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Rex Connor | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Connor in 1973 | |
| Minister for Minerals and Energy | |
| In office 19 December 1972 – 14 October 1975 | |
| Prime Minister | Gough Whitlam |
| Preceded by | [First holder] |
| Succeeded by | Ken Wriedt |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Cunningham | |
| In office 30 November 1963 – 22 August 1977 | |
| Preceded by | Victor Kearney |
| Succeeded by | Stewart West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 January 1907 Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 22 August 1977 (aged 70) Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia |
| Political party | Labor |
| Spouse |
Grace Searl (m. 1931–1977) |
| Children | Three sons |
| Occupation | Car dealer |
Reginald Francis Xavier Connor (26 January 1907 – 22 August 1977) was an Australian politician who served as a member of the House of Representatives from 1963 until he died in 1977, representing the Labor Party. He was the Minister for Minerals and Energy in the Whitlam government from 1972 to 1975.
Connor was born in Wollongong, New South Wales. He served on the Wollongong City Council from 1938 to 1945, and then in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1950 to 1963. After entering federal politics, Connor became an ally of Gough Whitlam, who appointed him to cabinet when Labor won the 1972 election. As Minister for Minerals and Energy, he was noted for his strident economic nationalism. However, Connor is best known as the central figure in the "loans affair", which arose from his attempts to secure petrodollar loans from Middle Eastern financiers. His resignation from cabinet in October 1975 precipitated the constitutional crisis which resulted in Whitlam's dismissal a month later.
Connor died as the sitting member for the Division of Cunningham, precipitating the 1977 Cunningham by-election.