Frank Crean
Encyclopedia
Frank Crean was a senior minister in the Australian Labor Party
government of Gough Whitlam
from 1972 to 1975, and was Deputy Prime Minister
for the last six months of the government's term.
Crean was born Francis Daniel Crean in Hamilton
, Victoria
, where his father was a bicycle-maker of Irish Catholic descent. Crean, however, was a Presbyterian
, and changed his name from Francis Daniel to the less Irish-sounding Frank. He graduated from the University of Melbourne
with degrees in arts and commerce and a diploma in public administration, and became an accountant and tax consultant. In 1945 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
, but was defeated in 1947. He was re-elected in 1949.
In 1946 Crean married Mary Findlay, with whom he had three sons. One of these, Simon Crean
, was the federal Labor leader from 2001 to 2003. Another, Dr. David Crean
, became a minister in the state Labor government in Tasmania
. The third son, Stephen Crean
, became lost while skiing and died in a blizzard near Charlotte Pass
in August 1985. A massive search failed to find him. His remains were found more than two years later.
In 1951 Crean quit state politics to stand for the safe Labor seat of Melbourne Ports
in the Australian House of Representatives
. In Canberra Crean advanced rapidly, since he was one of the few Labor members with formal qualifications in economics. In 1956 he was elected to the Opposition front-bench and became in effect shadow Treasurer (although Labor did not have a formal shadow ministry until 1969), a position he held for 16 years.
During the 1960s Crean was sometimes considered as a possible party leader, but his rather plodding public image meant that he was overtaken by Gough Whitlam
, who became leader in 1967. When Whitlam finally led Labor to office at the 1972 election
, Crean became Treasurer
, although Whitlam had no real confidence in him.
Crean was unfortunate that his time as Treasurer coincided with the onset of high inflation
and rising unemployment
. He did not trust the orthodox economic advice he was getting from the Treasury, but he lacked the authority to challenge it. The leader of the Labor Left, Dr Jim Cairns
, attacked Crean's policies in the Cabinet, and in December 1974 Whitlam gave Cairns the Treasury and moved Crean to the Trade
portfolio.
In July 1975 Whitlam sacked Cairns over his involvement in the Loans Affair
, and Crean was elected party Deputy Leader and Deputy Prime Minister
in his place. He held this position until the dismissal of the Whitlam government in November 1975. After the elections he contested the leadership but was defeated by Whitlam. He retired from Parliament in 1977. In July 2006 it was reported that he was too frail to travel interstate for Whitlam's 90th birthday function.
Crean died following a short illness on 2 December 2008, the 36th anniversary of the election of the Whitlam government in 1972.
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
government of Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
from 1972 to 1975, and was Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the second-most senior officer in the Government of Australia. The Deputy Prime Ministership has been a ministerial portfolio since 1968, and the Deputy Prime Minister is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime...
for the last six months of the government's term.
Crean was born Francis Daniel Crean in Hamilton
Hamilton, Victoria
Hamilton is a city in western Victoria, Australia. It is located at the intersection of the Glenelg Highway and the Henty Highway...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, where his father was a bicycle-maker of Irish Catholic descent. Crean, however, was a Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
, and changed his name from Francis Daniel to the less Irish-sounding Frank. He graduated from 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...
with degrees in arts and commerce and a diploma in public administration, and became an accountant and tax consultant. In 1945 he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
, but was defeated in 1947. He was re-elected in 1949.
In 1946 Crean married Mary Findlay, with whom he had three sons. One of these, Simon Crean
Simon Crean
Simon Findlay Crean is an Australian politician, and the current Minister for the Arts and Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government in the Australian Federal Government. He was leader of the Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition at the Federal level,...
, was the federal Labor leader from 2001 to 2003. Another, Dr. David Crean
David Crean
David Crean is a former Labor member of the Parliament of Tasmania. He is the son of former Deputy Prime Minister Frank Crean and brother to former Australian federal opposition leader Simon Crean....
, became a minister in the state Labor government in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. The third son, Stephen Crean
Stephen Crean
Stephen Crean was the son of Frank Crean, an Australian politician, as well as the brother of Simon Crean, an Australian federal politician, and David Crean, a political figure in the state legislature of Tasmania....
, became lost while skiing and died in a blizzard near Charlotte Pass
Charlotte Pass, New South Wales
Charlotte Pass is a location in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales, Australia where the Kosciuszko Road crosses Kangaroo Ridge. The location is also often referred to as Charlotte's Pass, both colloquially and in official documents.Charlotte Pass Village Charlotte Pass is a location (elev....
in August 1985. A massive search failed to find him. His remains were found more than two years later.
In 1951 Crean quit state politics to stand for the safe Labor seat of Melbourne Ports
Division of Melbourne Ports
The Division of Melbourne Ports is an Australian federal electoral division in the inner south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
in the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
. In Canberra Crean advanced rapidly, since he was one of the few Labor members with formal qualifications in economics. In 1956 he was elected to the Opposition front-bench and became in effect shadow Treasurer (although Labor did not have a formal shadow ministry until 1969), a position he held for 16 years.
During the 1960s Crean was sometimes considered as a possible party leader, but his rather plodding public image meant that he was overtaken by Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
, who became leader in 1967. When Whitlam finally led Labor to office at the 1972 election
Australian federal election, 1972
Federal elections were held in Australia on 2 December 1972. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. The Liberal Party of Australia had been in power since 1949, under Prime Minister of Australia William McMahon since March 1971 with coalition partner the Country Party...
, Crean became Treasurer
Treasurer of Australia
The Treasurer of Australia is the minister in the Government of Australia responsible for government expenditure and revenue raising. He is the head of the Department of the Treasury. The Treasurer plays a key role in the economic policy of the government...
, although Whitlam had no real confidence in him.
Crean was unfortunate that his time as Treasurer coincided with the onset of high inflation
Inflation
In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period of time.When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money – a...
and rising unemployment
Unemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
. He did not trust the orthodox economic advice he was getting from the Treasury, but he lacked the authority to challenge it. The leader of the Labor Left, Dr Jim Cairns
Jim Cairns
James Ford "J. F." Cairns , Australian politician, was prominent in the Labor movement through the 1960s and 1970s, and was briefly Deputy Prime Minister in the Whitlam government...
, attacked Crean's policies in the Cabinet, and in December 1974 Whitlam gave Cairns the Treasury and moved Crean to the Trade
Minister for Trade (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Trade has been Dr. Craig Emerson since 14 September 2010.-Portfolio:Currently the Minister for Trade administers the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade jointly with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, although prior to 1987 there was a separate Department of Trade...
portfolio.
In July 1975 Whitlam sacked Cairns over his involvement in the Loans Affair
Loans Affair
The Loans Affair, also called the Khemlani Affair, is the name given to the political scandal involving the Whitlam Government of Australia in 1975, in which it was accused of attempting to borrow money illegally from Middle Eastern countries by bypassing standard procedure as dictated by the...
, and Crean was elected party Deputy Leader and Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the second-most senior officer in the Government of Australia. The Deputy Prime Ministership has been a ministerial portfolio since 1968, and the Deputy Prime Minister is appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime...
in his place. He held this position until the dismissal of the Whitlam government in November 1975. After the elections he contested the leadership but was defeated by Whitlam. He retired from Parliament in 1977. In July 2006 it was reported that he was too frail to travel interstate for Whitlam's 90th birthday function.
Crean died following a short illness on 2 December 2008, the 36th anniversary of the election of the Whitlam government in 1972.