Ian Viner

Viner was born on 21 January 1933 in Claremont, Western Australia.{{cite news|url=https://handbook.aph.gov.au/Parliamentarian/EE6|title=Viner, the Hon. Robert (Ian) Ian, AO|work=Parliamentary Handbook|publisher=Parliament of Australia|access-date=13 January 2025}} He was raised in Bunbury, attending Bunbury Primary School and Bunbury High School.[http://www.wabar.asn.au/barristerimages/pOZQMk3t10UwSZMO.pdf Robert Ian Viner: Curriculum Vitae] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411124452/http://wabar.asn.au/barristerimages/pOZQMk3t10UwSZMO.pdf |date=11 April 2013 }} at Western Australian Bar Association

Viner left school at the age of 15 and began working for the Union Bank of Australia, at its Bunbury and York. He also completed National Service training with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). He enrolled in the University of Western Australia in 1954 and graduated Bachelor of Laws (Hons.) in 1958.

Prior to his election to parliament, Viner worked as a barrister in Perth. He regularly represented trade union clients in industrial cases.{{Cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110718777|title=Stirling Winner|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=11 July 1974}}

Viner was elected to the House of Representatives at the 1972 federal election, winning the seat of Stirling from the incumbent Australian Labor Party (ALP) MP Harry Webb. He was narrowly re-elected at the 1974 election, initially losing by a margin of two votes but eventually being declared elected with a twelve-vote margin after a recount. He was subsequently part of a group of MPs who supported Malcolm Fraser in the lead-up to the 1975 leadership spill which ousted Billy Snedden from the Liberal leadership.

Following the Coalition's victory at the 1975 federal election, Viner was appointed Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in the Fraser government on 22 December 1975. He was reportedly a "surprise inclusion" in the ministry, having not been a part of Fraser's shadow cabinet and having previously had limited involve in Aboriginal affairs.{{Cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110810281|title=The man in charge of the delicate Aboriginal portfolio|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=27 March 1975|first=Tony|last=O'Leary}} He was responsible for the introduction of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976, the first federal native title legislation, and the Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976, which allowed for the establishment of Aboriginal corporations under federal law. He promoted "self-management and self-sufficiency" for Indigenous Australians, called for greater teaching of Aboriginal language and culture in Australian schools, and established the Council for Aboriginal Development as an advisory body.

Viner was elevated to cabinet after the 1977 federal election and additionally appointed Minister Assisting the Prime Minister. He was instead appointed Minister for Employment and Youth Affairs in a ministerial reshuffle in 1978. He was Leader of the House from 1979 to 1980 and was additionally appointed Minister for Industrial Relations in 1981.

Viner was an unsuccessful candidate for the deputy leadership of the Liberal Party in April 1982, following Phillip Lynch's resignation. He polled only five votes out of 81 and was eliminated on the first round, sparking speculation about his future as a minister.{{Cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126915467|title=Future not in doubt, says Viner after poll|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=9 April 1982}} In a ministerial reshuffle the following month, Viner was removed from cabinet and instead appointed Minister for Defence Support. He retained that position until his defeat by Labor candidate Ron Edwards at the 1983 election.

Viner was elected state president of the Liberal Party in Western Australia in 1991.{{Cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122373976|title=Liberals outline key reforms to 'topple Labor'|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=29 July 1991}} He was defeated for re-election by Bill Hassell the following year.{{cite news|url=https://www.afr.com/politics/faction-fights-dragging-liberals-down-19920804-k538d|title=Faction fights dragging Liberals down|first=Peter|last=Walsh|date=4 August 1992|work=Australian Financial Review|access-date=13 January 2025}} He was associated with a group opposing powerbroker Noel Crichton-Browne, and was allegedly involved in the leaking of domestic violence allegations against Crichton-Browne which contributed to the end of his parliamentary career. Crichtown-Browne's supporters then unsuccessfully attempted to have Viner expelled from the party.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/130545163|title=Litmus test for WA Libs as scene set for ugly session|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=22 April 1995}}{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/130556442|title=The great Lib impasse continues|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=9 August 1995}}

In 1995, Viner was appointed by the Keating government as deputy chairman of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/132456105|title=Former Liberal minister takes position on Aboriginal council|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=2 January 1995|first=Crispin|last=Hull}} He was appointed to the National Native Title Tribunal in the same year.{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/130542513|title=New members|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=8 April 1995}}

Viner had seven children with his wife Ngaire. They lived in Swanbourne until 1977, when they relocated to Waterman in order to live in his electorate boundaries.{{cite news|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1544325987/view?sectionId=nla.obj-1728265177|title=People|first=Ron|last=Saw|newspaper=The Bulletin|date=2 July 1977}}

Viner played field hockey throughout his political career and later captained Australia at a masters level.{{cite news|url=https://editorials.localista.com.au/news/political-warrior|title=Political warrior|first=Thomas|last=Ray|publisher=Localista|date=26 June 2015|access-date=13 January 2025}}

Viner was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours in June 1999.[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/872407 VINER, Robert Ian] Award entry, "It's an Honour" at Australian Government

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{{succession box | title= Minister for Aboriginal Affairs | before=Tom Drake-Brockman | after=Fred Chaney | years=1975–78}}

{{succession box | title= Minister for Employment and Youth Affairs | before=Tony Street | after=Neil Brown | years=1978–81}}

{{succession box | title= Minister for Industrial Relations | before=Andrew Peacock | after=Ian Macphee | years=1981–82}}

{{succession box | title= Minister for Defence Support | before=New title | after=Brian Howe | years=1982–83}}

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{{succession box | title=Member for Stirling | before= Harry Webb | after= Ron Edwards | years=1972–83}}

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Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia

Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Stirling

Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives

Category:Leaders of the Australian House of Representatives

Category:Members of the Cabinet of Australia

Category:Officers of the Order of Australia

Category:1933 births

Category:Living people

Category:Australian MPs 1972–1974

Category:Australian MPs 1974–1975

Category:Australian MPs 1975–1977

Category:Australian MPs 1977–1980

Category:Australian MPs 1980–1983