Lance Barnard

Who was Lance Barnard?

Lance Herbert Barnard AO, Australian politician, was Deputy Prime Minister of Australia for most of the Labor government of Gough Whitlam.

A Tasmanian by birth, raised in Launceston, Barnard was the son of Claude Barnard, who was a Labor MP from Tasmania from 1934 to 1949 and a Minister in the Chifley government. He was a teacher before being elected in 1954 to the House of Representatives for the Division of Bass, his father's old seat. In 1967, he became Deputy Leader of the Labor Party and when it won office under Whitlam in 1972 Barnard was Deputy Prime Minister.As Minister for Defence, Barnard personally ensured the recommendations of the Jess Committee and new Defense Force Retirements Benefits Scheme was implemented in 1972. ref:Canberra Times 1st November 1972

For the first two weeks of Whitlam's government, before the full electoral result was known, Whitlam and Barnard formed a two-man ministry, known as a duumvirate, to govern until a full ministry could be announced. Barnard held 14 portfolios including Defence and Immigration. Following the announcement of a complete ministry, Barnard served as Minister for Defence.

Following the 1974 election, Barnard lost the Labor Deputy Leadership to Dr. Jim Cairns and shortly thereafter he retired from politics. He became Ambassador to Norway, Finland, and Sweden. Bass was resoundingly lost to the Liberals at the ensuing by-election, a shock result that was seen by many as the beginning of the end for the Whitlam government, which was dismissed five months later.