Lionel Bowen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lionel Frost Bowen AC (born 28 December 1922), Australian politician, was a senior Labor figure, serving in the ministries of Gough Whitlam and Bob Hawke. He was Deputy Prime Minister of Australia from 1983 to 1990.

Bowen was born in Sydney and educated at Sydney University, becoming a solicitor. He served in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly 1962-69 before being elected to the House of Representatives in 1969. From 1972 to 1975 he served successively as Minister for Manufacturing Industry, Special Minister of State and Postmaster-General in the Whitlam cabinet, gaining a reputation as a reliable if unspectacular minister.

When Whitlam resigned as Labor leader after his defeat at the 1977 elections, Bowen contested the party leadership but was defeated by Bill Hayden and became Deputy Leader. He retained this position when Bob Hawke became Leader in 1983. When Hawke won the 1983 elections, Bowen became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, and in 1984 he became Attorney-General.

In 1988 Bowen sponsored four referendums to reform the Australian Constitution, but all were defeated. In 1990 he retired from federal politics and was succeeded as Deputy Prime Minister by Paul Keating.

Preceded by Tom Uren	Deputy Leader of the Australian Labor Party 1977–1990	Succeeded by Paul Keating
Preceded by Doug Anthony	Deputy Prime Minister of Australia 1983–1990