Sullivan, Victor Bruce
Personal
Birth Date:
7 December 1918 (Launceston, Tasmania)
Death Date:
29 January 1993 (Caloundra, Queensland)
Parents:
James Bruce Sullivan and Julia Ellen (nee Brown)
Family:
Gwenneth Joan Becker on 8 April 1948, 2 sons, 1 daughter
Education:
Downlands College, Toowoomba
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Career
Farmer
Military Service:
Served in AIF during WWII, Lieutenant
Party Positions:
- Deputy leader, Queensland National Party. 1980 - 1982
- Leader, parliamentary delegation to Papua New Guniea, Japan and South-East Asia. 1979
- Leader, Australian Sugar Industry Goodwill Mission to Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore. 1975
- Delegate, International Sugar Agreement Conference, Geneva, 1973 and 1977.
- Delegate, Australian Area Conference, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. 1965
- Deputy Chairman, Country Party, Jandowae branch.
Parliamentary Representation
| House | Party | Electorate | From | To | Elected/Departure Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assembly | NP | Condamine | 28 May 1960 | 22 Oct 1983 |
Parliamentary Service
| Description | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Minister for Commerce and Industry | 23 Dec 1980 | 6 Dec 1982 |
| Minister for Mines and Energy | 29 Jul 1980 | 23 Dec 1980 |
| Minister for Primary Industries | 25 Mar 1975 | 29 Jul 1980 |
| Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries | 23 Dec 1974 | 25 Mar 1975 |
| Minister for Primary Industries | 20 Jun 1972 | 23 Dec 1974 |
| Minister for Lands | 17 Jan 1968 | 20 Jun 1972 |
Additional Information
Notes:
Interests include horse racing, bowls, football. Mr Sullivan became Acting Premier for a short period in Jun 1982, when the Premier, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, and the Deputy Premier, Sir Llew Edwards, were overseas. In Jul 1982 Mr Sullivan and ministerial colleague Ken Tomkins were involved in what became known as the 'Melbidir affair'. A tour in the government vessel the Melbidir to examine the conditions of Aboriginal communities in the Torres Strait islands was reported as a 'fishing junket'. Following media and political pressure, Mr Sullivan and Mr Tomkins reluctantly resigned from cabinet. Committee member, Returned and Services League of Australia. Member, Jandowae Picnic Race Club; Patron, Christian Brothers' Rugby League team
Sources:
Waterson, DB and John Arnold, A Biographical Register of the Queensland Parliament: 1930-1980, (Canberra: ANU Press, 1982); Image sourced from the collection of the Queensland Parliamentary Library and Research Service
[Last Modified: Tuesday, 22 August 2017]