Bill Burns (Australian politician)

William George Burns (22 October 1933 – 16 March 2009) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party and served in the House of Representatives from 1977 to 1980, representing the Victorian seat of Isaacs. He ran a pub in Collingwood before entering parliament.

Bill Burns
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Isaacs
In office
10 December 1977 – 18 October 1980
Preceded byDavid Hamer
Succeeded byDavid Charles
Personal details
Born(1933-10-22)22 October 1933
Northern Ireland
Died16 March 2009(2009-03-16) (aged 75)
NationalityAustralian
Political partyLiberal
OccupationPublican

Early life

Burns was born in Northern Ireland. He arrived in Tasmania in 1951 as a "Little Brother" with the Big Brother Movement and settled in the Derwent Valley.[1] He eventually moved to Melbourne where he became a publican, the proprietor of the Sir Robert Peel Hotel in Collingwood.[2]

Politics

Burns joined the Young Liberal Movement in Tasmania in 1952. There he was introduced to Senator Reg Wright who he later described as "a great friend and adviser".[1]

Following David Hamer's transfer to the Senate, Burns won Liberal preselection for the Division of Isaacs and was elected to parliament at the 1977 federal election.[3] In his maiden speech he raised the issues of tax breaks for zoos and government support for the disabled.[1] One of his final speeches in the House was a condolence motion for his friend Jim Brosnan, the federal president of the Democratic Labor Party.[4] He was defeated by the Labor candidate David Charles at the 1980 federal election.[3]

Later life

Burns died on 16 March 2009.[5]

References
  1. "Maiden speech". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. 9 March 1978. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  2. "Victoria no longer predictably conservative". the Canberra Times. 8 December 1977.
  3. Carr, Adam (2008). "Australian Election Archive". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. Retrieved 20 June 2008.
  4. "Condolence motion". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. 21 August 1980. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  5. Hansard announcement of death
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
David Hamer		 Member for Isaacs
1977–1980		 Succeeded by
David Charles


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