Tom Burns (Australian politician)

Thomas James Burns AO (27 October 1931 – 4 June 2007) was an Australian politician who led the Labor Party (ALP) in Queensland between 1974 and 1978 and was Deputy Premier of Queensland between 1989 and 1996.[1] He served as the Member for Lytton in the Parliament of Queensland between 1972 and 1996. Burns had previously served as the Federal President of Labor between 1970 and 1973, playing a key role in modernising the party prior to the election of Gough Whitlam as the Prime Minister of Australia in 1972.[2]

Tom Burns
25th Deputy Premier of Queensland
In office
7 December 1989 – 19 February 1996
PremierWayne Goss
Preceded byBill Gunn
Succeeded byJoan Sheldon
Deputy Leader of the Labor Party in Queensland
In office
29 August 1984 – 19 February 1996
LeaderNev Warburton
Wayne Goss
Preceded byNev Warburton
Succeeded byJim Elder
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Queensland
In office
29 August 1984 – 7 December 1989
LeaderNev Warburton
Wayne Goss
Preceded byNev Warburton
Succeeded byRob Borbidge
Leader of the Opposition in Queensland
Leader of the Labor Party in Queensland
Elections: 1977
In office
19 December 1974 – 28 November 1978
DeputyJack Melloy (1974–1976)
Jack Houston (1976–1978)
Preceded byPerc Tucker
Succeeded byEd Casey
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Lytton
In office
27 May 1972 – 31 May 1996
Preceded byNew seat
Succeeded byPaul Lucas
National President of the Labor Party
In office
August 1970 – 7 June 1973
Preceded byJim Keeffe
Succeeded byBob Hawke
Personal details
Born
Thomas James Burns

(1931-10-27)27 October 1931
Maryborough, Queensland, Australia
Died4 June 2007(2007-06-04) (aged 75)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Political partyLabor
SpouseAngela MacDonald
Children3
Alma materBrisbane Grammar

Early life and career

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Tom Burns was born in Maryborough, Queensland in October 1931. After attending Brisbane Grammar School, he spent six years in the Royal Australian Air Force before becoming involved in politics.[3]

Burns worked as an organiser for the Labor Party between 1960 and 1965 before his promotion to the position as Queensland State Secretary of the ALP. As State Secretary, he played a critical role in persuading the Queensland delegates to the National Executive to vote against the expulsion of Whitlam from the ALP in 1966.[4]

Senior people wanted Burns to become the National Secretary of the Australian Labor Party in 1969 where he would run the party's campaign in the 1969 Federal election. When he was reluctant, Mick Young was appointed as the National Secretary.[5]

He was elected as the National President of the ALP in 1970. Burns was heavily involved in Federal intervention in the New South Wales and Victorian branches, conducting a report into the affairs of the NSW Branch and taking over administrative responsibility with Young for the Victorian Branch. His report on the NSW Branch was critical of the running of the 1968 preselection of Paul Keating as the candidate for the Division of Blaxland. The Federal intervention into the Victorian and NSW branches was a critical factor in Labor's success in the 1972 Federal election.[6]

Parliamentary career

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At the 1972 Queensland election, Burns was elected as the member for Lytton, which is a safe Labor seat.[7] He took over the leadership of the Queensland branch of the Labor Party in 1974 after Labor was reduced to a "cricket team" of 11 members. Burns managed to gain 12 seats in the 1977 election but the Coalition continued to enjoy a healthy majority. He resigned as leader of the Labor Party in 1978.[8]

In 1984, Burns was elected as Deputy Leader of the ALP with Nev Warburton as Leader. He retained the Deputy Leadership when Wayne Goss became the leader, and served as Deputy Premier between 1989 and 1996, holding a variety of ministerial portfolios.[9] Burns retired from the Deputy Leadership and from the Parliament in 1996.[7]

Later years

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Burns remained active in public life after his retirement from politics. He had a long-term interest in China having been a member of the first Australian delegation to China in the 1970s led by Gough Whitlam. In July 1999, the Beattie Government appointed him as Chair of the Queensland-China Council and he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2001 for his contribution to Australia's relationship with China.[10][11]

Burns died in June 2007, aged 75.[8]

References

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  1. ^ Crown Content, Who's Who in Australia 2007 page 369
  2. ^ The Australian, "Queensland Labor stalwart found dead" 4 June 2006
  3. ^ ABC News "Former deputy Qld premier Burns dies" 4 June 2007
  4. ^ Ross McMullin, The Light on the Hill: The Australian Labor Party 1891-1991 page 312
  5. ^ Ross McMullin, The Light on the Hill: The Australian Labor Party 1891-1991 page 324
  6. ^ Ross McMullin, The Light on the Hill: The Australian Labor Party 1891-1991 page 330-333
  7. ^ a b ABC Queensland Election Guide Lytton
  8. ^ a b News Limited, "Former deputy Queensland premier dies" 4 June 2007
  9. ^ Brisbane Times "Queensland loses a political legend" 4 June 2007
  10. ^ Queensland-China Council profile of Tom Burns
  11. ^ It's an Honour: AO
Political offices
Preceded by Deputy Premier of Queensland
1989–1996
Succeeded by
Preceded by Leader of the Opposition of Queensland
1974–1978
Succeeded by
Parliament of Queensland
New seat Member for Lytton
1972–1996
Succeeded by