pat october january australian businessman politician born prominent political family educated left school fourteen employed legal firm branching businesses moving sydney entered politics rising mayor entered representing electoral district soon rose party ranks touted possible leader liberals lost election party leader contested leadership july defeated stay long resigning august stood party whip asked leadership proved ineffective deposed september party spill elected succeed leader contested leader elections gaining seats time failing defeat long standing months election deposed leader deputy leader july remained led electoral victory appointed minister local government minister highways served cabinet prominent controversial role reorganisation minister state planning regulations retired parliament june died aged early life background born october new_south_wales son born north coast new_south_wales family prominent members new south wales south coast grandfather born edinburgh scotland arrived australia surveyor mayor private town founded wife sons served mayor served hastings speaker served member later pat father serving moved wife served municipal council educated left age employed law firm varied career different businesses march married march daughters margaret moved new_south_wales elected december rising mayor remain council september political career joined new member local branch federal councillor soon joined party leader stood seat state election election succeeded defeating conservative independent member reverend vote led coalition june election resulted hung parliament coalition gaining seats swing total seats holding seats balance power lay elected members expelled party previous parliament interpretation rules party support premier labor able stay power elected finished term february election retained seat liberals suffered total loss seats swing reversing gains previous election confidence leadership decayed soon descended fighting culminating resignation deputy leader july publicly announced july citing felt doubted loyalty replaced party whip resignation split party sparked leadership challenge criticised lack aggression labor government party meeting july narrowly defeated votes party support eroded remain long leader friday august announced resign leader august following party meeting vote persuaded accept leadership compromise candidate like senior members party having conservative government experience government little interest policy cold war anti communism ignored majority views party fellow parliamentary colleagues alienated party members trying forge closer alliance year assumed leadership party meeting september senior party member moved leadership declared vacant citing leadership lacked qualities necessary winning election motion carried votes moved motion prevent person nominated leader taking leadership defeated votes elected leader remaining deputy leader leadership leader direct campaign upcoming election early official campaign launch february began accusing government losing way public funds promising invest public works education health election march liberals gained seats regained seat reducing government majority retained coalition failed win government official report blamed defeat seat abolition postal voting strong right wing labor support premier led opposition ballot march election resulted overall gain seats loss labor counting finalised left overall majority seats attributed loss opposition failure promises actual figures led premier nickname promising pat retained significant vote time leader refused business interests including manager motor accessories distributor director led accuse focusing political responsibilities including sydney morning herald article said called time leader stated points told refusal renounce considerable business interests fact increased life parliament leadership undermined april liberal challenged leadership won vote votes result interpreted occurring alternative months leader confidence leadership recover july liberal called resign stating party needed time leader longer commanded majority support colleagues refused instead called emergency meeting july confirm leadership soon main opponents member deputy leader declared leadership given absolute majority votes party meeting removed leader votes surprised deciding forward nomination leaving contender subsequently elected unanimously leader eventually deputy leader unlike predecessor accepted loss declaring pledged loyalty deposition sydney morning herald editorial summed leadership true margin election slender true campaigned vigorously punches wild better directing blows vital points instead trying hit sight addition losing election labour vulnerable years office disappointed colleagues expanding private business interests urged concentrate wholly job leader opposition sad truth measured inspiring leader march election led coalition defeat premier following death october retained seat premier retirement april succeeded tenure perceived days party quarter century government tired election led coalition state electoral victory gaining seats swing achieve majority liberal premier elected minister crown named minister local government minister highways sworn governor new south wales sir sydney minister involved dismissal april triggered involved prosecuted secret commissions prohibition act receiving bribes development company influence planning development decisions received sentences appointed public servants administrators serve new council elected minister crown oversaw rapid building development inner city sydney central business district followed wake controversial abolition municipal electoral boundaries aimed reducing power rival abolition commented essential sydney progress replaced city_council commission headed predecessor february election increased majority seats retained seat soon gained reputation strong advocate allowing free enterprise business precedence planning controls government regulation time minister marked increasing strains state infrastructure pro development stance largely attributed attempt alleviate problems despite continuously criticised totally public particularly pro business worked planning authority increase developments sydney highest levels embodied construction centre demolition theatre royal sydney controversial schemes planned government massive freeway system planned driven hearts historic inner city suburbs including equally ambitious scheme clearance brought destruction historic areas rocks eventually culminated 1970s green ban movement led unions leader protect architectural heritage sydney february election majority reduced seats retained seat despite significant reduction majority stayed office year june retired politics time departure rumoured threatening dismiss stop blocking million development retirement july queen elizabeth_ii granted retention title honourable life having served minister crown mid term retirement caused election seat july election succeeded liberal candidate primary vote retirement appointed trustee new south wales chairman died january home survived eldest daughter youngest daughter margaret having died funeral held january
Pat Morton