Julian Grill
Julian Fletcher Grill (born 15 May 1940) is an Australian former politician. Grill was a member of the Parliament of Western Australia between 1977 and 2001.
Julian Grill | |
|---|---|
| Minister for Transport, Regional Development, and the North-West with special responsibility for Bunbury 2000 | |
| In office 25 February 1983 – 26 February 1986 | |
| Minister for Agriculture, The South-West, Fisheries, Transport | |
| In office 26 February 1986 – 12 May 1986 | |
| Minister for the North-West | |
| In office 26 February 1986 – 25 July 1986 | |
| Minister assisting the Minister for Economic Development and Trade | |
| In office 7 June 1988 – 28 February 1989 | |
| Minister for Economic Development and Trade, and Tourism | |
| In office 28 February 1989 – 12 February 1990 | |
| Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for Eyre | |
| In office 4 February 1989 – 10 February 2001 | |
| Preceded by | New creation |
| Succeeded by | John Bowler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Julian Fletcher Grill 15 May 1940 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Labor Party (?–2007) |
| Profession | Lobbyist, barrister, solicitor & politician |
Early life and education
Grill was born in Sydney, New South Wales and was brought up in Broken Hill, New South Wales, Collie, Western Australia, and Subiaco, Western Australia. He attended Perth Modern School and the University of Western Australia from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws.
Legal career
Grill was admitted to the Western Australian Bar of the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 1966. A partner of Henshaw, Wheeldon and Grill; Evans and Grill; and Grill Browne and Co, he specialised in mining and resources law.
Parliamentary career
Grill was elected as the Member for Yilgarn-Dundas in Western Australia's Lower House in 1977. Due to redistributions the seat changed a number of times, initially becoming Esperance-Dundas and eventually Eyre. He was re-elected in subsequent elections, and was promoted to the front bench in 1981. Grill became Minister for Transport in the First Burke Ministry in 1983.[1] He later served in the Agriculture, Fisheries, the North West, Regional Development, Economic Development, Trade and Tourism portfolios. He retired from politics in 2001 and did not contest the 2001 election.[2]
As a politician, Grill commenced planning for metropolitan rail expansion and electrification, re-establishing the Perth to Fremantle rail service, led the legislative process to abolish capital punishment, led streamlining the rail freight services to cut out overmanning, initiated rail rejuvenation in the Perth metropolitan area, began the process of selling WA education in Asia, with colleagues conceived and instituted the Bunbury 2000 programme, executed the state's largest regional renewal project, wrote the energy policy adopted by the Gallop government, superintended the state's first substantial marine national parks and reserves, led conception and delivery of the Hillarys Boat Harbour development, was a member of the team that established the Dawesville Channel, led trade delegations to India, China and Hong Kong, secured substantial funding for community projects in Collie, discontinued the Fitzgerald National Park land release programme, facilitated the government's commitment to the Collie Power Station, facilitated the commitment of Griffin Coal to the Bluewaters Power Station, and helped convince Worsley (BHP) to embrace coal in its recent major expansions.
Post-parliamentary career
As a lobbyist Grill contributed directly to breaking the Pilbara iron-ore duopoly (BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto) helping to open the way for Fortescue Metals Group and others. He also helped secure compensation for victims of the mortgage brokers scandal in Western Australia and played a key role in advancing several major projects, many of which generated significant employment in Western Australia.
In 2007 Grill was expelled from the Australian Labor Party over a donation he facilitated on behalf of a client to the WA Nationals during the 2004/05 financial year.[3] Later in 2007, he was forced to publicly apologise to the Legislative Assembly for leaking a draft parliamentary committee report to Precious Metals Australia in 2006 after receiving it from longtime friend and former Labor minister John Bowler.[4] The following year, he was ordered to apologise in writing to the Western Australian Legislative Council for giving Burke documents from an inquiry into the iron ore industry. However, he refused to do so, putting him at risk of being jailed for contempt of parliament, though the Upper House ultimately opted against jailing him.[5][6]
Grill was investigated by the Corruption and Crime Commission of Western Australia and was charged. He was subsequently found not guilty of all charges.[7]
In 2014 Grill was involved in business providing specialist expertise in negotiation, business acquisitions, property development and general management.
Grill has been chairman or a non-executive director of ASX-listed companies Asia Oil and Minerals, Kalgoorlie Boulder Resources, Regal Resources, and Focus Resources. He was the principal of Julian Grill Consulting and is the principal of Julian Grill Advisory.
His interests include agriculture, resources, civil rights and the Goldfields of Western Australia.
References
- Wilson, Nigel (24 February 1983). "First Burke Cabinet creates new Ministry". The Age. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- "Hon. Julian Fletcher Grill LL.B., JP". Western Australian Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- Taylor, Robert (27 June 2007). "Red faces for ALP after Grill expulsion backfires". The West Australian.
After spending most of this year trying to expel lobbyist Julian Grill from the ALP, Labor finally found a shortcut through the partys processes yesterday when it threw him out for donating to the National Party before the last Federal election.
- Weber, David. Grill apologises to WA Parliament. ABC News, 2007-08-14.
- "Julian Grill facing possible jail term". ABC News. 20 February 2008.
- Nicolas Perpitch (8 April 2008). "Former WA MP Julian Grill avoids jail". Sydney Morning Herald.
- "WA:Charges dropped against Burke, Grill". Australian Associated Press General News. 2 February 2012.