Gordon Bilney | |
|---|---|
 Bilney in 1984 | |
| Member of theAustralian Parliament forKingston | |
| In office 5 March 1983 – 2 March 1996 | |
| Preceded by | Grant Chapman |
| Succeeded by | Susan Jeanes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1939-06-21)21 June 1939 |
| Died | 28 October 2012(2012-10-28) (aged 73) |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Spouse(s) | Elizabeth Gunton (1967–1995) Sandra Colhoun (2002–2012) |
| Alma mater | University of Adelaide |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
| Profession | Dentist |
Gordon Neil Bilney (21 June 1939 – 28 October 2012) was an Australian politician. He was anAustralian Labor Party member of theAustralian House of Representatives for the seat ofKingston from 1983 to 1996.
Bilney was born inRenmark,South Australia. Prior to entering politics, Bilney was a diplomat, and his first chosen occupation, prior to that, was dentistry. He served as Deputy Permanent Representative of Australia to the OECD from 1975 to 1978 and as theAustralianHigh Commissioner to theWest Indies from 1980 to 1982, in Jamaica.[1]
He was first elected to federal parliament at the1983 federal election when the Labor Party, under the leadership ofBob Hawke, defeated the Liberal-National Party government which had held government under prime ministerMalcolm Fraser. He won the seat ofKingston, based in the southern suburbs ofAdelaide,South Australia, defeating incumbentLiberal MPGrant Chapman. Bilney was subsequently re-elected to the same seat at the1984,1987,1990 and1993 elections.
Between 1990 and 1996, Bilney was aminister in the Labor governments ofBob Hawke andPaul Keating. He was the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel from 1990 to 1993 and the Minister for Development Cooperation and Pacific Island Affairs from 1993 to 1996.
Bilney was defeated byLiberal candidateSusan Jeanes at the1996 federal election.
Bilney died on 28 October 2012 at the age of 73.[2]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Minister for Defence Science and Personnel 1990–1993 | Succeeded by |
| New creation | Minister for Development Cooperation and Pacific Island Affairs 1993–1996 | Portfolio abolished |
| Parliament of Australia | ||
| Preceded by | Member forKingston 1983–1996 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by Brian Hickey | Australian High Commissioner to Jamaica 1980 – 1981 | Succeeded by R.E. Little |
First Keating ministry (1991–93) | ||
|---|---|---|
Prime Minister:Paul Keating | ||
| Cabinet |  | |
| Outer Ministry | ||
| Parliamentary Secretaries | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| People | |
