Neal Blewett
Encyclopedia
Neal Blewett, AC
(born 24 October 1933), Australian politician, was an Australian Labor Party
member of the Australian House of Representatives
representing the Division of Bonython
, South Australia from 1977 to 1994.
, Tasmania, Blewett was educated at Launceston High School and the University of Tasmania
, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Education. Blewett received a Rhodes Scholarship
and studied PPE
at Jesus College
, Oxford between 1957 and 1959 for a further BA (later converted to a Master of Arts). He also obtained a DPhil in political science
. In 1974, he was appointed professor of politics at Flinders University
in South Australia, until 1977 when he ran for parliament.
won government in the 1983 election, Blewett was made Minister for Health
. In 1987, with the introduction of "super-departments", he gained additional responsibilities as Minister for Community Services and Health
. As Health Minister, he oversaw many important reforms such as the implementation of the Medicare
universal health scheme, the Disability Services Act 1986, a 'Drug Offensive' which included tobacco smoking and alcohol, and a national strategy to combat HIV/AIDS. The strategy included a major education and advertising campaign (including the famous 'Grim Reaper' advertisements), and anti-discrimination legislation against HIV/AIDS sufferers.
In 1990, he became Minister for Trade and Overseas Development
. Blewett supported Paul Keating
in his successful 1991 leadership challenge against Hawke, and when Keating became Prime Minister, Blewett became Minister for Social Security
until he retired from politics in 1994, sparking a Bonython by-election
.
.
Returning to Australia in 1998, he became President of the Australian Institute of International Affairs
and a visiting professor of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sydney
. In 2002, he was appointed as President of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia.
In 1999, he published A Cabinet Diary: A Personal Record of the First Keating Government 1991–93, his memoirs which detailed his time on the frontbench of the Keating government.
, the University of Hull
and the Australian National University
. He was appointed an Honorary Fellow of Jesus College Oxford in 1998.
In 1995, he was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia
(AC) for service to Australian society.
Blewett revealed he was homosexual in a May 2000 issue of The Age
s Good Weekend magazine, which profiled his relationship with long-term partner Robert Brain, who he had met as a university student 50 years previously. The couple live in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. Brain and Blewett moved in together in 1989, after which Blewett successfully sued a radio station and two doctors for claiming he was gay.
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"...
(born 24 October 1933), Australian politician, was an Australian 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...
member of 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....
representing the Division of Bonython
Division of Bonython
The Division of Bonython was an Australian Electoral Division in South Australia. The division was created in 1955 and abolished in 2004. It was named for Sir Langdon Bonython, philanthropist, publisher, and federal MP. Bonython was based in the northern working-class suburbs of Adelaide and was a...
, South Australia from 1977 to 1994.
Education and academic career
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, Blewett was educated at Launceston High School and the University of Tasmania
University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania is a medium-sized public Australian university based in Tasmania, Australia. Officially founded on 1 January 1890, it was the fourth university to be established in nineteenth-century Australia...
, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Education. Blewett received a Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
and studied PPE
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
Philosophy, politics, and economics is a popular interdisciplinary undergraduate/graduate degree which combines study from the three disciplines...
at Jesus College
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
, Oxford between 1957 and 1959 for a further BA (later converted to a Master of Arts). He also obtained a DPhil in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. In 1974, he was appointed professor of politics at Flinders University
Flinders University
Flinders University, , is a public university in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1966, it was named in honour of navigator Matthew Flinders, who explored and surveyed the South Australian coastline in the early 19th century.The university has established a reputation as a leading research...
in South Australia, until 1977 when he ran for parliament.
Political career
When Labor under Bob HawkeBob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
won government in the 1983 election, Blewett was made Minister for Health
Minister for Health and Ageing (Australia)
The Minister for Health and Ageing is a portfolio in the Government of Australia with the responsibility for national health policy. The current Minister for Health and Ageing is Nicola Roxon...
. In 1987, with the introduction of "super-departments", he gained additional responsibilities as Minister for Community Services and Health
Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Family, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs has been Jenny Macklin since December 2007.-Portfolio:...
. As Health Minister, he oversaw many important reforms such as the implementation of the Medicare
Medicare (Australia)
Medicare is Australia's publicly funded universal health care system, operated by the government authority Medicare Australia. Medicare is intended to provide affordable treatment by doctors and in public hospitals for all resident citizens and permanent residents except for those on Norfolk Island...
universal health scheme, the Disability Services Act 1986, a 'Drug Offensive' which included tobacco smoking and alcohol, and a national strategy to combat HIV/AIDS. The strategy included a major education and advertising campaign (including the famous 'Grim Reaper' advertisements), and anti-discrimination legislation against HIV/AIDS sufferers.
In 1990, he became Minister for Trade and Overseas Development
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...
. Blewett supported Paul Keating
Paul Keating
Paul John Keating was the 24th Prime Minister of Australia, serving from 1991 to 1996. Keating was elected as the federal Labor member for Blaxland in 1969 and came to prominence as the reformist treasurer of the Hawke Labor government, which came to power at the 1983 election...
in his successful 1991 leadership challenge against Hawke, and when Keating became Prime Minister, Blewett became Minister for Social Security
Minister for Human Services (Australia)
The position of Minister for Human Services within Australian politics is currently held by the Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP. The Minister is responsible for a number of welfare agencies and administers her portfolio through the Department of Human Services and its component bodies:* Child Support...
until he retired from politics in 1994, sparking a Bonython by-election
Bonython by-election, 1994
The 1994 Bonython by-election was held in the Australian federal electorate of Bonython in South Australia on 19 March 1994. The by-election was triggered by the retirement of the sitting member, the Australian Labor Party's Neal Blewett, on 11 February 1994. The writ for the by-election was issued...
.
Post-political career
In 1994, Neal Blewett was appointed Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, as which he served until 1998. At the same time, he was on the Executive Council of the World Health OrganizationWorld Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
.
Returning to Australia in 1998, he became President of the Australian Institute of International Affairs
Australian Institute of International Affairs
The Australian Institute of International Affairs is a non-profit think tank based in Australia. Established in 1924 and formed as a national body in 1933, the organisation endeavours to promote interest in and understanding of international affairs...
and a visiting professor of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. In 2002, he was appointed as President of the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia.
In 1999, he published A Cabinet Diary: A Personal Record of the First Keating Government 1991–93, his memoirs which detailed his time on the frontbench of the Keating government.
Honours
Neal Blewett has received honorary degrees from the University of TasmaniaUniversity of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania is a medium-sized public Australian university based in Tasmania, Australia. Officially founded on 1 January 1890, it was the fourth university to be established in nineteenth-century Australia...
, the University of Hull
University of Hull
The University of Hull, known informally as Hull University, is an English university, founded in 1927, located in Hull, a city in the East Riding of Yorkshire...
and the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
. He was appointed an Honorary Fellow of Jesus College Oxford in 1998.
In 1995, he was appointed Companion 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"...
(AC) for service to Australian society.
Personal life
Neal Blewett was married for 26 years to Jill Blewett, a renowned Australian playwright, with whom he had two children. Jill died when she was accidentally electrocuted in their home in October 1988.Blewett revealed he was homosexual in a May 2000 issue of The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
s Good Weekend magazine, which profiled his relationship with long-term partner Robert Brain, who he had met as a university student 50 years previously. The couple live in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. Brain and Blewett moved in together in 1989, after which Blewett successfully sued a radio station and two doctors for claiming he was gay.