Bryan Green
Bryan Alexander Green (born 30 June 1957) is a former Australian politician. He was the leader of the parliamentary Labor Party in Tasmania from 2014 to 2017, and a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly in the electorate of Braddon from 1998 to 2017.
Bryan Green | |
|---|---|
| 53rd Leader of the Opposition of Tasmania | |
| In office 31 March 2014 – 17 March 2017 | |
| Premier | Will Hodgman |
| Deputy | Michelle O'Byrne |
| Preceded by | Will Hodgman |
| Succeeded by | Rebecca White |
| Deputy Premier of Tasmania | |
| In office 24 January 2011 – 31 March 2014 | |
| Premier | Lara Giddings |
| Preceded by | Lara Giddings |
| Succeeded by | Jeremy Rockliff |
| In office 5 April 2006 – 15 July 2006 | |
| Premier | Paul Lennon |
| Preceded by | David Llewellyn |
| Succeeded by | Steve Kons |
| Member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for Braddon | |
| In office 29 August 1998 – 17 March 2017 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 June 1957 Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Labor Party |
| Occupation | Machinist, union organiser |
| Website | http://www.bryangreenmp.com/ |
Early life
A native of New South Wales, Green was born in Wollongong. His family later moved to George Town, Tasmania and then to Burnie, Tasmania, where he attended Burnie High School and Burnie Technical College.
From 1974 to 1993, he worked as a machinist for the Burnie mills of Australian Paper. He then spent three years as an electorate officer for Senator Kay Denman, and then several years as a state organiser for the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU).[1]
Political career
Green entered the Tasmanian parliament at the 1998 election. He was appointed to the ministerial portfolio of Primary Industries, Water and Environment in 2002. Following a reshuffle precipitated by the resignation of Premier Jim Bacon due to ill-health, Green was promoted to Minister of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources in 2004.
As Minister for Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Green was responsible for obtaining Parliamentary support for construction of the Meander Dam, a major water project that was opposed by conservationists. As Transport Minister he proposed lowering the states speed limits on rural roads from 100 km/h to 90 km/h, a proposition that was met with somewhat of a backlash. Green later was appointed as the chairman of the Tasmanian Road Safety Council.[2] He was the key negotiator with freight rail company Pacific National, which in September 2005 threatened to 'pull out' of intermodal operations in the State, forcing all containerised and coal rail freight onto the road. While Green initially showed little sign of weakness stating 'Tasmania will not be held at mercy to profitable companies' he later backed down and agreed to a $120 million rescue package ($80 million funded by the Australian federal government) to the company.
Other political achievements by Green included restructuring Tasmania's four port companies into a single entity, supporting a wide-ranging review into public passenger transport services, and increasing transparency in the forestry sector, through changes to Freedom of Information laws and by supporting the role of the Forest Practices Authority. There has long been speculation, mostly arising from the Opposition, that Green has a strong ambition to become Premier.
David Bartlett quit the Premiership in 2011, and when Lara Giddings succeeded Bartlett, Green once again became Deputy Premier.[3] In March 2014, following the resignation of Giddings (who had been defeated by Will Hodgman in the state election), Green was elected Labor leader in Tasmania after gaining unanimous support from colleagues, with Michelle O'Byrne as his deputy.[4] As Green was Giddings' deputy prior to his elevation as leader, this marked the fourth time in a row that the Tasmanian ALP leader had been succeeded by his or her deputy.
On the morning of 17 March 2017, Green told a party meeting that he was retiring from politics. This came amid speculation that party insiders were pressuring Giddings to leave politics and clear the way for trade unionist and former cabinet minister David O'Byrne to return to the legislature and take the leadership. Shadow health minister Rebecca White was elected unopposed to replace him, and Green's seat in Braddon was filled by a recount.[5] He was the first Tasmanian Labor leader in decades not to take the party into an election.
TCC Scandal
On 14 July 2006 Green resigned from all leadership and frontbench positions following an enquiry by Auditor-General Mike Blake. This enquiry examined Green's 15 February deal with Tasmanian Compliance Corporation.[6] The suspect deal promised the TCC company, part-owned by two former Labor ministers (John White and Glen Milliner), a three-year exclusive business monopoly from the Government or $2.5 million compensation.
Premier Paul Lennon sought the resignation; he called in the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide whether Green broke the law in signing the secret deal. The Premier made the decision after discussions with the Solicitor-General, Bill Bale, who advised that the DPP should consider whether the deal breached the criminal code. The offence carries a jail term of up to 21 years.
On 25 October 2006, Green appeared in court in relation to this matter charged with conspiracy and attempting to interfere with an executive officer and was represented by Stephen Estcourt. One of Green's advisers, Guy Nicholson, was also charged with conspiracy. TCC director John White was originally charged on both counts. All conspiracy charges were later dropped by the DPP. White pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to interfere with an executive officer, however no conviction was recorded.[7]
Green faced trial in December 2007 which ended in a hung jury. A 2008 retrial also ended in a hung jury, with the DPP subsequently dropping the charges.[8][9]
See also
References
- "Parliamentary biography". Parliament of Tasmania. Parliament of Tasmania. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- "Tas deputy premier on drink-driving charge". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 June 2011.
- Brown, Damien (24 January 2011). "Giddings is new Tas Premier". The Mercury. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
- "Bryan Green takes on Tasmanian Labor leadership after Lara Giddings resigns". ABC News. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
- "Green out, White in for Tasmanian Labor". ABC News. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- News report on TCC scandal
- "Former Tas ministers face court on conspiracy charges Archived 11 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine", ABC News, 25 October 2006.
- Green to face retrial, ABC News, 13 December 2007
- Former deputy premier goes from court to Parliament, ABC Local Radio, 13 March 2008
External links
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by David Llewellyn |
Deputy Premier of Tasmania 2006 |
Succeeded by Steve Kons |
| Preceded by Lara Giddings |
Deputy Premier of Tasmania 2011–2014 |
Succeeded by Jeremy Rockliff |
| Preceded by Will Hodgman |
Leader of the Opposition (Tasmania) 2014–2017 |
Succeeded by Rebecca White |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Lara Giddings |
Leader of the Labor Party in Tasmania 2014–2017 |
Succeeded by Rebecca White |