Bill Hayden

Former Governor-General of Australia (1989-1996), the Honorable Dr Bill Hayden, AC, KSJ, received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from UQ in 1990 for his distinguished contributions to Australian life as a Member of Parliament, a Minister of the Crown and Governor-General.

Dr Hayden, who holds a Bachelor of Economics from UQ, was educated at Brisbane State High School and served as a Queensland police officer from 1953 until 1961.

In 1961, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the Federal Division of Oxley, Queensland, holding the seat until his retirement from Parliament in 1988.

He was a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry from 1976 until 1983 and, during the Whitlam Government, was Minister for Social Security (1972-1975) and Treasurer in 1975. From December 1977 until February 1983, Dr Hayden was the Leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP).

During the Hawke Government, Dr Hayden was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs in 1983 and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1987, remaining in this position until his retirement from Parliament.

Mr Hayden has been a cattle farmer in the Brisbane Valley since 1996 and was voted Australian Humanist of the Year the same year.

He has received many awards and honours, including Chancellor of the Order of Australia (1989), the Prior Order St John Australia and the Gwanghwa Medal of the Korean Order of Diplomatic Merit.

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