Sir Reginald Charles Wright (10 July 190510 March 1990) was an Australian

barrister A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include taking cases in superior courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, researching law and ...

and politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party and served as a

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

for Tasmania from 1950 to 1978. He held ministerial office in the Gorton and McMahon Governments, although he was known for crossing the floor.

Early life

Wright was born in Central Castra, Tasmania in 1905. He was educated at Devonport High School and the University of Tasmania, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws.

Career

Wright was admitted to the bar in 1928 and lectured in law at the University of Tasmania. In 1941, he enlisted in the second Australian Imperial Force and was promoted to captain in 1943. Wright was elected as a Liberal member for the Tasmanian House of Assembly seat of Franklin in November 1946 and was the first State president of the Liberal Party in Tasmania. In November 1949, he resigned to enter federal politics. He was elected to the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

at the 1949 election, taking his seat in February 1950. He was appointed to the

ministry Ministry may refer to: Government * Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister * Ministry (government department), a department of a government Religion * Christian ...

in February 1968 in the John Gorton government as Minister for Works and Minister in charge of Tourist Activities. He held these positions in the McMahon government, which was defeated at the 1972 election. Wright holds the record in the Australian Parliament for " crossing the floor" to vote against his own party, which he did 150 times. He did not contest the 1977 election. He was

knighted A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...

on 3 June 1978, for his services to the Tasmanian Parliament. He left the Liberal Party in June 1978 and sat as an independent until his retirement on 30 June.

Later life

An accomplished barrister and orator, Wright returned to practising law on retiring from the Senate in 1978. In retirement he returned to a farm near the farmhouse in Castra where he had been born and died there; he was accorded a State Funeral in Ulverstone, Tasmania. His younger brother, Emeritus Professor Sir Douglas Wright AK was Chancellor of the University of Melbourne. He predeceased Reg by only ten days. His older brother,

John Forsyth Wright John Forsyth Wright (29 June 1892 – 16 January 1947) was an Australian politician. Born at Castra, Tasmania, he was the elder brother of Roy Douglas Wright and Senator Reginald Wright, both of whom were knighted. He was elected to the Tasm ...

was a Member of the House of Assembly in the Parliament of Tasmania. Two of Sir Reginald's sons achieved distinction in the law. His youngest son, Philip Wright (1945-2021) was a magistrate in

Hobart Hobart ( ; Nuennonne/Palawa kani: ''nipaluna'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Home to almost half of all Tasmanians, it is the least-populated Australian state capital city, and second-small ...

, while eldest son

Christopher Christopher is the English language, English version of a Europe-wide name derived from the Greek language, Greek name Χριστόφορος (''Christophoros'' or ''Christoforos''). The constituent parts are Χριστός (''Christós''), "Jesus ...

AO is a Queen's Counsel, former Solicitor-General of Tasmania, former judge of the

Supreme Court of Tasmania The Supreme Court of Tasmania is the highest State court in the Australian State of Tasmania. In the Australian court hierarchy, the Supreme Court of Tasmania is in the middle level, with both an appellate jurisdiction over lower courts, and de ...

, former deputy president of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and former head of Tasmania's Police Review Board.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, Reg 1905 births 1990 deaths Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia Members of the Australian Senate for Tasmania Members of the Australian Senate Members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly Australian barristers Australian solicitors Australian Knights Bachelor Australian politicians awarded knighthoods University of Tasmania alumni Independent members of the Parliament of Australia 20th-century Australian politicians Australian Army personnel of World War II Australian Army officers