Robert Ray (Australian politician)
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Robert Francis Ray (born 8 April 1947), Australian politician, has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Senate since July 1981, representing the state of Victoria. He was born in Melbourne, Victoria, and was educated at Monash University, Melbourne, where he graduated in arts and education. He worked as a teacher in government schools and as a taxi-driver before entering politics.
A leading member of the right-wing faction of the ALP, Ray entered the Senate at the 1980 elections after defeating a left-wing Senator, Jean Melzer, in a party ballot. This caused great bitterness in the Socialist Left faction, which has disliked Ray ever since.
In the Hawke Labor government Ray was Minister for Home Affairs 1987-88, Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs, with a seat in the Cabinet, 1988-90 and Minister for Defence 1990-96. In this portfolio he strongly supported Hawke's decision to send Australian forces to support the United Nations in the Gulf War, despite bitter opposition from the left.
After the defeat of the Keating government in 1996, Ray did not seek election to the Opposition Shadow Ministry, but remained a powerful figure in the Labor Party, acting as a key factional supporter of Opposition Leader Kim Beazley 1996-2001. His influence diminished when Mark Latham became Leader in 2003. He is expected to retire at the 2007 election.
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