Bill Forwood
Encyclopedia
William Forwood (born 21 October 1946) was an Australia
n politician. He was the Liberal
member of the Victorian Legislative Council
from 1992 to 2006, representing Templestowe Province
.
Forwood was born in Adelaide
, and began his high school education there, but graduated from the prestigious Geelong Grammar School
in Victoria. He studied at the University of Melbourne
, and briefly became a journalist with the Herald and Weekly Times. He quickly changed careers however, becoming a manager at a grocery company for several years.
In 1975, Forwood moved to Canberra
to work as a public servant. The following year, however, he again changed careers, moving to South Australia
to work as a farmer. He returned to a business career in 1980, taking on a position as a merchant banker, and over the next twelve years, worked in a variety of management positions, including being Finance Director of the Victorian Liberal Party. During the 1980s, Forwood also spent a two-year stint as Vice-President of the Northern Territory
's Country Liberal Party
.
Forwood won pre-selection for the Legislative Council seat of Templestowe Province at the 1992 election, by defeating a low-profile sitting Liberal MLC, John Miles
, and went on to win the seat. In his early years in office, he served stints on the Law Reform and Legislative Council Privileges Committees. In 1996, he was appointed as Chair of the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee, before receiving his first ministerial appointment in 1998, when he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier. This was to be relatively short-lived, however, as Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett
was defeated in a surprise result the following year.
After the election loss, Forwood was promoted to Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Shadow Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs, and Shadow Minister for Tourism. He also continued in his work with the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee - albeit as Deputy Chairman. In 2000, he gained the portfolio of Rural and Regional Development at the expense of Aboriginal Affairs. In 2001, Forwood found himself promoted again, as he succeeded Mark Birrell
as Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, and was also made Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations.
The Liberal Party had not been tipped to win the 2002 election, but it became one of the worst results in the party's history, losing an array of seats, including several Shadow Ministers. Forwood was not up for re-election, but he was nevertheless a casualty of the election - in the aftermath of the devastating result, he was dumped as Leader in the Legislative Council in favor of Philip Davis, and also lost the Industrial Relations portfolio. After a brief spell as Shadow Minister for Conservation and Environment, he gained the portfolios of Energy Industries (since renamed to Resources and Energy) and WorkCover in 2002.
In addition to his shadow ministerial portfolios, Forwood was the Deputy Chair of the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee, and sat on the Legislative Council Privileges Committee.
Forwood retired at the 2006 state election.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. He was the Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member of the Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
from 1992 to 2006, representing Templestowe Province
Templestowe Province
Templestowe Province was an electorate of the Victorian Legislative Council. It existed as a two-member electorate from 1967 to 2006, with members serving alternating eight-year terms. It was traditionally held by the Liberal Party of Australia, but was held by the Australian Labor Party on two...
.
Forwood was born in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, and began his high school education there, but graduated from the prestigious Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, co-educational, boarding and day school. The school's main campus is located at Corio, on the northern outskirts of Geelong, Victoria, Australia, overlooking Corio Bay and Limeburners Bay....
in Victoria. He studied at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, and briefly became a journalist with the Herald and Weekly Times. He quickly changed careers however, becoming a manager at a grocery company for several years.
In 1975, Forwood moved to Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
to work as a public servant. The following year, however, he again changed careers, moving to South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
to work as a farmer. He returned to a business career in 1980, taking on a position as a merchant banker, and over the next twelve years, worked in a variety of management positions, including being Finance Director of the Victorian Liberal Party. During the 1980s, Forwood also spent a two-year stint as Vice-President of the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
's Country Liberal Party
Country Liberal Party
The Northern Territory Country Liberal Party is a Northern Territory political party affiliated with both the National and Liberal parties...
.
Forwood won pre-selection for the Legislative Council seat of Templestowe Province at the 1992 election, by defeating a low-profile sitting Liberal MLC, John Miles
John Miles (Australian politician)
John Gould Miles was an Australian politician and member of the Victorian Legislative Council for Templestowe Province representing the Liberal Party of Australia from April 1985 until his retirement in August 1992...
, and went on to win the seat. In his early years in office, he served stints on the Law Reform and Legislative Council Privileges Committees. In 1996, he was appointed as Chair of the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee, before receiving his first ministerial appointment in 1998, when he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier. This was to be relatively short-lived, however, as Liberal Premier Jeff Kennett
Jeff Kennett
Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC , a former Australian politician, was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999. He is currently the President of Hawthorn Football Club. He is the founding Chairman of beyondblue, a national depression initiative.- Early life :Kennett was born in Melbourne on 2 March...
was defeated in a surprise result the following year.
After the election loss, Forwood was promoted to Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Shadow Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs, and Shadow Minister for Tourism. He also continued in his work with the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee - albeit as Deputy Chairman. In 2000, he gained the portfolio of Rural and Regional Development at the expense of Aboriginal Affairs. In 2001, Forwood found himself promoted again, as he succeeded Mark Birrell
Mark Birrell
Mark Alexander Birrell is a solicitor, company director and a former Cabinet Minister in the Australian state of Victoria.-Early life:...
as Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, and was also made Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations.
The Liberal Party had not been tipped to win the 2002 election, but it became one of the worst results in the party's history, losing an array of seats, including several Shadow Ministers. Forwood was not up for re-election, but he was nevertheless a casualty of the election - in the aftermath of the devastating result, he was dumped as Leader in the Legislative Council in favor of Philip Davis, and also lost the Industrial Relations portfolio. After a brief spell as Shadow Minister for Conservation and Environment, he gained the portfolios of Energy Industries (since renamed to Resources and Energy) and WorkCover in 2002.
In addition to his shadow ministerial portfolios, Forwood was the Deputy Chair of the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee, and sat on the Legislative Council Privileges Committee.
Forwood retired at the 2006 state election.