Sir Robert William Askin, GCMG, was an Australian politician and the 32nd Premier of New South Wales from 1965 to 1975, the first representing the Liberal Party.
48 Facts About Robert Askin
2.
Robert Askin was born in 1907 as Robin William Askin, but always disliked his first name and changed it by deed poll in 1971.
3.
Robert Askin quickly rose through party ranks, eventually becoming Deputy Leader following Walter Howarth's resignation in July 1954.
4.
When long-serving party leader Vernon Treatt announced his resignation in August 1954, Robert Askin put his name forward to replace him.
5.
At the vote, he became deadlocked against Pat Morton and Robert Askin asked his former commanding officer Murray Robson to take the leadership instead.
6.
Robert Askin remained as Deputy until, after leading the party to a second electoral defeat in 1959, Morton was deposed and Robert Askin was elected to succeed him.
7.
At the May 1965 election, Robert Askin presented the Liberal Party as a viable alternative government.
8.
Robert Askin won a narrow victory, ending a 24-year Labor hold on government.
9.
Robert Askin remains the longest-serving Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party.
10.
Robin William Robert Askin was born in Sydney, New South Wales on 4 April 1907, at the Crown Street Women's Hospital, the eldest of three sons of Ellen Laura Halliday and William James Robert Askin, an Adelaide-born sailor and worker for New South Wales Railways.
11.
Robert Askin spent his early years in Stuart Town before his family moved to Glebe, a working-class inner-city suburb of Sydney.
12.
At the age of 15, after a short time in the electrical trade, in 1922 Robert Askin joined the Government Savings Bank of New South Wales as a Clerk.
13.
Between 1925 and 1929 Robert Askin served part-time as a Lieutenant in the 55th Battalion, Citizens Military Forces.
14.
On 5 February 1937 Robert Askin married Mollie Isabelle Underhill, a typist at the bank, at Gilbert Park Methodist Church, Manly.
15.
Robert Askin began his interest in politics by assisting in Percy Spender's successful campaign for Askin's local seat of Warringah as an Independent candidate at the 1937 Federal election.
16.
In 1940 Robert Askin was appointed manager of the Bank service department, which focused on public relations.
17.
Robert Askin served as vice-president from 1939 to 1940 and President from 1940 to 1941 of the Rural Bank branch of the United Bank Officers' Association.
18.
Robert Askin enlisted as a Private in the Second Australian Imperial Force on 30 March 1942.
19.
Robert Askin was in New Guinea for another six months from July 1943.
20.
Landing at Balikpapan, Borneo, in July 1945, Robert Askin was promoted to Sergeant under Lieutenant Colonel Murray Robson.
21.
Rapidly rising through the party ranks, Robert Askin soon became President of the Liberals' Manly branch and supported Bill Wentworth's successful bid for the new seat of Mackellar at the 1949 election.
22.
Robert Askin appeared decisive and brought order to the government's chaotic public works program.
23.
Morton was then elected unopposed as leader, with Robert Askin remaining as Deputy Leader.
24.
Willis then surprised many by deciding not to put his name forward for nomination, leaving Robert Askin to take the leadership unopposed.
25.
Robert Askin accused the state government of allowing the transport infrastructure of the state to decline and promised to build the Newcastle freeway without a toll, to construct the Eastern Suburbs Railway and to plan for a second crossing of Sydney Harbour.
26.
Robert Askin made promises for more resources in mental health and district hospitals.
27.
Robert Askin received vigorous support from the newspapers and TV stations owned by Packer.
28.
Robert Askin, who served as his own Treasurer, heavily involved himself in the business of Government, while maintaining a range of social agendas and regular outings to the racetrack or Rugby League games.
29.
One of the privileges of office was the access to a Ministerial car and personal driver, which became particularly important for Robert Askin, who did not drive.
30.
Robert Askin's government was marked by strong opposition to an increase in Commonwealth powers, a tough stance on "law and order" issues, laissez-faire economic policies, and aggressive support for industrial and commercial development.
31.
Two weeks after the first Government meeting, the Robert Askin Government abolished the tow-away system for Sydney and Newcastle.
32.
Robert Askin addressed the demands of the New England New State Movement by holding a referendum in 1967, which was defeated by a large margin.
33.
At the 24 February 1968 election, Robert Askin increased his previously tenuous majority, scoring a six-seat swing against Labor's Renshaw and an overall majority of 12 over the Labor Party and the two Independents.
34.
In mid-1968 Askin famously became embroiled in a media controversy over the reporting of several words spoken to the United States Chamber of Commerce lunch in Sydney on 32 July 1968, in which he spoke of the October 1966 state visit by United States President Lyndon B Johnson.
35.
Robert Askin had joined Prime Minister Harold Holt, President Johnson and the American Ambassador, Ed Clark, in a drive through the Sydney CBD.
36.
Robert Askin claimed he had instructed the officer to drag them off.
37.
Robert Askin had a greater dislike for Gorton's successor, William McMahon and received financial support from McMahon only when Robert Askin threatened to release a NSW "horror budget" that could damage Federal Liberal voting intentions.
38.
Cutler served as Acting Premier at times when Robert Askin was suffering from illness, having suffered two heart attacks in 1969 and 1973.
39.
In 1971 Askin changed his name from "Robin" to "Robert" by a deed poll.
40.
Later that year, taking advantage of unease at the increasingly erratic Labor government of Gough Whitlam and the increasing economic problems seen to be caused by it, Robert Askin called an early election for 1973.
41.
Late in 1974, Robert Askin announced his resignation, and his last intervention was to support his Minister for Lands, Thomas Lewis, in his bid to be Robert Askin's successor instead of the Deputy Leader and Minister for Education, Sir Eric Willis.
42.
The departure of Robert Askin began a turbulent year for the government.
43.
Robert Askin's health declined still further after 1975, and he died of heart failure on 9 September 1981 in St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney.
44.
When questioned about his wealth, Robert Askin always attributed it to the salary from his high public office, his frugal lifestyle, good investments and canny punting.
45.
In 2007, the centenary of Robert Askin's birth went largely unnoticed with the Liberal Party distancing itself from him.
46.
The allegations of corruption against Robert Askin were revived in 2008 when Alan Saffron, the son of the late Sydney crime boss Abe Saffron, published a biography of his father in which he alleged that Saffron had paid bribes to major public officials including Robert Askin, former police commissioner Norman Allan, and other leading figures whom he claimed he could not name because they were still alive.
47.
Robert Askin alleged that, later in Askin's premiership, Abe Saffron became the "bagman" for Sydney's illegal liquor and prostitution rackets and most illegal gambling activities, collecting payoffs that were then passed to Askin, Allan and others, in return for which his father was completely protected.
48.
Robert Askin's corruption were reinforced by Hickie's 536-page book, The Prince and the Premier, published in 1985.