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	(1926-10-11) 11 October 1926 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, where, ironically enough, he was member of the Liberal Club, 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 Queen's Counsel in 1968.

Political career

He began his political career in 1970 when he became a member of the NSW upper house, the NSW Legislative Council. Three years afterwards, he moved to the lower house seat of Bass Hill and 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 Liberals' 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.

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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.

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.

Wran resigned from the Parliament of New South Wales 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.

Honours

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

• In October 1987 he was appointed "Grande Ufficiale" by the President of the Republic of Italy.
• 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".

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

• 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.

References

• 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).

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