Jeff Kennett

Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC (born 2 March 1948), Australian politician, was Premier of Victoria from 1992 to 1999. He was born in Melbourne and educated at Scotch College, Melbourne. He dropped out of the Australian National University after one year of an economics degree, and worked in retailing. In 1968 he was conscripted into the Australian Army, and served in Malaysia and Singapore. He returned to civilian life and went into advertising, forming his own company, KNF, in 1971. In 1972 he married Felicity Kellar, with whom he had four children.

Premier

Kennett won the October 1992 election in a landslide as a result of the public's complete disillusionment with the Labor government, which was held responsible for the state's economic and budgetary crisis. The Liberals had substantial majorities in both houses of the state Parliament and were able to pass any legislation they saw necessary. In office, Kennett immediately instituted one of the most radical budget-cutting and privatisation programs undertaken by any government.

Related Topics:
1992 - Parliament

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Some of the government functions which the Kennett government privatised in whole or in part were: prisons, gas and electricity production and distribution, trams, trains and buses, water supply and government laboratories. As well, many government schools were closed, and the remaining schools were required to operate as commercial enterprises in competition with private schools. Severe cuts were made in the health, education and welfare sectors. Country rail services were cut, and even police numbers were reduced, despite the Liberals' traditional support for more police. The government forced through amalgamations of local councils, and also reduced their powers. Industrial relations reforms reduced the influence of the trade unions.

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These policies succeeded in restoring Victoria's budget to surplus and in having Victoria's credit rating upgraded. Though investment and population growth resumed unemployment was to remain above the national average for the entirety of his premiership. Critics pointed out that the Kennett government was claiming credit for external factors such as improving national economic indicators, and that states that had not undergone such radical reforms also saw economic improvement. The social cost of the Kennett reforms was considered high by many commentators, academics and those who suffered economically and provoked a campaign of demonstrations by trade unions and community groups.

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The Kennett government also embarked on a series of high-profile projects, such as restoring Parliament House and building a new Melbourne Museum and a new Melbourne Exhibition Centre (commonly known as "Jeff's shed"). The most controversial of these was the Crown Casino, an enormous gambling and entertainment centre in the heart of Melbourne. While initial plans for a casino had been made under the Labor government, the tender process and construction occurred under Kennett. There were many allegations of corruption in the tendering process for the casino, but no impropriety was ever proved.

Related Topics:
Parliament House - Crown Casino

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Kennett's prestige remained high through his first term, and in 1996 he was re-elected with his majority almost intact. During his second term, however, the public began to tire of what was seen as his arrogant and confrontationist style. The government's sharp cuts to government services were particularly resented in country Victoria, where the Liberals and their allies the National Party held almost all the seats. Kennett's legislation reducing the powers of the independent Auditor-General aroused much opposition. A leading Melbourne daily, The Age, which had supported Kennett in 1992 and 1996, turned against him.

Related Topics:
1996 - National Party - The Age - 1992

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While Labor remained weak and leaderless, it offered little challenge to Kennett's dominance of Victorian politics. But in mid 1999 Labor replaced its leader, John Brumby, with Steve Bracks, who came from Ballarat and was popular in rural areas. Nevertheless Kennett entered the 1999 election campaign fully expecting to win, and most commentators and opinion polls agreed. On the morning of the election a leading political journalist, Ewen Hannan, predicted that "Labor supporters will be crying into their beers tonight."

Related Topics:
1999 - John Brumby - Steve Bracks - Ballarat - Ewen Hannan

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