Robert Ray

Who is Robert Ray?

Robert Francis Ray, Australian politician, was an Australian Labor Party member of the Senate from July 1981 to May 2008, representing the state of Victoria.

He was born in Melbourne, Victoria, and was educated at Monash University, Melbourne, where he graduated in arts and education. He worked as a teacher in government schools and as a taxi-driver before entering politics.

A leading member of the right-wing faction of the ALP, Ray defeated a left-wing Senator, Jean Melzer, in a ballot for a place on the party's Senate ticket. This caused great bitterness in the Socialist Left faction, which has disliked Ray ever since. He was elected to the Senate at the October 1980 election, taking his seat on 1 July 1981.

In the Hawke Labor government Ray was Minister for Home Affairs 1987-88, Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs 1988-90, and Minister for Defence 1990-96. In this portfolio he strongly supported Hawke's decision to send Australian forces to support the United Nations in the Gulf War, despite bitter opposition from the left.