Gordon Bryant


Gordon Munro Bryant was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party and represented the Division of Wills in Victoria from 1955 to 1980. He served as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Minister for the Capital Territory in the Whitlam Government.

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.