NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Jeff Kennett

Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC (born 25 July 1948), Australian politician, was the 43rd Premier of Victoria (6th October, 1992 to 20th October, 1999). He is also the current Chair of beyondblue (the National Depression Initiative) and President of the Hawthorn Football Club. Image File history File links J.kennett. ... List of Premiers of Victoria Before the 1890s there was no formal party system in Victoria. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the year. ... Patrick John McNamara (born 7 September 1951) is the former Deputy Premier of Victoria, Australia with the Victorian Liberal Party. ... Joan Kirner Joan Elizabeth Kirner (born 20 June 1938), Australian politician, was the first female Premier of Victoria. ... Stephen Philip Bracks (better known as Steve Bracks) (born October 15, 1954), Australian politician, was the 44th Premier of Victoria, holding the position for eight years, from 1999 to 2007. ... Burwood District is an electorate for the Victorian Legislative Assembly in Australia. ... is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The City of Melbournes coat of arms The central business district of Melbourne, viewed from the north Alternate meanings: Melbourne (disambiguation) Melbourne is the capital and largest city of the state of Victoria, and the second largest city in Australia, with a population of 52,117 in the Central... â€œVICâ€ redirects here. ... This article concerns the modern Australian political party. ... Insignia of a Companion of the Order of Australia. ... is the 206th day of the year (207th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... List of Premiers of Victoria Before the 1890s there was no formal party system in Victoria. ... beyondblue is an Australian non-profit organisation which aims to increase awareness and improve the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, and related illnesses. ... Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, are an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ...

Early life

Kennett was born in Melbourne and educated at Scotch College. Kennett was an unexceptional student academically, but did well in Scotch's Cadet Corps. His failure to rise above the middle band academically almost led him to quit school in Fourth Form (Year 10 - 1963), but he was persuaded to stay on. His Fifth and Sixth Forms were an improvement, but he was still described in school reports as "[a] confident and at times helpful boy. Sometimes irritates. Sometimes works hard" (1964), and "[a] keen, pleasant, though sometimes erratic boy" (1965). This article is about the Australian city; the name may also refer to City of Melbourne or Melbourne city centre. ... For other schools named Scotch College, see Scotch College. ... Year 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Also Nintendo emulator: 1964 (emulator). ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ...

Leaving school, Kennett was persuaded by his father Ken to attend the Australian National University in Canberra, but lost interest and dropped out after one year of an economics degree. He returned to Melbourne and found work in the advertising department of the retail giant Myer - kindling an interest for advertising that would one day earn him his living. The Australian National University, or ANU, is a public university located in Canberra, Australia. ... For other uses, see Canberra (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Australian city; the name may also refer to City of Melbourne or Melbourne city centre. ... Myer Emporium. ...

Kennett's life in the regular workforce was cut short when, in 1968, he was conscripted into the Australian Army. Kennett was singled out as 'officer material' early in his career. Kennett graduated third in his class from the gruelling Scheyville Army Camp outside Sydney, and was posted to Malaysia and Singapore as Second Lieutenant, commander of 1st Platoon, A Company of the 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment. The Australian Army is Australias military land force. ... The Sydney Opera House on Sydney Harbour Sydney (pronounced ) is the most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 4. ...

Kennett returned to civilian life in 1970, reentering a deeply divided Australian society, split by the Vietnam War, of which Kennett was a firm supporter. Having returned to Myer, Kennett became impatient with his work, and so with Ian Fegan and Eran Nicols, he formed his own advertising company (KNF) in June 1971. Kennett played football for Hawthorn for two seasons^{[citation needed]} before marrying Felicity Kellar, an old friend whom he had first met on the Number 7 tram on the long trips to school. Their first son, Ed, was born in 1974, followed by a daughter Amy, and two more sons, Angus and Ross. Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam Peopleâ€™s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... Myer Emporium. ... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ...

Political career

Interested in local politics since the early 1970s, Kennett was elected as a Liberal Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Burwood in 1976. Entering the government of Dick Hamer, Kennett was soon appointed as Minister for Housing, Immigration and Ethnic Affairs in 1981. Following the defeat of the longstanding Liberal government in 1982, Kennett was the leading candidate to replace Lindsay Thompson, and on 26th October, he was elected Leader of the Liberal Party, despite being the youngest member of the outgoing Cabinet. He was an aggressive Leader of the Opposition, and was much criticised for his "bull-in-a-china-shop" style and his populist anti-government rhetoric. This article concerns the modern Australian political party. ... The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of Victoria in Australia. ... Burwood District is an electorate for the Victorian Legislative Assembly in Australia. ... Year 1976 Pick up sticks(MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Dick Hamer Sir Rupert James Hamer (29 July 1916 - 23 March 2004), generally known until he was knighted in 1982 as Dick Hamer, Australian politician, was Liberal Premier of the state of Victoria from 1972 to 1981. ... Lindsay Hamilton Simpson Thompson AO CMG (born 15 October 1923), Australian Liberal politician, was the 40th Premier of Victoria from 1981 to 1982. ... A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ... The Parliamentary Opposition is a form of political opposition to a designated government, particularly in a Westminster-based parliamentary system. ...

The Labor government of John Cain was re-elected in 1985, but Kennett showed good form during the campaign, pushing the government in several key seats. Statistically, the Cain government only survived by 1100 votes spread across four seats. Despite this success, Kennett soon faced a challenge to his leadership - from Ian Smith. Kennett survived easily, but increasingly, he seemed an erratic and unapproachable leader. He faced two more challenges to his leadership in 1986 and 1987 respectively. In 1987, in one notable incident Kennett referred to the Federal Liberal leader John Howard using colourful language in a mobile telephone conversation with Howard rival Andrew Peacock.^[1] The car-phone conversation damaged both Howard and Kennett, but aided Peacock in his push to return as Federal Liberal leader (1989).^[2] John Cain (born 26 April 1931), Australian politician, was Labor Premier of the state of Victoria from 1982 to 1990. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... Ian Winton Smith (born 25 November 1939) was a Liberal Party of Australia politician who represented the Division of Warrnambool in the Victorian parliament as an MLA from 1967 until 1983. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian politician and the 25th Prime Minister of Australia. ... Andrew Sharp Peacock AC (born 13 February 1939), Australian Liberal politician, was born in Melbourne, Victoria, the son of a wealthy company director. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ...

Toward the end of its second term the Cain government had endured some loss in support and the Liberals were considered a good chance of winning the 1988 election. When Cain was returned with a small but workable majority, Kennett was again criticised within his own party, and in 1989 he was deposed as leader and replaced by Alan Brown, a little-known rural Member of the Legislative Assembly. A furious Kennett described Alan Hunt, the instigator of the coup, as "a man never to be trusted"^{[citation needed]}. He publicly pledged never to attempt a return to the Liberal leadership, but when Brown proved unable to challenge the government effectively, he allowed his supporters to stage a shock party-room coup and restore him to the leadership, unopposed, in 1991. Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Alan John Brown (born 25 January 1946), Australian politician, was an Liberal member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly and Leader of the Opposition from 1989-1991. ... Alan John Hunt (AM) (born 9 October 1927) is an Australian politician, having been a member of the Victorian Legislative Council from 1961 until 1992. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ...

First Term as Premier

Given the parlous state of Victoria's finances and the inability of the ALP to deal with billions of dollars in debt, Kennett was seen from the beginning of his second leadership stint as 'Premier-in-waiting'. The Liberals (in coalition with the National Party of Australia) won the October 1992 election in a landslide as a result of the public's disillusionment with the Labor government. In the second-largest landslide in history, the Liberals and Nationals attained a 34-seat majority in the Victorian Parliament and were thus uniquely placed to govern with little restraint. ALP may mean: ALP (automobile). ... The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Landslide of soil and regolith in Pakistan A landslide is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rock falls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows. ... The Parliament of Victoria is a bicameral, or two-house, legislature. ...

In office, Kennett immediately instituted one of the most radical budget-cutting and privatisation programs undertaken by any Victorian government, in an effort to improve the State's economy^{[citation needed]}. Having assumed office, the need for such radical action was reinforced when Kennett and his new Treasurer Alan Stockdale discovered that the outgoing Labor government had left them with $2.2 billion budget deficit, a net public sector debt of $33 billion and budget sector debt of $16 billion. To combat this debt, some fifty-thousand public servants were retrenched between 1992 and 1995. Moreover, in the first three years of the 'Kennett Revolution' (as the Premier himself came to term it), government funding for the public school system was slashed, with 350 government schools closed, and 7,000 teaching jobs removed. Other highly controversial moves included the sacking of 16,000 public transport workers in a major technological upgrade of the system, and the initiation of a huge scheme for privatisation of state-owned services, including the electricity (SEC) and gas (Gas & Fuel Corporation) utilities, as well as several prisons and other minor services. Between 1995 and 1998, $29 billion of state assets in gas and electricity alone were sold to private enterprise (for statistics, see Tony Parkinson, Jeff, 1999). Privatization (sometimes privatisation, denationalization, or — especially in India — disinvestment) is the process of transferring property, from public ownership to private ownership. ... In many governments, a treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury. ... Alan Robert Stockdale (b. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ...

In the wake of these changes, investment and population growth slowly resumed, though unemployment was to remain above the national average for the duration of Kennett's premiership. While the economic benefits were indisputable, the social cost of the Kennett reforms was questioned by many commentators, academics and those who suffered economically through the period of reform. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

10 November 1992 saw the largest public protest in Melbourne since the Vietnam War, with an estimated 100,000 people marching in opposition to the retrenchment of so many workers and the massive budget cutbacks. A further spur to protest was the imposition in early 1992 of a poll tax of $100 on each Victorian household. Kennett was notably undeterred by this outrage, and famously commented that though there were 100,000 outside his office that day, there were 4.5 million who stayed at home or at work. Demonstrators march in the street while protesting the World Bank and International Monetary Fund on April 16, 2005. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam Peopleâ€™s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... A poll tax, head tax, or capitation is a tax of a uniform, fixed amount per individual (as opposed to a percentage of income). ...

It is difficult to assess the merits or otherwise of Kennett's 'Revolution' in his first term, as many (including Auditor-General Ches Baragwanath) estimate that the true value of the reforms will not be apparent until well into the 21st Century.

The Kennett government also embarked on a series of high-profile capital-works projects, such as the restoration of Parliament House (never completed), construction of a new $250 million Melbourne Museum, and a new $130 million Melbourne Exhibition Centre (still known colloquially as 'Jeff's Shed'). Other projects, made possible in monetary terms by the early cutbacks and budget restructuring, included a $160 million expansion of the National Gallery of Victoria; $100 million for refurbishment of the State Library of Victoria; $65 million for a new Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC); and $130 million for the construction of a new civic square on the site of the old Gas and Fuel Buildings, to be known as Federation Square. The poaching of the Formula 1 Grand Prix from Adelaide in 1993 was a particular coup for Kennett, who had worked hard with his friend Ron Walker to reach a deal with Formula-1 boss Bernie Ecclestone over a period of months. Parliament House, Melbourne Parliament House, Melbourne, has been the seat of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia, since 1855, except for the years 1901 to 1928, when it was occupied by the Parliament of Australia. ... Exhibit space Museum hall The Melbourne Museum is located in the Carlton Gardens in Melbourne, Australia. ... View from Crown Casino The Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre is not located in Hong Kong, China 50000km north of the Central Business District. ... National Gallery of Victoria The National Gallery of Victoria is an art gallery and museum in Melbourne, Australia. ... The Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) was opened on the 24th of July 1997 at a construction cost of $AUD65 million. ... Federation Square (or Fed Sq) is a cultural precinct in the city of Melbourne, Australia. ... Promotional poster for the first Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide in 1985. ... Adelaide is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of South Australia, and is the fifth largest city in Australia, with a population of over 1. ... Ronald J. Walker AC CBE (born September, 1939) is an Australian businessman renowned in Melbourne for his work in managing sporting events. ... Bernard Charles Bernie Ecclestone (born October 29, 1930 near Bungay, Suffolk, England) is the president and CEO of Formula One Management and Formula One Administration, and owns a stake in Alpha Prema, the parent company of the Formula One Group of companies. ...

The most controversial project of the Kennett era was the $1.85 billion Crown Casino, a gambling and entertainment centre on Melbourne's Southbank. Initial plans for a casino had been made under the Labor government, however the tendering process and construction occurred under Kennett. Allegations of financial inconsistencies in the tendering process (which eventually saw longtime Kennett supporters Ron Walker and Lloyd Williams successful) were to dog the Kennett government for many years, despite the verdict of an enquiry which found no wrongdoing on its behalf. The Atrium at Crown Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex is a casino and entertainment precinct on the south bank of the Yarra River, in Melbourne, Australia. ... Southbank, across the Yarra from Melbourne City Southbank is a suburb of Melbourne, Australia in the state of Victoria. ... 1 June 1918 2nd Division troops dig in along a defensive line just north of the village of Lucy-le-Bocage. ...

A $2 billion project to redevelop Melbourne's derelict Docklands area (to include a new football stadium) was also undertaken, in addition to the massive CityLink project, aimed a linking Melbourne's freeways, ease traffic problems in the inner city, and reduce commuting times from the outer suburbs to the CBD. The Melbourne Docklands is a new inner city suburb and Urban renewal project in Melbourne, Australia. ... CityLink is a tolled freeway system in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. ...

Second Term as Premier

Kennett's personal popularity remained high through his first term, though that of the government as a whole went through peaks and troughs. Without a by-election in the previous four years, the 1996 election shaped up as the first test of the 'Kennett Revolution' with the electorate. Though expected to win, the scale of the victory was unanticipated. On 30th March 1996, Kennett was reelected with a 32-seat majority, his prestige seemingly undiminished. A by-election or bye-election is a special election held to fill a political office when the incumbent has died or resigned. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ...

Several worrying trends (for the Liberals) were obscured somewhat by the euphoria of victory. The government's sharp cuts to government services were particularly resented in country Victoria, where the Liberals and their coalition partners, National Party held almost all the seats. The loss of the Mildura seat to an independent Russell Savage was an indication of this disaffection, and when in February 1997 independent Susan Davies was elected to the seat of Gippsland West, this trend seemed set to continue. A coalition government, or coalition cabinet, is a cabinet in parliamentary government in which several parties cooperate. ... The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party. ... Mildura is a city in Victoria, Australia. ... Russell Savage was the independent member for the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Mildura from 1996 until 2006. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ...

However, the verdict of many was that the 'Kennett Revolution' was far from over - indeed it was seemingly set in stone with the opening of the Crown Casino in May, 1997. Kennett's profile continued to grow as he became a major commentator on national issues, including urging the new government of John Howard to introduce tax reform, and actively opposing the rise of the One Nation Party of Pauline Hanson. The Atrium at Crown Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex is a casino and entertainment precinct on the south bank of the Yarra River, in Melbourne, Australia. ... John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian politician and the 25th Prime Minister of Australia. ... One Nation is a nationalist and protectionist political group in Australia. ... Pauline Lee Hanson (nÃ©e Seccombe; born May 27, 1954) is an Australian politician who was the leader of One Nation Party, a party with a populist, anti-immigration platform. ...

The government lost ground over the next few years, with high-profile disagreements with the Director of Public Prosecutions Bernard Bongiorno, and Auditor-General Ches Baragwanath fuelling criticism of Kennett's governmental style. The Director of Public Prosecutions is the officer charged with the prosecution of criminal offences in several criminal jurisdictions around the world. ...

Kennett's antipathy to Baragwanath let to ill-considered 1997 legislation to restructure the office of the Auditor-General and set up Audit Victoria. This proposal led to widespread community debate and substantial public dissent from Liberal MPs and Party members. At the height of the debate, Roger Pescott resigned from Parliament citing his disagreement with this Bill and Kennett's style in general. The Liberal Party lost the by-election in Mitcham.

Further scandals involving the handling of contracts for the state emergency services response system damaged the credibility of Kennett in 1997-1998, while rural dissent continued to grow. For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ...

Personal difficulties also began to plague Kennett and his family. The strains of public life led to a trial separation between Felicity and Jeff in early 1998 (patched up by the end of the year), while earlier in Kennett's first term, public scrutiny had led to the forced sale of the KNF Advertising Company, despite all Kennett's involvement having been transferred to his wife's name. There were rumours in 1998 that Kennett might retire from politics; these were mostly centred around Phil Gude, a longtime minister (as industry and employment minister, 1992-1996, and minister for education, 1996-1999). These eventually came to nothing, but nevertheless, Kennett's position was no longer as rock solid as in the period 1992-1998. Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... Kernel normal form, or KNF, is the normal form used in the development of code for the BSD operating systems. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the year. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ...

In July 1998, Liberal MP , Peter McLellan, Member for Frankston East, resigned from the party in protest over alleged corrupt Liberal Party Senate preselection, changes to WorkCover and the auditor-general’s office. Again, Kennett failed to pick up the warning signs of his imminent defeat.

Labor leader John Brumby took care to capitalise on each of Kennett's (perceived) mistakes over this period, though his absences in rural electorates were misunderstood by many Labor MPs, and led to his replacement by Steve Bracks in early 1999. Bracks, who came from Ballarat, was popular in rural areas and was seen as a fresh alternative to Brumby, who nevertheless remained a key figure in the shadow cabinet. Despite the appeal of Bracks, Kennett entered the 1999 election campaign with a seemingly unassailable lead, and most commentators and opinion polls agreed that he would win a third term. On the morning of the election a leading political journalist, Ewen Hannan, predicted that 'Labor supporters will be crying into their beers tonight'.^{[citation needed]} John Mansfield Brumby (born 21 April 1953), Australian politician, is the 45th Premier and outgoing Treasurer of Victoria. ... Stephen Philip Bracks (better known as Steve Bracks) (born October 15, 1954), Australian politician, was the 44th Premier of Victoria, holding the position for eight years, from 1999 to 2007. ... This article is about the year. ... Location of Ballarat in Victoria (red) Ballarat Base Hospital For the electoral division in the Australian House of Representatives, see Division of Ballarat. ... The Shadow Cabinet (also called the Shadow Front Bench) is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster system of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition (or the leader of other smaller opposition parties) form an alternative cabinet to the governments, whose... This article is about the year. ...

1999 election loss

The Liberals lost 13 seats to Labor at the 1999 election, most of them in regional centres such as Ballarat and Bendigo. The final result in the Legislative Assembly was: Labor, 42 seats; the Liberals and Nationals, 43; with three independents holding the balance of power. Independents Russell Savage and Susan Davies were joined by a third Independent, Craig Ingram. Negotiations began between Kennett's Liberal party and the three independents. While Kennett acceded to their demands, his perceived poor treatment of Savage and Davies in the previous Parliament meant that they held a position that they would never agree to support a Liberal Party Minority Government while Kennett remained leader. The Liberal negotiators did not reveal this to their Party and Labor was ultimately successful in winning their support to form a government, after signing a Charter of Good Government, pledging to restore services to rural areas, and promising Parliamentary reforms. The Electoral district of Ballarat East is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. ... The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of Victoria in Australia. ... Craig Ingram is the independent MP for Gippsland East in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

The defeat of the Kennett Government was almost totally unexpected. Kennett's supporters urged the Liberal Party to force a vote of 'no confidence' on the floor of the Parliament in a last-ditch effort to force Savage, Davies and Ingram to support the Liberal Government; however with the Liberal Party divided on Kennett's future role, Kennett resigned as Leader of the Liberal Party and from Parliament, saying he wished to have no further involvement in politics. The consequent Burwood by-election was won by the Labor Party. Burwood District is an electorate for the Victorian Legislative Assembly in Australia. ...

Rumoured returns to politics

After the Liberals' second election defeat in 2002, rumours began that Kennett was planning a comeback to politics. The issue came to a head in May 2006 after the sudden resignation of the Liberal Party leader, Robert Doyle, when Kennett announced he would contemplate standing in a by-election for the seat vacated by Doyle and offering himself as party leader. His stance was supported by Prime Minister John Howard, who rated him as the party's best hope to win the November 2006 state election. But within 24 hours Kennett announced he would withdraw from the race rather than challenge Ted Baillieu, whom Kennett had been grooming for the top post since 1999.^[3]^[4] John Howard was reported to have been "embarrassed" by having publicly supported Kennett before his decision not to re-enter politics.^[5] Robert Doyle Robert Doyle (born May 20, 1953) is an Australian politician. ... John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian politician and the 25th Prime Minister of Australia. ... Ted Baillieu Edward Norman (Ted) Baillieu (born July 31, 1953) is an Australian politician. ...

Life after politics

Kennett currently chairs beyondblue (the National Depression Initiative), a body that was largely formed by the efforts of the Victorian State Government. He has held the position since 2000, when he became beyondblue's inaugural chairman.^[6] For a brief period during 2002, Kennett was a radio presenter for Melbourne station 3AK, continuing an interest in mass-communication which was also a feature of his premiership. He also serves on the boards of Australian Seniors Finance,^[7] a reverse mortgage company, and SelecTV, a satellite television group. beyondblue is an Australian non-profit organisation which aims to increase awareness and improve the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, and related illnesses. ... 3AK is a former Melbourne talk-back radio and music station, which, in 2003, leased its licence to sports network SEN 1116. ... Satellite television is television delivered by way of communications satellites, as compared to conventional terrestrial television and cable television. ...

In 2005 Kennett was made Vice President of his beloved Hawthorn Football Club, and in a ceremony on December 14, 2005, he officially took over the presidency from Ian Dicker.^[8] Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed The Hawks, are an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League (AFL). ... is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 2005 Kennett received Australia's highest civilian honour, when he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC). He was also awarded an honorary doctorate - Hon DBus (Honoris Causa) - by The University of Ballarat. Insignia of a Companion of the Order of Australia. ...

In 2006 Kennett was attacked while celebrating his son's birthday in a Richmond bar and received minor abrasions; the attacker is awaiting trial.^[9]

Kennett's name remains associated with one of the two largest factions in the fractious Victorian branch of the Liberal Party. The battles between the "Kennett faction" and the "Kroger/Costello faction" (associated with Michael Kroger and Peter Costello) are often fierce [1]. Michael Norman Kroger is a businessman and a powerbroker within the Victorian division of the Liberal Party of Australia. ... This article has been selected as the current Australian Collaboration of the Fortnight! Please help improve it to featured article standard. ...

Further reading

The material for this revised entry was obtained from the major biographical and reference works on Kennett's life and career. These are:

An unpublished, highly one-sided official history of the Kennett government remains in the archives of the State Government of Victoria. Entitled 'The Kennett Ascendancy', the work was written by Dr Malcolm J Kennedy (formerly of Monash University) at a cost of $100,000. It remains unlikely to see the light of day under Steve Bracks' government, however John Brumby did attempt to find a publisher in 1999, but none came forward (see the notes to Blainey's history).

References

is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 126th day of the year (127th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 126th day of the year (127th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Joan Kirner Joan Elizabeth Kirner (born 20 June 1938), Australian politician, was the first female Premier of Victoria. ... List of Premiers of Victoria Before the 1890s there was no formal party system in Victoria. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the year. ... Stephen Philip Bracks (better known as Steve Bracks) (born October 15, 1954), Australian politician, was the 44th Premier of Victoria, holding the position for eight years, from 1999 to 2007. ... Lindsay Hamilton Simpson Thompson AO CMG (born 15 October 1923), Australian Liberal politician, was the 40th Premier of Victoria from 1981 to 1982. ... This article concerns the modern Australian political party. ... â€œVICâ€ redirects here. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Alan John Brown (born 25 January 1946), Australian politician, was an Liberal member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly and Leader of the Opposition from 1989-1991. ... Alan John Brown (born 25 January 1946), Australian politician, was an Liberal member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly and Leader of the Opposition from 1989-1991. ... This article concerns the modern Australian political party. ... â€œVICâ€ redirects here. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... This article is about the year. ... Dr Denis Napthine is an Australian politician. ...

Categories: Articles needing additional references from July 2007 | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since July 2007 | Articles with unsourced statements since February 2007 | Australian Army soldiers | Premiers of Victoria | Liberal Party of Australia politicians | Hawthorn Football Club | People from Melbourne | Companions of the Order of Australia | 1948 births | Living people | Victorian state politicians List of Premiers of Victoria Before the 1890s there was no formal party system in Victoria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Victoria_(Australia). ... This article is about the Australian politician. ... Sir John OShanassy, KSG, CMG, KCMG (1818 â€“ 5 May 1883), Australian colonial politician, was the 2nd Premier of Victoria. ... William Nicholson William Nicholson (27 February 1816 â€“ 10 March 1865), Australian colonial politician, was the 3rd Premier of Victoria. ... Richard Heales (1821 â€“ 19 June 1864), Australian colonial politician, was the 4th Premier of Victoria. ... Sir James McCulloch (1819 - 31 January 1893), Australian colonial politician, was the 5th Premier of Victoria. ... Charles Sladen (28 August 1816 â€“ 22 February 1884), Australian colonial politician, was the 6th Premier of Victoria. ... John Alexander MacPherson (15 October 1833 - 17 February 1894), Australian colonial politician, was the 7th Premier of Victoria. ... Charles Gavan Duffy Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, KBE, KCMG (12 April 1816 - 9 February 1903) Irish nationalist and Australian colonial politician, was the 8th Premier of Victoria and one of the most colourful figures in Victorian political history. ... James Goodall Francis (9 January 1819 - 25 January 1884), Australian colonial politician, was the 9th Premier of Victoria. ... George Briscoe Kerferd (21 January 1831 - 31 December 1899), Australian colonial politician, was the 10th Premier of Victoria. ... Sir Graham Berry Graham Berry (28 August 1822 - 25 January 1904), Australian colonial politician, was the 11th Premier of Victoria. ... James Service James Service (27 November 1823 â€“ 12 April 1899), Australian colonial politician, was the 13th Premier of Victoria. ... Sir Bryan OLoghlen, Bt Sir Bryan OLoghlen (pronounced and sometimes spelled Brian OLochlen) (27 June 1828 - 31 October 1905), Australian colonial politician, was the 13th Premier of Victoria. ... Duncan Gillies Duncan Gillies (January 1834 â€“ 12 September 1903), Australian colonial politician, was the 14th Premier of Victoria. ... James Munro James Munro (7 January 1832 â€“ 25 February 1908), Australian colonial politician, was the 15th Premier of Victoria. ... William Shiels William Shiels (3 December 1848 â€“ 17 December 1904), Australian colonial politician, was the 16th Premier of Victoria. ... James Patterson James Brown Patterson (18 November 1833 â€“ 30 October 1895), Australian colonial politician, was the 17th Premier of Victoria. ... Sir George Turner (8 August 1851 - 12 August 1916), Australian politician, was Premier of Victoria and a member of the first federal ministry. ... McLEAN, ALLAN (1840-1911), politician, was born in the Highlands of Scotland, on 3 February 1840. ... Sir Alexander Peacock Sir Alexander James Peacock (11 June 1861 - 7 October 1933), Australian politician, was the 20th Premier of Victoria. ... Sir William Irvine William Hill Irvine (6 July 1858 - 20 August 1943), Australian politician and judge, was the 21st Premier of Victoria. ... Sir Thomas Bent was the premier of the Australian state of Victoria from the 16th February 1904 to the 8th January 1909. ... John Murray, Victorian premier 1909-1912. ... William Alexander Watt (1871â€“1946), Australian political figure. ... George Elmslie George Alexander Elmslie (21 February 1861 - 11 May 1918), Australian politician, was the 25th Premier of Victoria, and the first Labor Premier. ... Sir John Bowser John Bowser (26 August 1856 - 10 June 1936), Australian politician, was the 26th Premier of Victoria. ... Sir Harry Lawson Sir Harry Sutherland Wightman Lawson (5 March 1875 - 12 June 1952), Australian politician, was the 27th Premier of Victoria. ... George Prendergast in 1894 George Michael Prendergast (6 May 1854 - 28 August 1937), Australian politician, was the 28th Premier of Victoria. ... John Allan John Allan (27 March 1866 - 22 February 1936), Australian politician, was the 29th Premier of Victoria. ... Ned Hogan Edmond John Ned Hogan (12 December 1883 - 23 August 1964), Australian politician, was the 30th Premier of Victoria. ... William Murray McPherson (17 September 1865 - 26 July 1932) was an Australian philanthropist and politician. ... Sir Stanley Argyle Stanley Seymour Argyle (4 December 1867 - 23 November 1940), Australian politician, was the 32nd Premier of Victoria. ... Albert Dunstan holding a mineral, possibly Quartz Sir Albert Arthur Dunstan (1882â€“1950) was an Australian politician. ... John Cain (19 January 1882 - 4 August 1957), Australian politician, was the 33rd Premier of Victoria, and was the first Australian Labor Party Leader to win a majority in the Victorian Legislative Assembly. ... Ian MacFarlan (21 November 1881 - 19 March 1964) was the Deputy Leader of the Australian Liberal Party in Victoria State during 1945. ... Thomas Tuke Hollway (Ballarat, 2 October 1906 â€” Point Lonsdale, Victoria, 30 July 1971) was Premier of Victoria from 1947 to 1950, and again for a short period in 1952. ... John Gladstone Black McDonald (1898â€“1977) was Premier of Victoria (leading the Country Party) from 27 June 1950 to 17 December 1952, except for a few days in October 1952 when Thomas Hollway served as acting Premier. ... Sir Henry Edward Bolte (20 May 1908 - 4 January 1990), Australian politician, was the longest serving Premier of the state of Victoria. ... Image:Ac. ... Lindsay Hamilton Simpson Thompson AO CMG (born 15 October 1923), Australian Liberal politician, was the 40th Premier of Victoria from 1981 to 1982. ... John Cain (born 26 April 1931), Australian politician, was Labor Premier of the state of Victoria from 1982 to 1990. ... Joan Kirner Joan Elizabeth Kirner (born 20 June 1938), Australian politician, was the first female Premier of Victoria. ... Stephen Philip Bracks (better known as Steve Bracks) (born October 15, 1954), Australian politician, was the 44th Premier of Victoria, holding the position for eight years, from 1999 to 2007. ... John Mansfield Brumby (born 21 April 1953), Australian politician, is the 45th Premier and outgoing Treasurer of Victoria. ...

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