Bill Hayden | |
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![]() Hayden in 1973 | |
21st Governor-General of Australia | |
In office 16 February 1989 – 16 February 1996 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Prime Minister | Bob Hawke Paul Keating |
Preceded by | Sir Ninian Stephen |
Succeeded by | Sir William Deane |
Leader of the Opposition | |
In office 22 December 1977 – 8 February 1983 | |
Prime Minister | Malcolm Fraser |
Deputy | Lionel Bowen |
Preceded by | Gough Whitlam |
Succeeded by | Bob Hawke |
Leader of the Labor Party | |
In office 22 December 1977 – 8 February 1983 | |
Deputy | Lionel Bowen |
Preceded by | Gough Whitlam |
Succeeded by | Bob Hawke |
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade | |
In office 11 March 1983 – 17 August 1988 | |
Prime Minister | Bob Hawke |
Preceded by | Tony Street |
Succeeded by | Gareth Evans |
Treasurer of Australia | |
In office 6 June 1975 – 11 November 1975 | |
Prime Minister | Gough Whitlam |
Preceded by | Jim Cairns |
Succeeded by | Phillip Lynch |
Minister for Social Security | |
In office 19 December 1972 – 6 June 1975 | |
Prime Minister | Gough Whitlam |
Preceded by | Lance Barnard |
Succeeded by | John Wheeldon |
Member of the Australian Parliament for Oxley | |
In office 9 December 1961 – 17 August 1988 | |
Preceded by | Donald Cameron |
Succeeded by | Les Scott |
Personal details | |
Born | William George Hayden 23 January 1933 Spring Hill, Queensland, Australia |
Died | 21 October 2023 (aged 90) Queensland, Australia |
Political party | Labor |
Spouse |
Dallas Broadfoot
(m. 1960) |
Children | 4 |
Education | Brisbane State High School |
Alma mater | University of Queensland |
Occupation | Police officer (Queensland Police Service) |
Profession | Politician |
William George Hayden AC (23 January 1933 – 21 October 2023) was an Australian politician who served as the 21st governor-general of Australia from 1989 to 1996. He was Leader of the Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition from 1977 to 1983, and served as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade from 1983 to 1988 under Bob Hawke and as Treasurer of Australia in 1975 under Gough Whitlam.
Hayden was born in Brisbane, Queensland. He attended Brisbane State High School and then joined the Queensland Police, working as a police officer for eight years while studying economics part-time at the University of Queensland. Hayden was elected to the House of Representatives at the 1961 federal election, aged 28 – along with Manfred Cross and Doug McClelland, Hayden was the earliest elected Labor MP still alive at the time of his death.[1] When Gough Whitlam led the Labor Party to victory in 1972, Hayden was made Minister for Social Security. He replaced Jim Cairns as Treasurer in 1975, but served for only five months before the government was dismissed.
In early 1977, Hayden challenged Whitlam for the party leadership and was defeated by just two votes. He defeated Lionel Bowen to succeed Whitlam as Leader of the Opposition at the end of the year, following Labor's defeat at the 1977 election. Hayden led the party to the 1980 election, recording a substantial swing but falling short of victory. He was replaced by Bob Hawke just a few weeks before the 1983 election, after months of speculation. Hayden served as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade from 1983 to 1988, then left parliament to assume the governor-generalship. He held that position for seven years, with only Lord Gowrie having served for longer.