Brian Harradine

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Brian Harradine
Senator for Tasmania
In office
13 December 1975 – 30 June 2005
Personal details
Born(1935-01-09)9 January 1935
Quorn, South Australia
Died14 April 2014(2014-04-14) (aged 79)
Tasmania, Australia
Political partyIndependent
Other political
affiliations		Tasmanian Independent Senator Brian Harradine Group

Richard William Brian Harradine (9 January 1935 – 14 April 2014) was an Australian politician who served as an independent member of the

Father of the Senate
.

Early life

Harradine was born in Quorn, South Australia, and moved to Tasmania in 1959.[1]

Political career

He was an official for the

Trades and Labour Council and a member of the executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.[3]

In 1968, the Federal Executive of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) refused to let Harradine take his seat on the body.[4] He was suspected of links with the Democratic Labor Party,[5] and had declared that "the friends of the Communists intend to try and silence me".[6] The Executive's actions prompted ALP leader Gough Whitlam, who had supported Harradine, to resign and seek a renewed mandate from the caucus. He was re-elected by a narrow margin, 38 votes to 32, in a ballot against Jim Cairns.[4]

In 1975, the Federal Executive, by a majority of only one vote, expelled Harradine. It subsequently rejected, by the same margin, an attempt to convene a special conference to hear his appeal. The Executive's action came after the Tasmanian State Executive declined to expel him.[7] He had been accused of involvement with the National Civic Council.[8]

He decided to contest the 1975 election as an independent for the Senate, and won comfortably. Thereafter, he remained a senator until deciding not to contest the 2004 election. His term expired on 30 June 2005.[9]

From 1993 to 1999, Harradine and

Fathers of the Senate
. Between 1999 and 2005, Harradine held the title alone.

He was a particularly important figure in the Senate between 1994 and 1999. (See

Goods and Services Tax.[10]
After 1 July 1999, the Coalition needed four extra votes to pass Senate legislation so Harradine's vote became less important.

He was socially conservative, reflecting his Catholic values.

RU486, and a prohibition on Australian overseas aid financing family planning that included abortion advice.[6]

Death

He died in April 2014 at his home, in Tasmania, aged 79. He had suffered several strokes prior to his death.[13] Prime Minister Tony Abbott offered Harradine's family a state funeral, which was accepted.[14] The funeral was held on 23 April 2014 at St Mary's Cathedral, Hobart.

References

  1. ^ Rimon, Wendy: Brian Harradine, The Companion to Tasmanian History, University of Tasmania, 2006.
  2. ^ Stuparich, Jeremy (15 April 2014). "Brian Harradine was a people's advocate with strong beliefs". The Age. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  3. ^ "Brian Harradine". Utas.edu.au. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  4. ^
    ISBN 978-0-7022-3111-7
    .
  5. ^ "By year – National Archives of Australia". Naa.gov.au. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  6. ^ a b Grattan, Michelle (14 April 2014). "Brian Harradine – a one-off who played the power of one to the max". The Conversation. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Running Sore". The Sydney Morning Herald. 28 September 1975. p. 25. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  8. ^ Darby, Andrew (23 April 2014). "Former senator Brian Harradine remembered as a 'just, principled' man". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  9. ^ Green, Antony: Retiring MPs, 2004 Federal Election Guide, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2004.
  10. ^ a b Grattan, Michelle. "Harradine and the political power of one", The Age, 30 June 2004.
  11. ^ Wright, Tony (14 April 2014). "Former senator Brian Harradine – the blueprint for the power of one". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  12. ^ a b Chan, Gabrielle (14 April 2014). "Longest-serving independent senator Brian Harradine dies aged 79". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  13. ^ a b c "Brian Harradine, Australia's longest-serving independent senator, dies in Tasmania aged 79". ABC News. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  14. ^ "State Funeral For Brian Harradine". sydneycatholic.org. 17 April 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.

Further reading

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Father of the Australian Senate
1993–2005
with Mal Colston
(1993–1999) 		Succeeded by
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