22 Facts About Lance Barnard

Lance Herbert Barnard AO was an Australian politician and diplomat.

Lance Barnard was the deputy leader of the Australian Labor Party from 1967 to 1974 and held senior ministerial office in the Whitlam government, most notably as Deputy Prime Minister of Australia from 1972 to 1974.

Barnard was born in Launceston, Tasmania, into a prominent political family; his father Claude Barnard was a federal government minister.

Lance Barnard was a timber worker, soldier and schoolteacher before entering politics himself.

Lance Barnard was elected to the House of Representatives at the 1954 federal election, winning the seat of Bass that his father had lost five years earlier.

Lance Barnard was elected deputy to Gough Whitlam in 1967 and became deputy prime minister following the ALP's victory at the 1972 election.

Lance Barnard subsequently oversaw the merger of several smaller departments into the Department of Defence.

In 1974, Lance Barnard lost the deputy leadership to Jim Cairns but remained in the defence portfolio.

Lance Barnard resigned from parliament in 1975 to become ambassador to Norway, Finland and Sweden, triggering a by-election that resulted in the loss of his seat to the Liberal Party.

Lance Barnard was born in Launceston, Tasmania, one of four children born to Herbert Claude Lance Barnard and the former Martha Melva McKenzie.

Lance Barnard's father, a trade unionist and locomotive driver, was elected to parliament in 1934, and was a minister in the Chifley government.

Lance Barnard left school during the Great Depression and worked in a timberyard for a few years.

Lance Barnard began training as a schoolteacher by attending night school.

Lance Barnard fought with the 9th Division in the Middle East and Africa, including in the Battle of El Alamein.

At the 1954 federal election, Lance Barnard was elected to the Division of Bass for the Labor Party.

Lance Barnard defeated the sitting Liberal member Bruce Kekwick, who had defeated Claude Barnard for the seat in 1949.

Lance Barnard was later elected to the ALP Federal Executive and a delegate to Federal Conference, where he "more than once put up spirited battles against left-wing influence".

Lance Barnard was then elected deputy leader with the endorsement of Whitlam, defeating Jim Cairns by 35 votes to 33 on the final ballot following the elimination of Frank Crean.

Lance Barnard personally ensured the recommendations of the Jess Committee and new Defense Force Retirements Benefits Scheme was implemented in 1972.

In June 1975, Whitlam announced that Lance Barnard would leave politics to become Australia's resident ambassador to Sweden, with accreditation to Finland and Norway.

Lance Barnard returned to Launceston after completing his term as ambassador in 1978.

Lance Barnard remarried on 11 September 1962 to Jill Cant, the daughter of Senator Harry Cant of Western Australia.