Geoff Gallop

Infobox Officeholder
name =Geoff Gallop
honorific-suffix = AC
nationality =Australian

---

caption =Dr Geoff Gallop at the Midland Railway Workshops, Nov 2002.
order =27th Premier of Western Australia
term_start =10 February 2001
term_end =16 January 2006
deputy =
predecessor =Richard Court
successor =Alan Carpenter
birth_date =Birth date and age|1951|9|27|df=y
birth_place =Geraldton, Western Australia
death_date =
death_place =
constituency =Victoria Park
party =Australian Labor Party
spouse =
profession =Economist
religion =


footnotes =|
Professor Geoffrey Ian Gallop AC (born 27 September 1951) is an Australian academic and former politician. He was the Premier of Western Australia from 2001 to 2006.

Early life and education

Gallop was born in Geraldton and joined the Australian Labor Party in 1971. After studying economics at the University of Western Australia (UWA), he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship in 1972, and as an undergraduate studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics [cite news
first = Luke
last = McIlveen
title = Gallop's act of public service - Praise from former premier
work = The Daily Telegraph
publisher = News Limited
page = 2
date = 2006-01-17
accessdate = 2008-02-17
quote = Awarded Rhodes Scholarship in 1972 and graduated in philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford in 1974 ] at St John's College, Oxford University met and became close friends with Tony Blair. [cite news
author = Staff writer
title = Is Tony Blair hoping to clear out one of the dustier corners of Whitehall before he gallops into the sunset?
work = The Evening Standard
publisher = Associated Newspapers
date = 2007-01-08
accessdate = 2008-02-17
quote = ...Geoff Gallop, former Premier of Western Australia and one of Blair's oldest friends from St John's College, Oxford... ] Blair is also the godfather of Gallop's son Tom,cite news
first = Norman
last = Aisbett
title = Dr Who?
work = The West Australian
publisher = West Australian Newspapers Limited
page = 1
date = 2001-01-13
accessdate = 2008-02-17 ] and Gallop was a groomsman at Blair's 1980 wedding. [cite news
first = Tim
last = Clarke
title = WA: From marxist to premier, smiling Gallop reveals a dark side
work = General News
publisher = Australian Associated Press
date = 2006-01-16
accessdate = 2008-02-17
quote = Dr Gallop was even a groomsman at the Blairs' wedding in 1980, and Mr Blair is godfather to Dr Gallop's son Tom. ] He is also a long-time friend of former federal Labor Leader Kim Beazley. [cite news
author = Staff writer
title = Everyone Is Connected In Western Australia
work = Canberra Times
page = 11
date = 1999-04-16
accessdate = 2008-02-17
quote = State Opposition leader Geoff Gallop, one-time Murdoch University and Oxford University mate and best buddy of Beazley, Jr... ]

Before entering state politics, Gallop worked as a tutor and lecturer at both Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia, and was a City Councillor at Fremantle from 1983 to 1986.

Politics

Gallop was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for the seat of Victoria Park in 1986. [cite news
author = Staff writer
title = RTRS-Gallop becomes W.Australia opposition leader
work = Reuters News
publisher = Reuters
date = 1996-10-08
accessdate = 2008-02-17 ] From 1990 to 1993, during the Lawrence Labor Government, Gallop held portfolios including Education, Parliamentary and Electoral Reform, Fuel and Energy, Micro-Economic Reform, and Minister assisting the Treasurer. The Lawrence government was defeated at the 1993 state elections, and Gallop was elected Deputy Leader of the State Parliamentary Labor Party.

Opposition Leader

In Opposition, his Shadow Ministerial responsibilities included Treasury, Resources and Energy, Parliamentary and Electoral Reform, Public Sector Management, Accountability, Sport and Recreation, Aboriginal Affairs, Health, Federal Affairs, Treasury and the South West.

In October 1996, Jim McGinty resigned as Leader of the Opposition and designated Gallop as his successor, a role which he took on without a vote.Soon afterwards in December of that same year, he contested the State election as Labor Leader. He was defeated by the Liberal Party government of Richard Court. [cite news
author = Staff writer
title = Western Australian government returned
publisher = Agence France-Presse
date = 1996-12-14
accessdate = 2008-02-17
quote = The Western Australian Liberal-National Party Government, headed by Premier Richard Court, has been returned to office with an increased majority in the State Legislative Assembly (lower house). ]

In Government

At the State election held on the 10 February 2001, Gallop led the Labor Party to victory, [cite news
author = Staff writer
title = Labor claims state election victory
work = Associated Press Newswires
publisher = The Associated Press
date = 2001-02-11
accessdate = 2008-02-17 ] becoming Premier and Minister for Public Sector Management, Federal Affairs, Science, Citizenship and Multicultural Interests. [cite news
first = Wendy
last = Pryer
title = The new cabinet
work = The West Australian
publisher = West Australian Newspapers Limited
page = 4
date = 2001-02-16
accessdate = 2008-02-17 ] Gallop went on to win a second term at the 26 February 2005 state election. [cite news
author = Staff writer
title = Gallop wins second term in close-fought contest
work = The Sunday Times
publisher = News Limited
location = Perth
page = 1
date = 2005-02-27
accessdate = 2008-02-17 ]

Resignation

On 16 January 2006 Gallop announced his resignation from State Parliament in order to aid his recovery from depression.He addressed a news conference stating that "in the interests of my health and my family I have decided to rethink my career".Treasurer Eric Ripper took over from Gallop as Acting Premier, pending a leadership vote at the State Labor Caucus.cite news
author = Staff writer
title = Ripper steps in as acting WA Premier
work = AAP Bulletins
publisher = Australian Associated Press Pty Ltd
date = 2006-01-16
accessdate = 2008-02-17 ]
Alan Carpenter was elected unopposed [cite news
author = Staff writer
title = WA Premier is chosen
work = The Sunday Mail (Brisbane)
publisher = News Limited
page = 19
date = 2006-01-22
accessdate = 2008-02-17 ] and was sworn in on 25 January 2006.

Post-government activities

He became a professor and director of Sydney University's Graduate School of Government in 2006.cite news
first = Bernard
last = Lane
title = Gallop strikes a new balance
work = The Australian
publisher = News Limited
page = 32
date = 2006-07-12
accessdate = 2008-02-17 ]

On 25 February 2008, it was announced he would be a member of the board of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission. [ [http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr08-nr-nr024.htm Nicola Roxon Press Release] ]

Gallop was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2008. [ABC News (2008). [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/09/2268609.htm Aussies honoured on Queen's Birthday] . Retrieved June 10, 2008.]

Gallop is also a Board member of the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership.

Political views

Gallop is a strong supporter of the movement for an Australian republic, and took a leading role in the push for a directly-elected President during the 1998 Constitutional Convention in Canberra.cite news
first = Victoria
last = Laurie
title = Broken by the burden
work = The Australian
publisher = News Limited
page = 11
date = 2006-01-17
accessdate = 2008-02-17 ] He is pro-choice on the issue of abortion. [cite news
first = Anne
last = Burns
title = Historic Abortion Debate Heats Up
work = The West Australian
publisher = West Australian Newspapers Limited
page = 1
date = 1998-03-18
accessdate = 2008-02-17 ]

References

External links

* [http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/media/media.nsf/dcb641cb714dff7e48256de900111082/36ac78b738524a85482570f8001c1a60?OpenDocument Resignation statement]
* [http://www.ccentre.wa.gov.au/index.cfm?event=premiersGeoffgallop Constitutional Centre of Western Australia entry on Geoff Gallop]
*cite news | first= | last=Geoff Gallop | coauthors= | title=Black dog isn't really invincible | date=May 10, 2007 | publisher= | url =http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=5831 | work =On Line Opinion | pages = | accessdate = | language =