Justin O'Byrne
Encyclopedia
Justin Hilary O'Byrne, AO
(1 June 1912 – 10 November 1993) was a long-serving Australia
n Labor Party
politician
who represented Tasmania
in the Federal Senate
from 1947 to 1981, acting as President of the Senate
from 1974 to 1975.
, Tasmania
, and was educated at St Patrick's College
. At the age of 18, during the Great Depression
, he travelled to Queensland where he spent ten years working a variety of jobs including drover, fencer, bullock driver, tank sinker and station overseer.
In 1940 he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force
as a pilot, becoming a member of the No. 452 Squadron RAAF
which operated with No. 11 Group RAF
during the Battle of Britain
. He was shot down over France
in 1941 and was a prisoner of war
in the Stalag Luft III
prison camp in Germany
for three years and nine months.
Following the war, O'Byrne stood for the Labor Party in Tasmania in the 1946 federal election
, and was elected. O'Byrne's term as Senator began on 1 July 1947, and from that point, he remained in the Senate representing Tasmania until 30 June 1981.
Following the Double Dissolution of 11 April 1974 and subsequent federal election
, O'Byrne was elected President of the Senate
on 9 July 1974. He held this office until the Dismissal of the Whitlam government on 11 November 1975. Senator Robert Ray
said of O'Byrne's time as President of the Senate "Justin presided over the Senate during one of the most tumultuous and still controversial periods in Australian politics. The fact that there was not one dissent from his rulings, nor any vote of no confidence, is a testament to his performance and the high regard in which he was held by those on both sides of the chamber."
O'Byrne retired from the Senate, his term ending on 30 June 1981. His term of 34 years was the third longest in the history of the Senate. From 1968 to 1971 he was a joint Father of the Senate, and from 1971 until his retirement he alone held this title.
On 26 January 1984, O'Byrne was made an Officer of the Order of Australia
"for service to politics and government."
O'Byrne died on 10 November 1993, and a state funeral was held at the Church of the Apostles in Launceston.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(1 June 1912 – 10 November 1993) was a long-serving Australia
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 Labor Party
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who represented 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...
in the Federal Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
from 1947 to 1981, acting as President of the Senate
President of the Australian Senate
The President of the Australian Senate is the presiding officer of the Australian Senate, the upper house of the Parliament of Australia. The presiding officer of the lower house is the Speaker of the House of Representatives....
from 1974 to 1975.
Biography
Justin O'Byrne was born in LauncestonLaunceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
, 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...
, and was educated at St Patrick's College
St Patrick's College, Launceston
St Patrick's College is a coeducational Catholic secondary college, located in Launceston, Tasmania. The college has around 1301 students enrolled...
. At the age of 18, during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, he travelled to Queensland where he spent ten years working a variety of jobs including drover, fencer, bullock driver, tank sinker and station overseer.
In 1940 he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
as a pilot, becoming a member of the No. 452 Squadron RAAF
No. 452 Squadron RAAF
No. 452 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force air traffic control unit. It was originally formed in 1941 fighter unit formed in accordance with Article XV of the Empire Air Training Scheme during World War II, in England. The squadron flew Supermarine Spitfires for the entire war, initially over...
which operated with No. 11 Group RAF
No. 11 Group RAF
No. 11 Group was a group in the Royal Air Force for various periods in the 20th century, finally disbanding in 1996. Its most famous service was during 1940 when it defended London and the south-east against the attacks of the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain.-First World War:No. 11 Group was...
during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
. He was shot down over France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1941 and was a prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
in the Stalag Luft III
Stalag Luft III
Stalag Luft III was a Luftwaffe-run prisoner-of-war camp during World War II that housed captured air force servicemen. It was in the German Province of Lower Silesia near the town of Sagan , southeast of Berlin...
prison camp in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
for three years and nine months.
Following the war, O'Byrne stood for the Labor Party in Tasmania in the 1946 federal election
Australian federal election, 1946
Federal elections were held in Australia on 28 September 1946. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election...
, and was elected. O'Byrne's term as Senator began on 1 July 1947, and from that point, he remained in the Senate representing Tasmania until 30 June 1981.
Following the Double Dissolution of 11 April 1974 and subsequent federal election
Australian federal election, 1974
Federal elections were held in Australia on 18 May 1974. All 127 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 60 seats in the Senate were up for election, due to a double dissolution...
, O'Byrne was elected President of the Senate
President of the Australian Senate
The President of the Australian Senate is the presiding officer of the Australian Senate, the upper house of the Parliament of Australia. The presiding officer of the lower house is the Speaker of the House of Representatives....
on 9 July 1974. He held this office until the Dismissal of the Whitlam government on 11 November 1975. Senator Robert Ray
Robert Ray (Australian politician)
Robert Francis Ray , Australian politician, was an Australian Labor Party member of the Senate from July 1981 to May 2008, representing the state of Victoria....
said of O'Byrne's time as President of the Senate "Justin presided over the Senate during one of the most tumultuous and still controversial periods in Australian politics. The fact that there was not one dissent from his rulings, nor any vote of no confidence, is a testament to his performance and the high regard in which he was held by those on both sides of the chamber."
O'Byrne retired from the Senate, his term ending on 30 June 1981. His term of 34 years was the third longest in the history of the Senate. From 1968 to 1971 he was a joint Father of the Senate, and from 1971 until his retirement he alone held this title.
On 26 January 1984, O'Byrne was made an Officer of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
"for service to politics and government."
O'Byrne died on 10 November 1993, and a state funeral was held at the Church of the Apostles in Launceston.