10 Facts About Nev Warburton

Neville George Warburton was an Australian politician from Queensland, who served as leader of the opposition from 1984 to 1988, and as a minister in the Goss Ministry from 1989 to 1992.

Nev Warburton was appointed deputy opposition leader in Wright's shadow cabinet, despite having served only five years in parliament.

Nev Warburton became a member of the then dominant Trades and Labour Council faction, an affiliation he retained during his later career.

Nev Warburton was elected by caucus as the new Labor leader in Queensland on 29 August 1984.

Nev Warburton was often portrayed in the media as being an "old style" Labor leader; uncomplicated and honest.

Nev Warburton's policies included the introduction of random breath testing in Queensland, and a ban on uranium mining in Queensland, an idea that would become longstanding Labor party policy.

Nev Warburton made overtures to the Liberals, offering to form a coalition government with them in order to break the National Party's grip on power.

Nev Warburton hung on as leader of the opposition after this defeat, but eventually handed over the party leadership to Wayne Goss in 1988.

Nev Warburton stayed on the opposition frontbench at the invitation of Goss, and when Labor won power for the first time in over thirty years at the 1989 election, he was appointed as Minister for Employment, Training and Industrial relations.

Nev Warburton died on 5 August 2018 on the Sunshine Coast.