Barrie Graham Dexter was an Australian senior diplomat and public servant in the Department of External Affairs and the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.
16 Facts About Barrie Dexter
1.
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Barrie Dexter joined the Department of External Affairs as a cadet in 1948.
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Barrie Dexter graduated from his cadetship alongside Neil Currie and Rowen Osborn.
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Barrie Dexter went on to become a senior diplomat in the Department of External Affairs with a number of postings including:.
5.
The Prime Minister asked Barrie Dexter to be the Head of the Office of Aboriginal Affairs.
6.
Barrie Dexter wrote that, when Holt drowned in December 1967, the advantages that the Council for Aboriginal Affairs had hoped for by being part of the Prime Minister's Department did not eventuate.
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Later when William McMahon became Prime Minister, the Council for Aboriginal Affairs became part of what Barrie Dexter called "an improbable creation", the Department of the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts.
8.
Barrie Dexter wrote that Wentworth "would have liked to see us dissolved" but despite strong opposition from some parts of the Government, the Council for Aboriginal Affairs succeeded in developing an evolving stance on Aboriginal development, landownership and identity politics, its relationship with successive departments, ministers and prime ministers and emerging indigenous bodies.
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Barrie Dexter held that position through successive political regimes, including the Whitlam government, which began to implement much of the program Barrie Dexter, Stanner and Coombs endorsed: land rights, the movement to outstations, increased social welfare and community-based economies.
10.
Barrie Dexter employed Charles Perkins to the role of Research Officer.
11.
The Council and Barrie Dexter were instrumental in the development of Land Title policy for Australia.
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Barrie Dexter was the inaugural Secretary of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs from its creation in late 1972 by Gough Whitlam, until his retirement from the Department in 1976.
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Barrie Dexter was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1981.
14.
Barrie Dexter presented on the pivotal role of the Council for Aboriginal Affairs.
15.
Barrie Dexter was the Honorary Secretary of the Turner National Football Club for many years.
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Barrie Dexter died in Canberra on 13 April 2018 at the age of 96.