Gordon Bryant

Gordon Munro Bryant (3 August 1914 – 14 January 1991) was an Australian politician. A member of the Australian Labor Party, he represented the Division of Wills from 1955 until his retirement in 1980.

Bryant was born in Lismore, Victoria, and educated at Frankston High School, Melbourne Teachers' College and Melbourne University. He worked as a high teacher and served in the Australian Army and later the Citizens' Military Force before entering Parliament in 1955. A passionate supporter of land rights, Bryant was President of the Aborigines Advancement League for seven years, from 1957 to 1964.

After seventeen years in Parliament, Bryant joined the Cabinet of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, becoming Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in 1972. A year later he became Minister for the Capital Territory. As Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, he was instrumental in the Whitlam Government's historic land rights deal with Vincent Lingiari and the Gurindji people. Bryant retired in 1980, and his electorate was taken over by future Prime Minister Bob Hawke. Bryant had earlier resisted pressure to retire early in order to expedite Hawke's entry to Parliament via a by-election.

Bryant died in January 1991, eleven months prior to Hawke's ousting as Prime Minister.

He is survived by his wife, Pat, and two sons, Robin and Linton.

References

• Australian House of Representatives HANSARD, "DEATH OF HON. G.M. BRYANT, E.D.", 1991-02-12 (excerpt available online).
• "PM lent hand to land rights", Karen Middleton, The West Australian, 2004-01-01.