Ralph Willis

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

Willis was born in Melbourne 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.

In 1972, the year that the Whitlam Labor government was elected, Willis was elected as a Labor member of the Australian House of Representatives for the extremely safe Labor seat of Gellibrand in Melbourne's western suburbs. He was elected to the Opposition front bench after Labor's defeat in 1975, and was Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Economic Affairs and Treasury from 1976 to 1983. In January 1983, however, he was dropped from the Treasury position by Labor leader Bill Hayden, who was trying to shore up his position by making a key factional leader, Paul Keating, Shadow Treasurer.

As a former ACTU official Willis was regarded as a protegee of the new Labor leader, Bob Hawke (a former ACTU President), who became Prime Minister in March 1983. Hawke, however, kept Keating in the Treasury portfolio and Willis became Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations. In 1987 he shifted to Transport and Communications, and in 1990 to Finance. When Keating resigned as Treasurer in 1991, Willis was again passed over when Hawke gave the Treasury to John Kerin. But Kerin proved a failure and in December 1991 Willis finally became Treasurer.

Willis's 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 in December 1993. Keating was reluctant to give Willis Treasury again, considering him a low-key Parliamentary performer, but accepted party opinion that Willis deserved the job. Willis served the last term of the Keating government as Treasurer.

Willis's last act as Treasurer, 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. This gaffe wrecked the last week of Labor's campaign. Willis retired to the backbench after Labor's defeat in 1996 and retired from Parliament at the 1998 election.

[edit] Post Parliamentary Appointments

  • Chair of Western Health Board July 1 2004
  • Chairman of the Construction and Building Industry Superannuation Fund
  • 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.

[edit] Sources

Preceded by:
John Kerin		 Treasurer of Australia
1991		 Succeeded by:
John Dawkins
Preceded by:
John Dawkins		 Treasurer of Australia
1993-1996		 Succeeded by:
Peter Costello
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