Robert Ray (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert Francis Ray Australia
n politician, was an Australian Labor Party
member of the Senate
from July 1981 to May 2008, representing the state of Victoria.
He was born in Melbourne
, Victoria, and was educated at Monash University
, Melbourne, where he graduated in arts and education. He worked as a teacher in government schools and as a taxi-driver before entering politics.
A leading member of the right-wing faction of the ALP, Ray defeated a left-wing Senator, Jean Melzer
, in a ballot for a place on the party's Senate ticket. This caused great bitterness in the Socialist Left faction, which has disliked Ray ever since. He was elected to the Senate at the October 1980 election
, taking his seat on 1 July 1981.
In the Hawke
Labor government Ray was Minister for Home Affairs
1987-88, Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs
1988-90 (with a seat in the Cabinet), and Minister for Defence
1990-96. In this portfolio he strongly supported Hawke's decision to send Australian forces to support the United Nations
in the Gulf War
, despite bitter opposition from the left.
After the defeat of the Keating
government in 1996 election, Ray did not seek election to the Opposition Shadow Ministry, but remained a powerful figure in the Labor Party, acting as a key factional supporter of Opposition Leader Kim Beazley
1996-2001. His influence diminished when Mark Latham
became Leader in 2003. He did not stand for re-election at the 2007 election, which meant that his Senate term was due to expire on 30 June 2008. He formally resigned from Parliament on 5 May 2008, having spent two more days in the Senate as a member of government than as a member of the Opposition. The casual vacancy was filled by Jacinta Collins
.
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, was an 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...
member of the Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
from July 1981 to May 2008, representing the state of Victoria.
He was born in Melbourne
Melbourne
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...
, Victoria, and was educated 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....
, Melbourne, where he graduated in arts and education. He worked as a teacher in government schools and as a taxi-driver before entering politics.
A leading member of the right-wing faction of the ALP, Ray defeated a left-wing Senator, Jean Melzer
Jean Melzer
Jean Isobelle Melzer was an Australian Senator representing the Australian Labor Party and the state of Victoria. She was elected on 18 May 1974 she served two terms, she was defeated at 1980 elections as she was placed third on the Labor ticket...
, in a ballot for a place on the party's Senate ticket. This caused great bitterness in the Socialist Left faction, which has disliked Ray ever since. He was elected to the Senate at the October 1980 election
Australian federal election, 1980
Federal elections were held in Australia on 18 October 1980. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives, and 34 of the 64 seats in the Senate, were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Malcolm Fraser with coalition partner the National Country Party led by Doug...
, taking his seat on 1 July 1981.
In the Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
Labor government Ray was Minister for Home Affairs
Minister for Home Affairs (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Home Affairs has been Brendan O'Connor since 6 June 2009. The Home Affairs portfolio brings together agencies such as the Australian Customs Service , the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, which were previously the...
1987-88, Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Australia)
In the Government of Australia, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship is responsible for overseeing the Department of Immigration and Citizenship....
1988-90 (with a seat in the Cabinet), and Minister for Defence
Minister for Defence (Australia)
The Minister for Defence of Australia administers his portfolio through the Australian Defence Organisation, which comprises the Department of Defence and the Australian Defence Force. Stephen Smith is the current Minister.-Ministers for Defence:...
1990-96. In this portfolio he strongly supported Hawke's decision to send Australian forces to support the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
, despite bitter opposition from the left.
After the defeat of the Keating
Paul Keating
Paul John Keating was the 24th Prime Minister of Australia, serving from 1991 to 1996. Keating was elected as the federal Labor member for Blaxland in 1969 and came to prominence as the reformist treasurer of the Hawke Labor government, which came to power at the 1983 election...
government in 1996 election, Ray did not seek election to the Opposition Shadow Ministry, but remained a powerful figure in the Labor Party, acting as a key factional supporter of Opposition Leader Kim Beazley
Kim Beazley
In the October 1998 election, Labor polled a majority of the two-party vote and received the largest swing to a first-term opposition since 1934. However, due to the uneven nature of the swing, Labor came up eight seats short of making Beazley Prime Minister....
1996-2001. His influence diminished when Mark Latham
Mark Latham
Mark William Latham , an author and former Australian politician, was leader of the Federal Parliamentary Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition from December 2003 to January 2005....
became Leader in 2003. He did not stand for re-election at the 2007 election, which meant that his Senate term was due to expire on 30 June 2008. He formally resigned from Parliament on 5 May 2008, having spent two more days in the Senate as a member of government than as a member of the Opposition. The casual vacancy was filled by Jacinta Collins
Jacinta Collins
Jacinta Mary Ann Collins , is an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian Senate. She served from May 1995 to 2005, and again from May 2008, representing the state of Victoria....
.