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Hon. Thomas Gregory Stephens OAM

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PARLIAMENTARY HISTORY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND STATE LIBRARY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA Transcript of an interview with Hon. Thomas Gregory Stephens OAM b.1951 - STATE LIBRARY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA - ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION DATE OF INTERVIEW: 2015 INTERVIEWER: JOHN FERRELL TRANSCRIBER: JOHN FERRELL DURATION: 14 hours REFERENCE NUMBER: OH4207 COPYRIGHT: State Library of Western Australia NOTE TO READER Readers of this oral history memoir should bear in mind that it is a verbatim transcript of the spoken word and reflects the informal, conversational style that is inherent in such historical sources. The Parliament and the State Library are not responsible for the factual accuracy of the memoir, nor for the views expressed therein; these are for the reader to judge. Bold type face indicates a difference between transcript and recording, as a result of corrections made to the transcript only, usually at the request of the person interviewed. FULL CAPITALS in the text indicate a word or words emphasised by the person interviewed. Square brackets [ ] are used for insertions not in the original tape. Contents File Duration Topic Page TGS-01T01 73m42s Family origins and Childhood in NSW 1 TGS-02T02 08m53s Siblings 19 TGS-02T03 63m14s Life in Parkes; Schooling etc 23 TGS-03T04 66m44s Further Education; Family, Religion and Politics 38 TGS-04T05 66m27s Life in Canberra; Significant Individuals; Decision 54 to go to Kimberleys; First Overseas Travel TGS–05T06 67m29s Travel from Sydney to Kununurra via Aboriginal 61 Communities in Qld and NT; Ernie Bridge Contests a seat in WA Parliament; Move from Moongoong Darwung to Warmun; Impressions of Kununurra TGS-06T07 75m47s Establishment of Kimberley land Council; Criticism 89 of Charles Court Government; Noonkanbah; Emerg- ence of Aboriginal Leaders; Judge Kay and the Aboriginal Right to Vote; Ernie Bridge Elected; Tom Arrested, Charged, Imprisoned; Successfully Con- Tests North Province By-Election TGS–07T08 67m03s Bill Withers; Musical Comedy; Tom’s Political 109 Activism and Electioneering in Kimberley and Pilbara for the ALP; First Experiences of Perth; First Impressions of Legislative Council; Parliament House in the early 1980s; Meets Anne Davidson TGS–08T09 16m55s Marriage to Anne, Birth of Children; Living in 127 Broome as MLC; Family Challenges and Successes TGS–08T10 14m35s Family Successes Continued; Anne TGS–08T11 26m17s Anne and Tom’s Catholic Faith; Early Experience 136 of Parliament esp Lack of Technology; ALP Advances in the North TGS–09T12 82m22s Faith as a Metaphor for Life; Election of 1983 – Tom 143 Wins North Province; Associates in Upper House; Aboriginal Land Enquiry – Tom’s Role and Dis- Appointment; Relations with Brian Burke; Realising the Limitations of an MP; Small Achievements; Tom Bears McAlpine’s Message to Burke TGS–10T13 18m48s Resignation of Brian Burke; Accession of Peter 164 Dowding as Premier TGS–10T14 56m03s Electorate Offices etc; Rise of Factions in the ALP; 169 Committee re Pearling Industry; Aboriginal Music; Memories of the Dowding Years; Dowding’s Fall; Critique of Peter Dowding; Accession of Carmen Lawrrence; Tom as Caucus Secretary to Labor in Opposition; Tom Becomes a Minister; New Associates in Parliament; Carmen Lawrence as Leader TGS–11T15 77m24s Recap Burke to Lawrence – ALP Achievements; 184 Aboriginal Voices; Ian Taylor’s Leadership in Opposition; Critique of Richard Court’s Government esp Attempt to Extinguish Native Title; Minor Parties in the Upper House; Third Wave Industrial Legislation and Associated Protest; Select Committee on Native Title; Overseas Travel as a Member; ‘Stephens and Others’ Case in the High Court; Tom’s Relations with Governors-General and Royal Visits; Presiding Officers of Legislative Council; Laurie Marquet TGS–12T16 62m57s Geoff Gallop Becomes Premier; Tom as Minister 205 for Housing and Regional Development; Removed from Housing Portfolio after Contre-Temps with Len Buckeridge; Tom Resigns to Contest Federal Seat of Kalgoorlie; Returns to Legislative Assembly as Back-bencher; Critique of Geoff Gallop as Leader TGS–13T17 38m57s Alan Carpenter Becomes Premier; Tom’s 222 Frustration Being Outside Cabinet; Parliamentary Superannuation Issue; Tom and the Health and Education Committee TGS–13T18 24m25s Remembrance Day as an MP; ALP Reform Group; 232 Critique of Alan Carpenter as Leader TGS–13T19 30m59s Argyle Diamonds’ Effects on Aboriginal People; 238 Governments as Puppets to International Miners TGS–14T20 65m47s Colin Barnett’s First Premiership; ‘The Literacy 246 Wars’; Decision to Resign from Parliament; Whole Family Involved in Parliamentary Life; Friendships From Parliament Continuing; Membership of Boards; Active in Support of Asylum Seekers; Cycling; Choral Singing; Reading; Art Appreciation; Favourite Places; Advice to Would-Be Politicians Contents Topic Page Family origins and Childhood in NSW 1 Siblings 19 Life in Parkes; Schooling etc 23 Further Education; Family, Religion and Politics 38 Life in Canberra; Significant Individuals; Decision 54 to go to Kimberleys; First Overseas Travel Travel from Sydney to Kununurra via Aboriginal 61 Communities in Qld and NT; Ernie Bridge Contests a seat in WA Parliament; Move from Moongoong Darwung to Warmun; Impressions of Kununurra Establishment of Kimberley land Council; Criticism 89 of Charles Court Government; Noonkanbah; Emerg- ence of Aboriginal Leaders; Judge Kay and the Aboriginal Right to Vote; Ernie Bridge Elected; Tom Arrested, Charged, Imprisoned; Successfully Con- Tests North Province By-Election Bill Withers; Musical Comedy; Tom’s Political 109 Activism and Electioneering in Kimberley and Pilbara for the ALP; First Experiences of Perth; First Impressions of Legislative Council; Parliament House in the early 1980s; Meets Anne Davidson Marriage to Anne, Birth of Children; Living in 127 Broome as MLC; Family Challenges and Successes Family Successes Continued; Anne Anne and Tom’s Catholic Faith; Early Experience 136 of Parliament esp Lack of Technology; ALP Advances in the North Faith as a Metaphor for Life; Election of 1983 – Tom 143 Wins North Province; Associates in Upper House; Aboriginal Land Enquiry – Tom’s Role and Dis- Appointment; Relations with Brian Burke; Realising the Limitations of an MP; Small Achievements; Tom Bears McAlpine’s Message to Burke Resignation of Brian Burke; Accession of Peter 164 Dowding as Premier Electorate Offices etc; Rise of Factions in the ALP; 169 Committee re Pearling Industry; Aboriginal Music; Memories of the Dowding Years; Dowding’s Fall; Critique of Peter Dowding; Accession of Carmel Lawrrence; Tom as Caucus Secretary to Labor in Opposition; Tom Becomes a Minister; New Associates in Parliament; Carmen Lawrence as Leader Recap Burke to Lawrence – ALP Achievements; 184 Aboriginal Voices; Ian Taylor’s Leadership in Opposition; Critique of Richard Court’s Government esp Attempt to Extinguish Native Title; Minor Parties in the Upper House; Third Wave Industrial Legislation and Associated Protest; Select Committee on Native Title; Overseas Travel as a Member; ‘Stephens and Others’ Case in the High Court; Tom’s Relations with Governors-General and Royal Visits; Presiding Officers of Legislative Council; Laurie Marquet Geoff Gallop Becomes Premier; Tom as Minister 205 for Housing and Regional Development; Removed from Housing Portfolio after Contre-Temps with Len Buckeridge; Tom Resigns to Contest Federal Seat of Kalgoorlie; Returns to Legislative Assembly as Back-bencher; Critique of Geoff Gallop as Leader Alan Carpenter Becomes Premier; Tom’s 222 Frustration Being Outside Cabinet; Parliamentary Superannuation Issue; Tom and the Health and Education Committee Remembrance Day as an MP; ALP Reform Group; 232 Critique of Alan Carpenter as Leader Argyle Diamonds’ Effects on Aboriginal People; 238 Governments as Puppets to International Miners Colin Barnett’s First Premiership; ‘The Literacy 246 Wars’; Decision to Resign from Parliament; Whole Family Involved in Parliamentary Life; Friendships From Parliament Continuing; Membership of Boards; Active in Support of Asylum Seekers; Cycling; Choral Singing; Reading; Art Appreciation; Favourite Places; Advice to Would-Be Politicians Introduction to Transcript Hon Thomas Gregory Stephens OAM, BA will be remembered for his long term parliamentary service on behalf of regional areas of WA and in particular for his work in the field of Indigenous affairs. First elected at a by-election in July 1982 for the upper house seat of North Province on the resignation of Hon William Robert Withers, Tom served in the Legislative Council until 2005, then contested a lower house seat which he occupied until 2013. In thirty-one years as a parliamentarian, he fulfilled many roles including a number of ministerial posts , Leader of the Opposition in the upper house, various parliamentary secretarial positions, as well as serving on various committees, including as chair. Born and raised in a Catholic family of Irish heritage in New South Wales, where his father ran a number of local general stores, in both country and urban settings, Tom developed early a sense of service to the community. On completion of his schooling, Tom commenced but did not complete studies towards the priesthood, at the Catholic Theological Faculty of Sydney, at Columba’s College, Springwood and St Patrick’s College, Manly between 1970 and 1976. Tom also studied externally and part-time with the University of New England, Australian National University and University of Sydney. Ultimately he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree
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