Don Dunstan
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Born in Fiji to Australian parents, he moved back to South Australia where he completed his education at Murray Bridge High School and St Peters College. He studied a degree in Law at the University of Adelaide and was active in student organisations. Once graduating, he practiced law in Fiji before returning to Adelaide in 1951. Entering politics as the Member for Norwood in 1953, he became notorious in Parliament for his strongly worded attacks on government policy. Eventually rising through the Labor Party to become leader and then, through elections in 1967 and 1970, Premier. After his abrupt departure from politics in 1979, he lived out the rest of his days in his Norwood home, excepting a stint in Melbourne from 1982-1986 with Tourism Victoria.
Early life
Dunstan was born on September 21, 1926 in Suva, Fiji to Australian parents of Cornish descent. His parents had moved to Fiji in 1916 as his father had taken up a position as manager of the Adelaide Steamship co. He was to spend the first seven years of his life in Fiji, starting his schooling there. The young Dunstan was beset by illness and his parents sent him to South Australia, hoping the warmer climate would assist. He lived in Murray Bridge for three years with his mother's parents before returning to Suva for a short period. He won a scholarship in Classical Studies and attended the prestigious St Peters College, a traditional Adelaide establishment school. He readily developed public speaking and acting skills, winning the College's public speaking prize two years running. Classical history and languages were Dunstan's academic strengths; he could not stand mathematics.
At a young age, Dunstan was a supporter of the Liberal and Country League (LCL), handing out how-to-vote cards and being greatly influenced by his uncle, Sir Jonathon Cane, a former Liberal Mayor of Adelaide. Later in life he would comment on his early involvement with the Liberals. In 1964 he spoke: "...I do not call it snobbery to deride the Establishment in South Australia, I admit that I was brought up into it, and I admit that it gave me a pain... " University became his political awakening. Studying Law at the University of Adelaide in 1943, he became extremely active in political organisations; joining the University Socialist Club, Fabian Society, Student Representative Council and the Theatre Group. A two week stint in the Communist Party was followed by membership in the Australian Labor Party. A character such as Dunstan was never expected to join the Labor Party of the time; while at Trades Hall applying for membership a Labor veteran muttered "How could that long-haired prick be a Labor man?". Throughout his early political involvement he would be derided by the Labor old guard for his eccentricities.
While living in Norwood and studying at University he met his first wife, Gretel Dunstan (née Elsasser), whose Jewish family had been granted asylum in Australia after fleeing the Nazi regime. They married in 1949, when he was 22 and she was 19. After graduating the two moved to Fiji where Dunstan was admitted to the bar and began his career as a lawyer; they returned to Adelaide in 1951. They settled in George Street, Norwood, with the couple's young daughter, Bronwen. They were to live in squalor for a number of years while Dunstan's law practice established itself, taking in boarders as a source of extra income.
Dunstan was nominated as the Member for Norwood in 1953. Throughout the election campaign he used colourful methods to sway voters. Posters of his face were on every pole in the district, and Labor supporters would speak on the streets, advocating a vote for Dunstan. The district of Norwood had a large Italian migrant population, and Dunstan used their vote to his advantage. The LCL sitting member, Albert Moir, commented that "these immigrants are of no use to us - a few of them are tradesmen but most of them have no skills at all. And when they intermarry we'll have all the colours of the rainbow". Dunstan promptly had the statement translated into Italian and plastered it all over the district. He won by 2000 votes and was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly. A son, Andrew, was born nine months after the electorate win.
He was to become the most vocal opponent of the LCL Playford Regime, strongly criticising it from the start for the electoral malappointment known as the Playmander. He brought change to the manner of which politics were conducted in South Australia, adding colour and flair to debate and sounding the death knell for the previous "gentlemanly" method of proceedings. He did not fear direct confrontation with the incumbent government and attacked it with vigour. From 1959 onwards the LCL government clung to power with the support of two independents, with Labor gaining increasing momentum. Always at the forefront, Dunstan lambasted the government for perceived under-spending on social welfare, education, health and the arts.
In 1960, Dunstan attained the Presidency of the State Labor Party. The year also saw the passing of Opposition Leader Mick O'Halloran and his replacement by Frank Walsh. Dunstan attempted to win both the position of Opposition Leader, and failing that, Deputy Leader. Unfortunately for Dunstan, the Labor caucus was sceptical of his age and inexperience and he did not gain either position, albeit narrowly.
Ascent to Power
Federally, Dunstan, together with fellow Fabian Gough Whitlam, set about removing the White Australia Policy from the ALP platform. The older, trade-unionist based members of the Labor party were vehemently opposed to changing the status quo. However, the 'New Guard' of the party, of which Dunstan was a part, were determined to bring about its end. Attempts in 1959 and 1961 failed, with ALP leader Arthur Calwell stating "it would ruin the Party if we altered the immigration policy... it was only cranks, long hairs, academics and do-gooders who wanted the change". However, Dunstan persisted in his efforts and in 1965 it was removed from the ALP platform; Dunstan personally took credit for the change. Whitlam would later bring about the comprehensive end of the White Australia Policy in 1973 as Prime Minister.A gradual, yet consistent, decline in the vote of the LCL finally saw marginal urban electorates fall to the ALP in the election of 1965. The victorious Labor Party under Frank Walsh gained power; Dunstan became Attorney General and Minister of Community Welfare and Aboriginal Affairs. The only cabinet member under fifty, Dunstan had a major policy impact whilst Attorney General. Narrowly missing out on the leadership in 1960, and with the 67 year old Walsh soon to retire under ALP rules, Dunstan was the obvious successor.
The Walsh government implemented significant reform in its term of office. Liquor, gambling and entertainment laws were overhauled and liberalised, social welfare was gradually expanded and Aboriginal reserves were created. Strong restrictions on Aboriginal access to liquor were lifted. Womens working rights were granted, in line with "equal pay for work of equal value" and racial discrimination legislation was passed. Town planning was codified in law. Much of the reform was not necessarily radical and was primarily to 'fill the gaps' that the previous LCL government had left. The ALP did not have a majority in the Legislative Council so some desired legislation did not make it through. Many acts were watered down, but, due to public disinterest, outcry was minimal. In particular, the council blocked electoral reform legislation, paving the way for a probable LCL win at the next election.
Such was Dunstan's pre-eminence during his term as Attorney-General that he received more press than any other member of the government. Premier Walsh took this cynically; when accidentally greeted as 'Mr Playford' by a citizen he replied with "Walsh is the name, Walsh - spelt D.U.N.S.T.A.N."
An economic depression had begun in South Australia after the ALP government gained office in 1965; unemployment went from the lowest in the country to the second highest while immigration dropped. The ALP was not responsible for the depression, although it initially did little alleviate it. The Liberals seized on this opportunity, blaming it on "twelve months of Socialist administration in South Australia" and branding it the "Dunstan Depression". In the federal election of 1966, the ALP suffered a swing against it of 11.8% in South Australia, double the national average. The Liberals dropped Playford as the state leader and the younger Steele Hall took his place. In a dire situation with the next state election looming, the ALP changed leaders with Walsh standing down in May 1967. Much of the conservative faction of the ALP was opposed to Dunstan taking the leadership, but no other MP's had the same charisma or eloquence. Eventually Dunstan won the leadership over Des Corcoran, winning fourteen votes to eleven on the strength of rural and marginal Laborites.
Dunstan's first Premiership was to be eventful, continuing the steady stream of reform. He also attempted to cure the depression. The latter half of 1967 saw the beginnings of a slight recovery with unemployment dipping and industrial capacity steadying. The 1967-8 budget ran into deficit, allocating funds to energise the economic engine whilst Dunstan lambasted the Federal Government for neglecting the South Australian economy, demanding they take a degree of responsibility for its ills.
Elections 1968-1970
In preparation for the March 1968 election the ALP campaigned heavily around its leader and this resonated with voters; in surveys conducted in the metropolitan area 84% of individuals noted their approval of Dunstan. In a very presidential-esque election campaign Hall and Dunstan journeyed across the state, voicing their policy. Television saw its first major use in this election and Dunstan, an astute public speaker, was to prove the master of it. However, despite winning a majority of the popular vote, 52%, Labor lost two seats with the parliament hung: the LCL and ALP each had 18 seats and one was in the hands of an independent, Tom Stott. Stott, a conservative, agreed to support the LCL and Hall became Premier.
There was a degree of speculation in the press that Dunstan would make calls for a new election because of the adverse outcome. Dunstan, however, realised the futility of such a request and instead sought to humiliate the Hall government into bringing about electoral reform. Protests were held on March 15 in Light Square. There Dunstan spoke to a crowd over ten thousand: "We need to show that the people of SA feel that at last the watershed has been reached in this, and that they will not continue to put up with a system which is as undemocratic as the present one in SA." Dunstan did not resign as premier until April 16 when Parliament sat. When a motion was carried and the LCL had obvious control of the house only then did he visit the Governor and resign.
With the end of Playford's tenure the Liberal and Country League had added younger, more progressive, members to its ranks. The Hall government continued many of the social reforms that the Walsh/Dunstan governments had initiated; most of these at the instigation of Hall or his Attorney-General, Robin Millhouse. Abortion was legalised, with appropriate restrictions, and planning for the Festival Centre began. The conservative and country factions of the league were bitterly opposed to some reforms and more than once did Hall have to rely on ALP support to see bills passed. The LCL began to break apart; what had once been a united party was now factionalised - four distinct groups across the political spectrum appeared within the party. The economy of South Australia begun to pick up under Hall, reaching full employment.
Electoral reform was implemented in 1969, although not to the extent that Dunstan and the ALP had wished. The system formerly had 39 seats, one-third from Adelaide. Now, 47 seats were to be contested: 28 in Adelaide and 19 in the country. It was not "one vote one value" but it made an ALP win at the next election likely. Stott withdrew support in 1970 over the Chowilla Dam and South Australia went to the polls. Dunstan won the election easily, taking 27 seats compared to the LCL's 20. The ALP actually saw a slight decline in its vote from 1968; however, the election was clear-cut and Dunstan again became Premier of South Australia.
The Dunstan Decade
Soon after the election Dunstan journeyed to Canberra for the annual Premiers' conference, as the sole Labor Premier. The Government, on a mandate to dramatically increase funding to certain areas, sought to appropriate further finances from the federal government. Dunstan came into conflict with Prime Minister John Gorton over this and further commonwealth funds were not received. An appeal was made to the grants commission, and Dunstan made off with more than he had hoped for. Funds were diverted from water-storage schemes in the Adelaide Hills over the advice of engineers, and cash was taken from the two government owned banks. The monies were subsequently used to finance health, education and arts schemes.
Upon the death of Governor James Harrison in 1971, Dunstan got the chance to finally appoint the Governor of his choosing, Mark Oliphant, a physicist who had worked on the Manhattan Project. Dunstan had never been happy that Governors were usually British ex-servicemen; it was a pet project of his to have an active and notable South Australian take on the role.
1972 saw the first major developments in regard to the state's population growth. Adelaide's population had been set to increase to 1.3 million in studies undertaken earlier; the MATS plan and water-storage schemes had been planning to accomodate this. With both of these summarily rejected the Dunstan Government planned to build a new city 83 kilometres from Adelaide, near Murray Bridge. The city, to be known as Monarto, was to be built on farmland there to the west of the existing town. The new South Eastern Freeway would make it a 45 minute drive from Adelaide, the city was not too far from current industry, and water could be readily supplied from the River Murray. Dunstan was very much against seeing Adelaide sprawl further and Monarto was a major focus of his government.
The period from 1970 to 1973 saw more legislation passed through the South Australian Parliament than any other time preceding. The amount of legislation pushed through was enormous: workers saw increases in welfare, there was further relaxation of drinking laws, police powers were restricted, an Ombudsman was created, censorship was abolished, the education system was overhauled and the public service was gradually increased - it was to double in size during the Dunstan era. The dress code for the Parliament was relaxed during this period and MPs started wearing items such as shorts to proceedings. Dunstan himself raised eyebrows when he arrived at Parliament House dressed in what was described as 'flesh-pink hot pants', causing a small media frenzy.
In 1972 Gretel and Dunstan separated and he moved into a small flat in Kent Town, adjacent to Norwood. Their old house was sold as two of the children were already studying in university. In 1974, the couple were finally divorced. Dunstan notes this period as being a "very bleak and lonely" time for him initially. In absence of his family, he made new friends and aquaintances. Friends living nearby would come to his apartment for conversation and good food - cooking was Dunstan's hobby. When he had saved enough money, Dunstan bought another house in 1974, partially financed from an then unpublished cookbook. Later, in 1976, 'Don Dunstan's Cookbook' would be published - the first cookbook released by a serving Australian leader.
The South Australian Legislative Council, the second-tier parliament of South Australia, was, due to its limited electoral roll, was overwhelmingly non-Labor. Unlike the House of Assembly, its members were elected from a restricted electoral roll with property and wealth requirements. Combined with the remains of the 'Playmander' electoral malappointment, it was difficult for the Labor Party to achieve the representation it wished. The Legislative Council was amending and rejecting a considerable amount of Labor legislation; bills to legalise homosexuality, allow gambling and casinos, and abolish capital punishment were rejected. This brought Dunstan to call a snap election in 1973. Hoping to gain a mandate so he could strengthen his hand and seek changes to the council, the Labor Party won with 54.5% of the two-party-preferred vote and secured 26 seats in the house.
Dunstan saw reform of the Legislative Council an important goal, and later a prime achievement, of his government. Labor, as a matter of party policy, wanted to see the Legislative Council abolished. Dunstan, seeing this was unfeasible in his term, set about to reform it instead. Two bills were prepared for Legislative Council reform; one which lowered the voting age to eighteen and introduced universal suffrage, and another to make house members elected from a single statewide electorate under the system of proportional representation. The LCL initially blocked both bills, stating that it would only accept them if modifications were made to the second one. Changes were conceded; unlike the House of Assembly, voting would not be compulsory, and the preference system was to be slightly altered. Once the changes had been made the legislation was passed. Dunstan described it as "the Labor Party's first great victory in all its long years of fighting for electoral justice... ".
Prior to the elections of 1975, Australia, and South Australia in particular, had been hit by a bout of economic problems. The 1973 oil crisis had hugely increased the cost of living, domestic industry began to erode due to a lack of cost-competitiveness, and government funds were waning. In response, the Dunstan government sold loss-making railways to the federal government and brought in new taxes to allow wage rises. The changes brought undesired effects; inflation, already high, increased markedly, and workers were still displeased with wages. Dunstan appealed to the electorate and pushed blame onto the Whitlam Government for South Australia's problems. In a television address days before the election, he spoke: "My Government is being smeared and it hurts. They want you to think we are not to blame for Canberra's mistakes. The vote on Saturday in not for Canberra, not for Australia, but for South Australia."
The ALP remained the largest party in parliament, but lost the two-party-preferred vote at 49.2%, and saw its numbers decrease, with 23 representatives elected. The LCL held 20 seats, the Liberal Movement 2, the Country Party one, and the last remaining with an independent, the nominally Labor Mayor of Port Pirie, Ted Connelly. Dunstan appealed to Connelly and offered him the role of speaker. Connelly agreed, and Labor began minority government in its first consecutive term in South Australia.
Dunstan sought to expand on the Hall Government's electoral boundaries reform, to bring it closer to one vote one value. The legislation sought to establish 47 electoral districts containing roughly equal numbers of voters with a 10% tolerance. Redistributions were to be presided over by an independent boundaries commission. The bill passed with the support of independent Ted Connelly as well as the two members of the breakaway Liberal Movement party; former Premier Steele Hall and his Attorney-General Robin Millhouse.
In 1973 Adele Koh, a Malaysian formerly living in Singapore was appointed to work for Dunstan. She had been expelled by the Singaporean Government of Lee Kwan Yew for criticising its policies. The newspaper she had been working for, the Singapore Herald was shut down and she then moved to Australia. A relationship developed in 1974 and they were married two years later in a small ceremony. In early 1978 it was discovered that she had cancer so developed it was untreatable. She died in October after Dunstan had cared for her at her bedside for months. Her passing affected Dunstan and his own health began to suffer.
After Oliphant's term had expired, Dunstan appointed the first Indigenous Australian Governor of South Australia, a former football player and Church Minister, Douglas Nicholls. Following Nicholls' stepping down due to ill health in 1977, a second and consecutive Church Minister took the post, Methodist Keith Seaman.
The South Australian Police had since 1949 a 'Special Branch' in its forces for the purposes of surveillance and espionage. Conceived earlier as an 'intelligence branch' in 1939 for the purposes of spying on the large German Australian community in World War II, it had amassed information on tens of thousands of individuals and organisations. While such an operation was of concern to Dunstan and his government for civil liberty reasons, the bias of it was even more so. It held, in particular, information files on Labor parliamentarians, communists, Church leaders and trade unionists. It also had files relating to Liberal figures, but these were of lesser number. Only two Labor MP's, from both Federal and State parliaments, did not have files. Dunstan had known of the existence of the branch since 1970, when he was told by Police Commissioner Harold Salisbury that it predominantly focused on politically-motivated violence.
An inquiry was conducted into the branch by Justice White of the Supreme Court of South Australia and was placed in Dunstan's hands on December 21, 1977. After reviewing the report, Dunstan sacked Police Commissioner Salisbury in January and threatened to release the report to the public. However, Salisbury had a reputation as a man of integrity and controversy erupted regarding the inquiry and Dunstan's actions. A Royal Commission investigated at the instigation of the Liberals. The enquiry freed the Dunstan government of any error as it had not known about the Special Branch's activities earlier. Salisbury retired to the United Kingdom with a $160 000 payout; a book, The Salisbury Affair by Stewart Cockburn, was written about the debacle.
Life after politics
After leaving politics, Dunstan became the Director of Tourism Victoria until 1986 when he moved back to Adelaide. He was national president of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign (1982-87), president of the Movement for Democracy in Fiji (from 1987), and national chairman of Community Aid Abroad (1992-93). Dunstan was an adjunct professor at the University of Adelaide from 1997 until 1999.In 1986, he met his future partner, Stephen Cheng, with whom he would open a restaurant called "Don's Table" in 1994. It has been widely assumed that Dunstan was either gay or bisexual because of his relationship with Cheng, however he never explicitly stated that he was gay. He lived with Cheng in their Norwood home until his death from cancer on 6 February, 1999. In 2005 Cheng claimed entitlement to Dunstan's parliamentary pension on the basis of his claimed de facto spousal relationship with Dunstan.
Legacy
References
Notes
External links
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