Max Bingham

{{Infobox officeholder

|honorific-prefix = The Honourable

|name = Sir Max Bingham

|honorific-suffix = {{postnominals|country=AUS|size=100%|QC}}

|image = Max Bingham 1973 (cropped).jpg

|imagesize =

|alt =

|caption = Bingham in 1973

|order =

|office = Deputy Premier of Tasmania

|term_start = 27 May 1982

|term_end = 13 June 1984

|premier = Robin Gray

|predecessor = Michael Barnard

|successor = Geoff Pearsall

|office2 = Attorney-General of Tasmania

|term_start2 = 26 May 1969

|term_end2 = 3 May 1972

|premier2 = Angus Bethune

|predecessor2 = Roy Fagan

|successor2 = Merv Everett

|term_start3 = 27 May 1982

|term_end3 = 13 June 1984

|premier3 = Robin Gray

|predecessor3 = Roy Fagan

|successor3 = Merv Everett

|birth_date = {{Birth date|1927|3|18|df=y}}

|birth_place = Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

|death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|11|30|1927|3|18|df=y}}

|death_place = Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

|restingplace =

|restingplacecoordinates =

|birthname = Eardley Max Bingham

|nationality =

|party = Liberal Party

|spouse = Margaret Garrett Jesson

|relations =

|children =

|residence =

|alma_mater = University of Tasmania (LLB Hons, 1950)
Lincoln College, Oxford (BCL, 1953)

|occupation =

|profession = Lawyer

|nickname =

|allegiance = Australia

|branch = Royal Australian Navy

|serviceyears = 1945–1946

|rank = Able Seaman

|unit = {{HMAS|Bingera}}
{{HMAS|Cerberus|naval base|6}}

}}

Sir Eardley Max Bingham {{postnominals|country=AUS|QC}} (18 March 1927 – 30 November 2021), was an Australian politician. He was Deputy Premier and Opposition Leader of Tasmania, who represented the electorate of Denison for the Liberal Party in the Tasmanian House of Assembly from 1969 to 1984.{{cite Tas Parliament |id=binghame579 |title=Bingham, Max |access-date=24 July 2022}}.

Early life and education

Born at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Battery Point, Hobart, Bingham was the only son of Mr and Mrs Thomas Bingham of Sandy Bay.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article68228177 |title=Family Notices. |newspaper=The Advocate |location=Burnie, Tas. |date=28 March 1927 |accessdate=19 September 2012 |page=2 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} He was educated in New South Wales and Tasmania, completing his secondary schooling with four years at Hobart High School. At the age of 18, he enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy in April 1945, and served as an able seaman at shore stations including {{HMAS|Cerberus|naval base|6}}, and the auxiliary anti-submarine vessel {{HMAS|Bingera}}, until his discharge in December 1946.[http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?serviceId=N&veteranId=1089105 BINGHAM, EARDLEY MAX], World War II Nominal Roll, Department of Veterans' Affairs.{{cite news|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52710027|title=Rhodes Scholar Selected.|newspaper=Examiner|location=Launceston, Tas.|date=20 December 1949|accessdate=19 September 2012 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

He was selected as the 1950 Tasmanian Rhodes Scholar.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22799721 |title=Tas Rhodes Scholar. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=20 December 1949 |accessdate=19 September 2012 |page=4 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} In that year, he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws with honours from the University of Tasmania.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26702048 |title=Record Number Of Students RECEIVE DEGREES AT HOBART CEREMONY. |newspaper=The Mercury |location=Hobart, Tas. |date=10 May 1950 |accessdate=19 September 2012 |page=17 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} Bingham read for and received a Bachelor of Civil Law at Lincoln College, Oxford. Whilst at Oxford, Bingham met and married Margaret Jesson of Staffordshire (he had previously been engaged to Rhonda Harvey).{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26714102 |title=Family Notices. |newspaper=The Mercury |location=Hobart, Tas. |date=8 July 1950 |accessdate=19 September 2012 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} He returned to Hobart in 1953, where he practised alongside Reg Wright, to whom he was articled at the University of Tasmania.{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27132508 |title=RHODES SCHOLAR RETURNS. |newspaper=The Mercury |location=Hobart, Tas. |date=6 February 1953 |accessdate=19 September 2012 |page=7 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}

Political career

Bingham entered the Tasmanian Parliament when he was elected as a member for Denison at the 1969 state election on 10 May. On 26 May, he was made a minister in Angus Bethune's cabinet, becoming Attorney-General and Minister Administering the Police Department and the Licensing Act; also briefly holding the Health and Road Safety portfolio from March to May 1972.[http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/history/tasparl/haministersp2.htm Ministers – House of Assembly – 1950 to 1989], Parliament of Tasmania. On 4 May 1972, he was elected leader of the Liberal Party in Tasmania (and opposition leader), following Bethune's resignation.

He contested two elections as opposition leader (1976 and 1979), but stood down as leader after the Liberal Party's two losses. Bingham's replacement as Liberal leader, Geoff Pearsall, resigned and was replaced by Robin Gray in November 1981. Gray led the Liberals to victory in the 1982 election, and Bingham was appointed Deputy Premier and Attorney-General in Gray's cabinet (as well as Minister for Education, Industrial Relations, and Police and Emergency Services).Cockburn, Milton: [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19830726&id=8J5WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=M-cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6793,8853296 Robin Gray: the drover's dog gets the glittering prize], The Sydney Morning Herald, 26 July 1983.

After politics

Bingham resigned from parliament on 13 June 1984, and subsequently joined the National Crime Authority, a federal law enforcement body focussing on organised crime. In 1989, he was a founding commissioner of the Criminal Justice Commission in Queensland[http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/34422610?selectedversion=NBD8657479 The term of Sir Max Bingham QC, Chairman of the Criminal Justice Commission : report of the Parliamentary Criminal Justice Committee.], Queensland Legislative Assembly.Criminal Justice Committee, 1991.—responsible for a review into the powers of the Queensland Police recommended by the Fitzgerald Inquiry. Bingham's report for the CJC was released in 1994.

In 1996, Bingham was assigned to chair a further review on police powers in Queensland, which he commented were "...unsatisfactory because the police are uncertain of their powers and suspects are uncertain about their rights." The committee's recommendations on legislation of police powers and extensive community consultation led to the passing of the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 1997.Benjamin, Ken: [http://www.police.qld.gov.au/Resources/Internet/services/reportsPublications/bulletin/178/documents/04.pdf Modern policing essence of legislation changes], Vedette (Queensland Police Bulletin).

He died in Hobart on 30 November 2021, at the age of 94.{{cite web|url=https://www.premier.tas.gov.au/site_resources_2015/additional_releases/vale_sir_max_bingham |title=Vale Sir Max Bingham|website=Government of Tasmania|access-date=1 December 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.examiner.com.au/story/7532639/former-deputy-premier-sir-max-bingham-qc-dies/|title=Distinguished Tasmanian Sir Max Bingham is remembered for dedication to politics and legal service|website=Examiner|date=30 November 2021|access-date=1 December 2021}}{{cite web |title=BINGHAM, Sir Eardley Max |url=https://www.mytributes.com.au/notice/death-notices/bingham-sir-eardley-max/5853872/ |website=My Tributes |access-date=1 December 2021 |date=1 December 2021}}

Honours

Max Bingham was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours on 15 June 1988, with the citation "In recognition of service to the law, crime prevention, parliament and the community".[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1083694 BINGHAM, Max], It's an Honour, 15 June 1988. He was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001.[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1122122 BINGHAM, Eardley Max], It's an Honour, 1 January 2001.

On 15 April 1991, the Governor of Tasmania granted Bingham the right to use the title 'The Honourable' for life.[http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/tpl/InfoSheets/HonList.htm Tasmanian Members of Parliament who have been granted the right to use the title 'Honourable' for life], Parliament of Tasmania.

{{Infobox COA wide

|image = Sir Eardley Max Bingham Escutcheon.png

|escutcheon = Paly wavy extended fesswise Azure and Argent in chief five lozenges conjoined throughout the outer pair issuant from the flanks Gules.

|crest = On a Chapeau Azure turned up Argent charged with Lozenges conjoined throughout Gules the cap encircled by a Wreath of Olive Or tied Gules a Thylacine statant Or striped Sable holding in its mouth a Pair of Scales Argent.{{cite web|url=https://www.college-of-arms.gov.uk/news-grants/grants/item/76-bingham-sir-em |publisher=College of Arms |accessdate=7 December 2023 |title= The Arms and Crest of Sir Max Bingham}}

|notes = Granted by the College of Arms, 18 March 2013.

|motto = Cura Et Contende}}