Peter Reith
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Peter Reith | |
 |
|
|
|
|
|---|---|
| In office 2000 – 2001 |
|
| Preceded by | John Moore |
| Succeeded by | Robert Hill |
| Constituency | Flinders |
|
|
|
| Born | 15 July 1950 Melbourne, Victoria |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
Peter Keaston Reith, (born 15 July 1950), Australian former politician, was a senior Cabinet minister in the first two terms of the Howard government.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Reith was born in Melbourne and educated at Brighton Grammar School and Monash University where he graduated with degrees in law and economics. He practised as a solicitor in Cowes, a small town on Phillip Island, south east of Melbourne.
[edit] Political life
Reith joined the Liberal Party. In a by-election in December, 1982, caused by the resignation of Sir Phillip Lynch, he was elected to the House of Representatives to represent the seat of Flinders. He lost his seat at the March 1983 general election. He was elected again in December 1984 and remained the Member for Flinders until his retirement in 2001.
Reith was a shadow minister in various portfolios from 1987 until 1996 (except for a few months in 1993), including Shadow Attorney-General in 1988 (when he led the successful "no" campaign at the 1988 referendum) and Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Treasurer from 1990 to 1993. Along with John Hewson, he was one of the principal architects of the Liberal Party's "Fightback" policy, including the Goods and Services Tax. He resigned as shadow Treasurer after the loss of the 1993 election as well as losing the Deputy Leadership in the post-election ballot.
Following the election of the Howard government at the 1996 election, Reith became Minister for Workplace Relations, and was responsible for implementing the government's industrial relations policy, although he was frustrated in this by the government's lack of a majority in the Senate. His handling of the 1998 Australian waterfront dispute, in which he openly supported Patrick Corporation in its successful efforts to defeat the Maritime Union of Australia, led to a great deal of criticism from unions and the ALP.
Reith was embroiled in an investigation over the improper use of a phone card in 2000, a bill totalling $50,000, some $1000 which he admitted had been attributed to his son having access to the PIN associated with the card.[1]
Howard shifted Reith to the Defence portfolio in 2000.
[edit] After politics
In 2001 Reith announced his retirement from politics. He did not contest the 2001 election and was succeeded as Liberal MP for Flinders by Greg Hunt and as Minister of Defence by Senator Robert Hill. Somewhat controversially,[2] Reith took up employment with Tenix, a major Australian Defence contractor shortly after leaving politics. On 27 February, 2002, Prime Minister John Howard issued a press release denying media reports that of links between a decision to supply five police runabout boats to Indonesia and any discussions with Reith on behalf of Tenix.[3]
In 2003 Reith accepted an appointment as an executive director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development based in London representing Australia, the Republic of Korea, Egypt and New Zealand.
[edit] References
- ^ Williams, Philip. "Just who will pay Peter Reith's $50,000 phone bill?", PM (Radio National), Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 10 October 2000. Retrieved on 2007-11-27.
- ^ ABC News Online, Tenix defends Reith appointment, access date 30 January, 2007
- ^ PM Howard Press Release, 17 February, 2002, access date 30 January, 2007
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2007) |
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Laurie Brereton (industrial relations) David Kemp (employment) Geoff Prosser (small business) |
Minister for Industrial Relations 1996 – 1997 |
Succeeded by Tony Abbott (employment and workplace relations) Ian Macfarlane (small business) |
| Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Small Business 1997 – 2001 |
||
| Preceded by John Moore |
Minister for Defence 2001 |
Succeeded by Robert Hill |
| Parliament of Australia | ||
| Preceded by Phillip Lynch |
Member for Flinders 1982 – 1983 |
Succeeded by Robert Chynoweth |
| Preceded by Robert Chynoweth |
Member for Flinders 1984 – 2001 |
Succeeded by Greg Hunt |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Reith, Peter |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Reith, Peter Keaston (full name) |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Australian politician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 15 July 1950 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
