Gordon Bryant

Gordon Munro Bryant (3 August 1914 – 14 January 1991) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and represented the Division of Wills in Victoria from 1955 to 1980. He served as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (1972–1973) and Minister for the Capital Territory (1973–1975) in the Whitlam Government.

The Honourable Gordon Bryant
Minister for the Capital Territory
In office 9 October 1973 – 11 November 1975
Prime Minister	Gough Whitlam
Preceded by	Kep Enderby
Succeeded by	Reg Withers
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
In office 19 December 1972 – 9 October 1973
Prime Minister	Gough Whitlam
Preceded by	Peter Howson (Environment, Aborigines and the Arts)
Succeeded by	Jim Cavanagh
Member of the Australian Parliament for Wills
In office 10 December 1955 – 19 September 1980
Preceded by	Bill Bryson
Succeeded by	Bob Hawke
Personal details
Born	3 August 1914 Lismore, Victoria, Australia
Died	14 January 1991 (aged 76) Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Labor
Spouse(s)	Pat
Alma mater	University of Melbourne
Occupation	Teacher

Early life

Bryant was born in Lismore, Victoria, and educated at Frankston High School, Melbourne Teachers' College and Melbourne University. He worked as a high school teacher and served in the Australian Army and later the Citizens' Military Force before entering politics.

Politics

Bryant was elected to Parliament in 1955. A passionate supporter of land rights, he was president of the Aborigines Advancement League for seven years, from 1957 to 1964.

After seventeen years in Parliament, Bryant joined the Cabinet of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, becoming Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in 1972. A year later he became Minister for the Capital Territory. As Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, he was instrumental in the Whitlam Government's historic land rights deal with Vincent Lingiari and the Gurindji people. Bryant retired in 1980, and his electorate was taken over by future Prime Minister Bob Hawke. Bryant had earlier resisted pressure to retire early in order to expedite Hawke's entry to Parliament via a by-election.

Personal life

Bryant died in January 1991, eleven months prior to Hawke's ousting as Prime Minister.

He is survived by his wife, Pat, who died in 2003, and two sons, Robin and Linton.

References

• Australian House of Representatives HANSARD, "DEATH OF HON. G.M. BRYANT, E.D.", 1991-02-12 (excerpt available online).
• "PM lent hand to land rights", Karen Middleton, The West Australian, 2004-01-01.