Bill Hartley

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Bill Hartley (26 October 1930 - 18 February 2006) was an Australian political activist, who was the State Secretary of the Victorian branch of the Australian Labor Party and a leading figure within its Socialist Left faction until his expulsion in 1986.

After his expulsion, he formed the Progressive Labor Party, which did not enjoy success in the elections it contested during the 1980s and 1990s.

Prior to his involvement in left-wing politics, he was a Young Liberal and was active in the University of Western Australia's Liberal Club.

He was a radio broadcaster from 1978 to 1995 on community radio 3CR with a programme called Par Avion which was the most influential left wing show in Australia. He was also a paid correspondent for various Arab governments' media organisations including Iraq and Libya.

He gained public attention following his involvement in attempts to raise large sums of money for the Labor Party from Saddam Hussein's Baath Party in 1975 and for his outspoken views on a variety of issues, particularly the Middle East conflict.

He was born in Southern Cross, Western Australia, and died, aged 75, in Geraldton, in the same state.