Greg Wilton
Encyclopedia
Gregory Stuart Wilton (6 November 1955 14 June 2000) was an Australia
n politician. He was a member of the Australian House of Representatives
, representing the Division of Isaacs
, from 1996 until his suicide at the age of 44. He was the only serving member in the history of the Australian Parliament to have died by suicide (at least one other member, Senator Nick Sherry
, attempted suicide
but survived).
, raised in suburban Chelsea
and studied at Monash University
, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science
. Later, he went on to study at the London School of Economics
. Wilton spent most of 1980-81 touring and making friends in North America. He worked as an industrial officer for most of his working career, with the Australian Services Union
, National Union of Workers
and Association of Professional Engineers and Scientists, and only resigning from the latter upon his election to parliament in 1996.
in 1982. He served as the president and secretary of his local branch from 1982 until 1984, and as a delegate to the party's state conference from 1984 to 1992.
Wilton won pre-selection to contest the Liberal-held marginal seat of Isaacs in the leadup to the 1996 election. Though his party lost government at the election, Wilton won the seat, aided by boundary changes which turned it into a marginal Labor seat, defeating sitting member Rod Atkinson
. He remained on the backbenches once in parliament, and served on the Financial Institutions and Public Administration Committee for all of his four years in parliament. Wilton became a very well known and highly regarded local MP, although he was not a major player on the national stage.
Wilton is still regarded as one of Labor's most effective marginal seat campaigners. He gave away most of his electorate allowance by buying bicycles for school-children in his seat of Isaacs. He believed in "constant campaigning" which led him to conduct "mobile offices" very frequently throughout his electorate to ensure that constituents could contact him at all times.
, near Geelong as he was driving out of the national park. While the circumstances of the incident were never clear — fellow MP Kelvin Thomson
said that Wilton had told him that he would never have harmed his children — it was reported by the media as an attempted murder-suicide.
The Sunday Herald Sun ran the headline "FEDERAL MP ARRESTED", and full pages were dedicated to coverage of the incident. The day before Wilton's death, The Australian
newspaper ran an editorial suggesting that it was "increasingly certain" that Wilton would resign, and speculating about possible replacements. Around this time, former Victorian Premier and depression
campaigner Jeff Kennett
spoke out against the media's coverage, stating that he was "angry at the manner in which this matter was previously reported and which was the cause of further subjecting this young man to national humiliation in the way the media covered his depressive condition." In the aftermath of the incident and media coverage, Wilton spent a fortnight in psychiatric care.
, and the family law and mental health systems all coming in for some blame in the ensuing days. Many also pointed to the Australian political tradition of voluble, even personal, politics. The Australian Press Council
came under fire for not having guidelines as to the reporting of attempted suicide.
Several condolence motions were passed through parliament from political allies such as Anna Burke
and political opposites such as Kay Hull
. An entire parliamentary day was set aside for condolence speeches. Members of Parliament wept openly in the House chamber as they spoke of their memories of Greg Wilton and their grief about his departure.
Wilton's seat was filled by the Australian Labor Party
's Ann Corcoran
at a by-election
on 12 August 2000.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. He was a member of the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
, representing the Division of Isaacs
Division of Isaacs
The Division of Isaacs is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It is located in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, on the eastern shores of Port Phillip Bay...
, from 1996 until his suicide at the age of 44. He was the only serving member in the history of the Australian Parliament to have died by suicide (at least one other member, Senator Nick Sherry
Nick Sherry
Nicholas John Sherry , Australian politician, has been a member of the Australian Senate for the state of Tasmania since July 1990, representing the Australian Labor Party. Sherry was sworn in as the Assistant Treasurer on 9 June 2009, after serving as the first Australian Minister for...
, attempted suicide
Failed suicide attempt
Failed suicide attempts comprise a large portion of suicide attempts. Some are regarded as not true attempts at all, but rather parasuicide. The usual attempt may be a wish to affect another person by the behaviour. Consequently, it occurs in a social context and may represent a request for help....
but survived).
Early life
Wilton was born in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, raised in suburban Chelsea
Chelsea, Victoria
Chelsea is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 30 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Kingston. At the 2006 Census, Chelsea had a population of 6694....
and studied at Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
. Later, he went on to study at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. Wilton spent most of 1980-81 touring and making friends in North America. He worked as an industrial officer for most of his working career, with the Australian Services Union
Australian Services Union
The Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union, which operates under the trading name of the Australian Services Union or ASU, is a trade union that represents members in a variety of industries.-Union history:...
, National Union of Workers
National Union of Workers
The National Union of Workers is a large Australian trade union formed in 1989.-History:The National Union of Workers of Australia was formed by a progressive amalgamation of unions from 1989 onwards in a time when all Australian unions were merging, with varying degrees of success...
and Association of Professional Engineers and Scientists, and only resigning from the latter upon his election to parliament in 1996.
Political life
He was also active in politics for many years, having joined the Australian Labor PartyAustralian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
in 1982. He served as the president and secretary of his local branch from 1982 until 1984, and as a delegate to the party's state conference from 1984 to 1992.
Wilton won pre-selection to contest the Liberal-held marginal seat of Isaacs in the leadup to the 1996 election. Though his party lost government at the election, Wilton won the seat, aided by boundary changes which turned it into a marginal Labor seat, defeating sitting member Rod Atkinson
Rod Atkinson
Rodney Alexander Atkinson was an Australian Liberal Party politician who represented the Division of Isaacs in the House of Representatives from 1990 to 1996....
. He remained on the backbenches once in parliament, and served on the Financial Institutions and Public Administration Committee for all of his four years in parliament. Wilton became a very well known and highly regarded local MP, although he was not a major player on the national stage.
Wilton is still regarded as one of Labor's most effective marginal seat campaigners. He gave away most of his electorate allowance by buying bicycles for school-children in his seat of Isaacs. He believed in "constant campaigning" which led him to conduct "mobile offices" very frequently throughout his electorate to ensure that constituents could contact him at all times.
Final days
Wilton's marriage broke down in early 2000, and rumors began to surface that he would soon resign. Then Wilton was found by police, distressed in a car with his two young children in the You YangsYou Yangs
The You Yangs are a series of granite ridges that rise to 364m above the Werribee Plain approximately 55km south west of Melbourne and 22km north east of Geelong, in Victoria, Australia. The main ridge runs roughly N-S for about 9 km, with a lower extension running for about 15 km to the west...
, near Geelong as he was driving out of the national park. While the circumstances of the incident were never clear — fellow MP Kelvin Thomson
Kelvin Thomson
Kelvin John Thomson is an Australian politician. Since March 1996 Thomson has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of Wills in Victoria.-Early life:...
said that Wilton had told him that he would never have harmed his children — it was reported by the media as an attempted murder-suicide.
The Sunday Herald Sun ran the headline "FEDERAL MP ARRESTED", and full pages were dedicated to coverage of the incident. The day before Wilton's death, The Australian
The Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
newspaper ran an editorial suggesting that it was "increasingly certain" that Wilton would resign, and speculating about possible replacements. Around this time, former Victorian Premier and depression
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
campaigner Jeff Kennett
Jeff Kennett
Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC , a former Australian politician, was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999. He is currently the President of Hawthorn Football Club. He is the founding Chairman of beyondblue, a national depression initiative.- Early life :Kennett was born in Melbourne on 2 March...
spoke out against the media's coverage, stating that he was "angry at the manner in which this matter was previously reported and which was the cause of further subjecting this young man to national humiliation in the way the media covered his depressive condition." In the aftermath of the incident and media coverage, Wilton spent a fortnight in psychiatric care.
Death
On 14 June Wilton committed suicide alone in a national park near the town of Labertouche. His death sparked a major reaction, with the media, the Labor PartyAustralian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
, and the family law and mental health systems all coming in for some blame in the ensuing days. Many also pointed to the Australian political tradition of voluble, even personal, politics. The Australian Press Council
Australian Press Council
The Australian Press Council is the self-regulatory body of the Australian print media. It was established in 1976 and is a private organisation. Its aims are to help preserve the traditional freedom of the press within Australia and to ensure that the free press acts responsibly and ethically...
came under fire for not having guidelines as to the reporting of attempted suicide.
Several condolence motions were passed through parliament from political allies such as Anna Burke
Anna Burke
Anna Elizabeth Burke , Australian politician, has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since October 1998, representing the Division of Chisholm, Victoria...
and political opposites such as Kay Hull
Kay Hull
Kay Elizabeth Hull , Australian politician, was a National Party member of the Australian House of Representatives from October 1998 to July 2010, representing the Division of Riverina, New South Wales.-Personal life:...
. An entire parliamentary day was set aside for condolence speeches. Members of Parliament wept openly in the House chamber as they spoke of their memories of Greg Wilton and their grief about his departure.
Wilton's seat was filled by the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
's Ann Corcoran
Ann Corcoran
Ann Kathleen Corcoran , an Australian politician, was an Australian Labor Party member of the House of Representatives from 12 August 2000 to the 2007 election, representing the Division of Isaacs, Victoria....
at a by-election
Isaacs by-election, 2000
The 2000 Isaacs by-election was held in the Australian electorate of Isaacs in Victoria on 12 August 2000. The by-election was triggered by the death of the sitting member, the Australian Labor Party's Greg Wilton on 14 June 2000. The writ for the by-election was issued on 30 June...
on 12 August 2000.