Robin Gray (Australian politician)
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The Hon. Robin Trevor Gray (Born March 1, 1940, Melbourne) was Premier of Tasmania from 1982 to 1989. A Liberal, he was elected Liberal state leader in 1981 and in 1982 defeated the Labor government of Harry Holgate on a policy of "state development," particularly the building of the Franklin Dam, a hydroelectric dam on the Franklin River.
Gray's campaign to build the dam aroused protests from the Greens, led by Dr Bob Brown (later a Senator). In 1983 the newly elected federal Labor government led by Bob Hawke intervened to prevent the building of the dam.
After seven years in power Gray lost the 1989 election by one seat. He refused to resign and tried to secure a fresh election, but the Governor refused to accept his advice. A Royal Commission later found that prominent Launceston businessman Edmund Rouse had tried to bribe a Labor backbencher to cross the floor and keep Gray in power. Gray denied any knowledge of this but the Royal Commission criticised his conduct. He resigned as Liberal leader in 1991 and left politics in 1995 and went into business.
Gray is now a director of forestry company Gunns Limited.
[edit] References
[edit] Further reading
- Lines, William J. (2006) Patriots : defending Australia's natural heritage St. Lucia, Qld. : University of Queensland Press, 2006. ISBN 0-70223-554-7
| Preceded by Geoff Pearsall |
Opposition Leader of Tasmania 1981–1982 |
Succeeded by Ken Wriedt |
| Preceded by Harry Holgate |
Premier of Tasmania 1982–1989 |
Succeeded by Michael Field |
| Preceded by Michael Field |
Opposition Leader of Tasmania 1989–1991 |
Succeeded by Michael Field |
| Premiers of Tasmania |  |
|---|---|
| Champ | Gregson | Weston | Smith | Chapman | Whyte | Dry | Wilson | Innes | Kennerley | Reibey | Fysh | Giblin | Crowther | Douglas | Agnew | Dobson | Braddon | E. Lewis | Propsting | Evans | Earle | Solomon | Lee | Hayes | Lyons | McPhee | Ogilvie | Dwyer-Gray | Cosgrove | Brooker | Reece | Bethune | Neilson | Lowe | Holgate | Gray | Field | Groom | Rundle | Bacon | Lennon | |
