Ralph Willis

Ralph Willis AO (born 14 April 1938), Australian politician, was Treasurer for the final years of the Keating Labor Government.

For the American musician, see Ralph Willis (blues musician).

The Honourable Ralph Willis AO
Treasurer of Australia
In office 23 December 1993 – 11 March 1996
Prime Minister	Paul Keating
Preceded by	John Dawkins
Succeeded by	Peter Costello
In office 9 December 1991 – 26 December 1991
Prime Minister	Bob Hawke Paul Keating
Preceded by	John Kerin
Succeeded by	John Dawkins
Minister for Finance
In office 27 December 1991 – 23 December 1993
Prime Minister	Paul Keating
Preceded by	Kim Beazley
Succeeded by	Kim Beazley
In office 4 April 1990 – 9 December 1991
Prime Minister	Bob Hawke
Preceded by	Peter Walsh
Succeeded by	Kim Beazley
Minister for Transport and Communications
In office 2 September 1988 – 4 April 1990
Prime Minister	Bob Hawke
Preceded by	Gareth Evans
Succeeded by	Kim Beazley
Minister for Industrial Relations
In office 24 July 1987 – 2 September 1988
Prime Minister	Bob Hawke
Preceded by	Office Created
Succeeded by	Peter Morris
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations
In office 11 March 1983 – 24 July 1987
Prime Minister	Bob Hawke
Preceded by	Ian Macphee
Succeeded by	John Dawkins
Member of the Australian Parliament for Gellibrand
In office 2 December 1972 – 31 August 1998
Preceded by	Hector McIvor
Succeeded by	Nicola Roxon
Personal details
Born	(1938-04-14) 14 April 1938 Melbourne
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s)	Carol Dawson
Alma mater	University of Melbourne
Occupation	Unionist

Career

Willis was born in Melbourne to Stan and Doris Willis and educated at Footscray Central School, University High School and Melbourne University, gaining a Bachelor of Commerce degree. He subsequently worked as a research officer and industrial advocate for the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). He and his wife Carol Willis (née Dawson) have three children, Sandra, Fiona and Evan.

In 1972, the year that the Whitlam Labor government was elected, Willis was elected as a Labor member of the House of Representatives for the extremely safe Labor seat of Gellibrand in Melbourne's western suburbs. The ALP was crushingly defeated in 1975. Willis served as Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Economic Affairs and Treasury from 1976 to 1983. In January 1983, however, he was dropped from the position as shadow Treasurer by Labor leader Bill Hayden, who decided that Paul Keating would be likely to put increased pressure on the government in the area of economic policy.[1]

As a former ACTU official, Willis was regarded as a protégé of the new Labor leader, Bob Hawke (a former ACTU President), who became Prime Minister in March 1983. Hawke, nevertheless, kept Keating in the Treasury portfolio and Willis became Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations. In 1987, he lost part of his portfolio to John Dawkins, who was appointed Minister for Employment, Education and Training, but Willis retained Industrial Relations. The following year, he was appointed Transport and Communications Minister, and in 1990 became Finance Minister. When Keating resigned as Treasurer in June 1991, Willis was again passed over when Hawke gave the Treasury to John Kerin. But Kerin's period as Treasurer was troubled and in December 1991 Willis finally became Treasurer.

Willis's first tenure in the Treasury was brief, however, because Hawke was deposed and succeeded as Prime Minister by Keating only three weeks later. Keating gave Treasury to his ally John Dawkins and Willis was again given Finance. Willis got a second chance when Dawkins, frustrated by Cabinet's rejection of his economic views, resigned suddenly and unexpectedly in December 1993. Keating was reluctant to give Willis Treasury again, considering him an unduly low-key parliamentary performer, but accepted party opinion that Willis deserved the job. Willis served the last term of the Keating government as Treasurer.

One of Willis's final acts, a few days before the 1996 election, was to release (without consulting Keating) a letter purportedly written by the Premier of Victoria, Jeff Kennett, which suggested that a Liberal government led by John Howard would cut grants to the states. Unfortunately for Willis, the letter was a forgery, allegedly foisted on Willis by Melbourne University Liberal Club students.[2] This successful ruse had a markedly adverse impact upon the last week of Labor's campaign. After the election (which the ALP easily lost), Willis retired to the backbench and retired from Parliament prior to the 1998 election. He and Gareth Evans were the only two people to be a member of every Labor cabinet between 1983 and 1996.

At the time of his retirement, Willis was the only Labor Member of Parliament from the period of the Whitlam government still serving. Since retirement from parliament Willis has served on several boards of companies and charities.

Honours

Willis was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001 for long service to the Commonwealth Parliament, including as a minister and as Treasurer.[3] On 13 June 2011, he was named an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the Parliament of Australia, particularly in the areas of economic development and industrial relations, to the superannuation industry, and to the community.[4]

On 2 June 2009, Willis was conferred with the degree of Doctor of the University Honoris Causa from Victoria University for services to Australia and in particular the Western Suburbs of Melbourne.[5]

Post-parliamentary appointments

• Chair of Western Health Board 1 July 2004
• Chairman of the Construction and Building Industry Superannuation Fund (C+BUS).
• Director of the Australian Super Developments.
• Chair and Treasurer of the Mietta Foundation
• Member of the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors.
• Member of the United Nations Secretary-General's High Level Panel on Youth Employment
• Chairperson of the Melbourne City Opera
• Board Member of the Westgate Community Initiatives Group,
• Board Member of the Stan Willis Trust.
• Chairman of LeadWest - 2008 to 2011

Political offices
Preceded by Ian Macphee	Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations 1983–1987	Succeeded by John Dawkins
New title	Minister for Industrial Relations 1987–1988	Succeeded by Peter Morris
Preceded by Gareth Evans	Minister for Transport and Communications 1988–1990	Succeeded by Kim Beazley
Preceded by Peter Walsh	Minister for Finance 1990–1991
Preceded by John Kerin	Treasurer 1991	Succeeded by John Dawkins
Preceded by Kim Beazley	Minister for Finance 1991–1993	Succeeded by Kim Beazley
Preceded by Graham Richardson	Vice-President of the Executive Council 1992–1993	Succeeded by Frank Walker
Preceded by John Dawkins	Treasurer 1993–1996	Succeeded by Peter Costello
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Hector McIvor	Member for Gellibrand 1972–1998	Succeeded by Nicola Roxon

Sources

• "2004 Federal Election". Retrieved 10 July 2012.
• "Ralph Willis awarded Honorary Degree by VU". Retrieved 10 July 2012.
• "Mietta Foundation Board Members Brief CVs". Archived from the original on 13 February 2005. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
• "GELLIBRAND, Vic". Archived from the original on 20 January 2004. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
• "Meet the Western Health Board". Retrieved 10 July 2012.

References

1. Bill Hayden (1996), Hayden: An autobiography, Angus & Robertson, Sydney.
2. "Crikey.com". Crikey.com. 13 November 2002. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
3. "Ralph Willis". Australian Honours Database. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
4. "Ralph Willis AO". Australian Honours Database. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
5. "Victoria University". Vu.edu.au. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 6 May 2012.