16 Facts About Victor Garland

Sir Ransley Victor Garland KBE, usually known as Vic Garland, was an Australian politician and diplomat.

Victor Garland was a member of the House of Representatives from 1969 to 1981, representing the Liberal Party, and served as a minister in the McMahon and Fraser governments.

Victor Garland later served as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1981 to 1983.

Victor Garland was educated at Hale School and the University of Western Australia, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Economics.

Victor Garland followed his father into the accounting profession, practising as a chartered accountant from 1958 to 1969.

Victor Garland served as a councillor for the South Ward of the Town of Claremont from 1963 to 1970, finishing as deputy mayor.

Victor Garland joined the Liberal Party in 1957, and served in several branch and administrative roles.

When Paul Hasluck resigned from Parliament in 1969 to become Governor-General of Australia, Victor Garland succeeded him as the member for Curtin, a comfortably safe Liberal seat in Perth's wealthy beachside suburbs.

Victor Garland retained his positions until the defeat of the government at the 1972 federal election.

Victor Garland unsuccessfully attempted to convince cabinet to purchase Dassault Mirage F1 fighter jets from France, which would have been manufactured in Australia.

Victor Garland was named in Billy Snedden's interim opposition executive after the election, but failed to win election to the shadow ministry when a vote was held in January 1973.

Victor Garland was the first person to hold the title, which replaced the earlier position of Postmaster-General.

Victor Garland resigned from the ministry on 6 February 1976, when the Commonwealth Police began an investigation into allegations that he had violated the electoral act.

For several months Victor Garland remained a backbencher before being appointed the first Chairman of the House of Representatives Expenditure Committee, Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Minister for Special Trade Representations and Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs.

Lady Victor Garland is an active professional classical pianist who performs as Lyn Victor Garland.

Victor Garland died on 1 January 2022, at the age of 87.