reith joined the Liberal Party. He was elected to the Australian House of Representatives to represent the seat of Flinders in a by-election in December, 1982, but lost his seat at the General Election in March, 1983 without having been sworn in. He was elected again in December, 1984 and remained Member for Flinders until his retirement in 2001.
Reith was a shadow minister in various portfolios from 1987 until 1996 (except for a few months in 1993), including Shadow Attorney-General in 1988 (when he led the successful "no" campaign at the 1988 referendum) and Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Treasurer from 1990 to 1993. Along with John Hewson, he was one of the principal architects of the Liberal Party's "Fightback" policy, including the Goods and Services Tax. He resigned as shadow Treasurer after the loss of the 1993 election as well as losing the Deputy Leadership in the post-election ballot.
Following the election of the Howard Government in 1996, Reith became Minister for Workplace Relations, and was responsible for implementing the government's industrial relations policy, although he was frustrated in this by the government's lack of a majority in the Senate. His handling of the 1998 Australian waterfront dispute, in which he openly supported Patrick Corporation in its successful efforts to defeat the Maritime Union of Australia, led to a great deal of criticism from unions and the ALP.[citation needed]
Howard shifted Reith to the Defence portfolio in 2000. He was criticised in 2000 for letting his family and their friends use a telephone account which was provided to him for Government business.
Reith featured prominently in the "children overboard" affair. As Minister for Defence, he provided Howard with what was later shown to be inaccurate information about the "children overboard" during the 2001 election campaign.
After politics
In 2001 Reith announced his retirement from politics. He did not contest the 2001 election and was succeeded as Liberal MP for Flinders by Greg Hunt and as Minister of Defence by Senator Robert Hill. Somewhat controversially,[1] Reith took up employment with Tenix, a major Australian Defence contractor shortly after leaving politics. On 27 February, 2002, Prime Minister John Howard issued a press release denying media reports that of links between a decision to supply five police runabout boats to Indonesia and any discussions with Reith on behalf of Tenix.[2]
In 2003 Reith accepted an appointment as an executive director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development based in London representing Australia, the Republic of Korea, Egypt and New Zealand.
References
- ^ ABC News Online, Tenix defends Reith appointment, access date 30 January, 2007
- ^ PM Howard Press Release, 17 February, 2002, access date 30 January, 2007
- Articles needing cleanup from January 2007
- Cleanup tagged articles without a reason field from January 2007
- Wikipedia pages needing cleanup from January 2007
- 1950 births
- Living people
- Liberal Party of Australia politicians
- Members of the Cabinet of Australia
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Flinders