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Robert Hill (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert Murray Hill is Chancellor
of the University of Adelaide
and a former Australian politician. He also currently heads the Australian Carbon Trust.
, Hill studied at the University of Adelaide
where he took degrees in Arts and Law, and later the University of London
, where he gained a Masters degree in Law. Robert Hill was a barrister and solicitor before entering politics. He was Vice-President of the Liberal Party in South Australia 1977–79 and President 1985–87. Like many South Australian Liberals, Hill belonged to the liberal or moderate wing of the Liberal Party. He was also a member of the Liberal Party's Federal Executive 1985–87 and 1990–93.
His daughter, Victoria
, is an Australian actress.
from 1965 to 1988. Robert Hill was elected as a Senator
for the State of South Australia
, representing the Liberal Party
, at the 1980 Federal election. He took his seat in the Senate on 1 July 1981, and served until 15 March 2006.
After the Liberals' defeat (their fifth consecutive loss) at the 1993 federal election, Hill became Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (1993–96), and held appointments as Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs (1993) and Defence (1993–94), Public Administration (1993–94), and Education, Science and Training (1994–96). In 1994 he was Chairman of the Senate's Policy Review Committee.
Following the landslide election victory of the Liberals under John Howard
in 1996, Hill became Leader of the Government in the Senate (1996–2006) and Minister for the Environment (1996–98). He was subsequently appointed Minister for the Environment and Heritage (1998–2001) and Minister for Defence (2001–06). In July 2005 the Coalition parties took control of the Senate and Hill became the first Government Leader in the Senate since 1981 to command a majority in the chamber.
In January 2006 Hill announced his resignation from the Ministry and as Leader of the Government in the Senate. Hill did not specify any reason for his resignation, but said it was his decision to retire and he had not been pushed into it by the Prime Minister. However, one of The Age
's senior journalists, Michelle Grattan
, said on 31 March 2008 "Hill had not really wanted to leave Parliament, but John Howard was anxious to get him out."
On 15 March 2006 Hill resigned from the Senate, and two days later was appointed Permanent Representative to the United Nations for Australia, replacing Caroline Millar
. He served in that position until May 2009.
In July 2009, Hill was appointed by the Australian Government to head the Australian Carbon Trust.
The University of Adelaide
announced on 9 April 2010 that Hill had been appointed Chancellor of the University. He commenced his two year role on 26 July 2010.
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
and a former Australian politician. He also currently heads the Australian Carbon Trust.
Early life and family
Born in AdelaideAdelaide
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...
, Hill studied at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
where he took degrees in Arts and Law, and later the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, where he gained a Masters degree in Law. Robert Hill was a barrister and solicitor before entering politics. He was Vice-President of the Liberal Party in South Australia 1977–79 and President 1985–87. Like many South Australian Liberals, Hill belonged to the liberal or moderate wing of the Liberal Party. He was also a member of the Liberal Party's Federal Executive 1985–87 and 1990–93.
His daughter, Victoria
Victoria Hill
Victoria Hill is an Australian actress, writer and producer. She is the daughter of the Chancellor of the University of Adelaide Robert Hill and the Australian president of UNICEF, Diana Hill...
, is an Australian actress.
Political career
Hill came from a traditional of conservative politics, and his father, Murray Hill, was a prominent Liberal member of the South Australian Legislative CouncilSouth Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the House of Assembly...
from 1965 to 1988. Robert Hill was elected as a Senator
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,...
for the State of 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...
, representing the Liberal Party
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...
, at the 1980 Federal election. He took his seat in the Senate on 1 July 1981, and served until 15 March 2006.
After the Liberals' defeat (their fifth consecutive loss) at the 1993 federal election, Hill became Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (1993–96), and held appointments as Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs (1993) and Defence (1993–94), Public Administration (1993–94), and Education, Science and Training (1994–96). In 1994 he was Chairman of the Senate's Policy Review Committee.
Following the landslide election victory of the Liberals under John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
in 1996, Hill became Leader of the Government in the Senate (1996–2006) and Minister for the Environment (1996–98). He was subsequently appointed Minister for the Environment and Heritage (1998–2001) and Minister for Defence (2001–06). In July 2005 the Coalition parties took control of the Senate and Hill became the first Government Leader in the Senate since 1981 to command a majority in the chamber.
In January 2006 Hill announced his resignation from the Ministry and as Leader of the Government in the Senate. Hill did not specify any reason for his resignation, but said it was his decision to retire and he had not been pushed into it by the Prime Minister. However, one 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 senior journalists, Michelle Grattan
Michelle Grattan
Michelle Grattan AO , Australian journalist, was the first woman to become editor of an Australian metropolitan daily newspaper. Specialising in political journalism, Grattan has written and edited for many significant Australian newspapers....
, said on 31 March 2008 "Hill had not really wanted to leave Parliament, but John Howard was anxious to get him out."
On 15 March 2006 Hill resigned from the Senate, and two days later was appointed Permanent Representative to the United Nations for Australia, replacing Caroline Millar
Caroline Millar
Caroline Millar was the acting ambassador to the United Nations in New York for Australia between February and April 2006. She replaced John Dauth, who left the post to become Australia's ambassador to New Zealand and the Cook Islands. On 1 May 2006, she was replaced by Robert Hill, who took...
. He served in that position until May 2009.
Current Appointments
Following his return to Australia in 2009, Hill accepted an appointment as Adjunct Professor in Sustainability at the US Studies Centre at the University of Sydney where he was involved in the development of the $2 million Dow Sustainability Program, funded by the US-based Dow Chemical Company Foundation, to bring together academic and policy experts from Australia and the US to develop action-oriented solutions to a range of sustainability challenges concerning energy, water, food and biodiversity that are technologically innovative, commercially scalable and politically viable.In July 2009, Hill was appointed by the Australian Government to head the Australian Carbon Trust.
The University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
announced on 9 April 2010 that Hill had been appointed Chancellor of the University. He commenced his two year role on 26 July 2010.