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Gordon Munro Bryant (3 August 1914 – 14 January 1991) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and represented the Division of Wills in Victoria from 1955 to 1980. He served as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (1972–1973) and Minister for the Capital Territory (1973–1975) in the Whitlam government.
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (August 2019) |
Gordon Bryant | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bryant in 1973 | |
| Minister for the Capital Territory | |
| In office 9 October 1973 – 11 November 1975 | |
| Prime Minister | Gough Whitlam |
| Preceded by | Kep Enderby |
| Succeeded by | Reg Withers |
| Minister for Aboriginal Affairs | |
| In office 19 December 1972 – 9 October 1973 | |
| Prime Minister | Gough Whitlam |
| Preceded by | Peter Howson (Environment, Aborigines and the Arts) |
| Succeeded by | Jim Cavanagh |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Wills | |
| In office 10 December 1955 – 19 September 1980 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Bryson |
| Succeeded by | Bob Hawke |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 August 1914 Lismore, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 14 January 1991 (aged 76) Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia |
| Political party | Labor |
| Spouse | Pat |
| Alma mater | University of Melbourne |
| Occupation | Teacher |
Bryant was born on 3 August 1914 in Lismore, Victoria. He was the son of Agnes Keith (née Bain) and Donald Munro Bryant. His father, a storekeeper and farmer, was the nephew of Victorian premier James Munro.[1]
Bryant moved to Baxter as a child and attended Frankston High School. He won a teaching scholarship and taught at Callaghan Creek (near Mitta Mitta), Pearcedale, and Mittyack. His teaching career was interrupted by the Second World War, but after the war's end he became a high school teacher at Upwey. He completed a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) at the University of Melbourne in 1950, having also studied at Melbourne Teachers' College before the war.[1]
Military service
Bryant enlisted in the Citizen Military Force in 1934. He was called up for full-time duty in 1942 and was transferred to the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in January 1943. He remained in Australia until 1945, when he participated in the Battle of Balikpapan as a captain in the 2/33rd Battalion.
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Bryant was elected to Parliament in 1955. A passionate supporter of land rights, he was president of the Aborigines Advancement League for seven years, from 1957 to 1964.
After seventeen years in Parliament, Bryant joined the Cabinet of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, becoming Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in 1972. A year later he became Minister for the Capital Territory. As Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, he was instrumental in the Whitlam government's historic land rights deal with Vincent Lingiari and the Gurindji people. Bryant retired in 1980, and his electorate was taken over by future Prime Minister Bob Hawke. Bryant had earlier resisted pressure to retire early in order to expedite Hawke's entry to Parliament via a by-election.
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Bryant was married and had two sons.
He died in January 1991, eleven months prior to Hawke's ousting as Prime Minister.
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