Reg Withers | |
|---|---|
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| Minister for Administrative Services | |
| In office 22 December 1975 – 7 August 1978 | |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Fraser |
| Preceded by | Gordon Bryant |
| Succeeded by | Eric Robinson |
| Special Minister of State Minister for the Capital Territory | |
| In office 11 November 1975 – 22 December 1975 | |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Fraser |
| Preceded by | Gordon Bryant |
| Succeeded by | Eric Robinson |
| Leader of the Government in the Senate | |
| In office 11 November 1975 – 7 August 1978 | |
| Preceded by | Ken Wriedt |
| Succeeded by | John Carrick |
| Leader of the Opposition in the Senate | |
| In office 20 December 1972 – 11 November 1975 | |
| Preceded by | Lionel Murphy |
| Succeeded by | Ken Wriedt |
| Senator for Western Australia | |
| In office 1 July 1968 – 6 June 1987 | |
| Succeeded by | John Panizza |
| In office 17 February 1966 – 25 November 1966 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Shane Paltridge |
| Succeeded by | Laurie Wilkinson |
| Lord Mayor of Perth | |
| In office 1991–1994 | |
| Preceded by | Chas Hopkins |
| Succeeded by | Peter Nattrass |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Reginald Greive Withers 26 October 1924 Bunbury, Western Australia |
| Died | 15 November 2014 (aged 90) Perth, Western Australia |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse |
Shirley Jones (m. 1953) |
| Alma mater | University of Western Australia |
| Profession | Solicitor, barrister |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Branch/service | Royal Australian Navy |
| Years of service | 1942–1946 |
| Unit | HMAS Gawler |
Reginald Greive Withers (26 October 1924 – 15 November 2014) was an Australian politician and lawyer. He was a member of the Liberal Party and served as a Senator for Western Australia for nearly 20 years. He was a cabinet minister in the Fraser government and later served as Lord Mayor of Perth.
Withers was born in Bunbury, Western Australia, the son of state Labor MP Frederick Withers. He served in the Royal Australian Navy during World War II and completed a law degree at the University of Western Australia upon his return. He subsequently moved back to Bunbury where he served on the Bunbury Municipal Council. Withers joined the Liberal Party at a young age and served as state president from 1961 to 1965. He was appointed to a Senate casual vacancy in 1966. He was defeated at the 1966 federal election, but was re-elected at the 1967 half-Senate election.
Withers was chosen as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate following the Coalition's defeat at the 1972 election. He played a key role in the 1975 constitutional crisis as the Senate sought to block supply to the Whitlam government, culminating in the dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. Withers subsequently became Leader of the Government in the Senate and was appointed Minister for Administrative Services and Vice-President of the Executive Council in the Fraser government. He was sacked in controversial circumstances in 1978 but remained in parliament until 1987. He later served as Lord Mayor of Perth from 1991 to 1994.