First published in The Age on August 23, 1972
I’ll do it my way, says new Premier
Mr Hamer, 56, was elected by the Parliamentary Liberal Party yesterday to take over from Sir Henry Bolte, who will officially resign as Premier today.
Hamer speaks to the press in 1979.Credit:The Age Archives
The 48-year-old Minister for Education (Mr Thompson) was elected deputy leader.
Mr Hamer was not promising any new brooms for Victoria yesterday, but a change in emphasis was apparent from the start.
Hamer presents John Farnham with Victoria’s first Outstanding Youth of the Year Award in 1973.Credit:John Hart
“There will be changes because the situation is changing all the time — quite profound changes in our society,” he said.
“I think we are becoming less materialistic and rather more interested in things of the spirit and education. We are becoming, I would hope, much more interested in the arts and leisure.”
Mr Hamer was careful to emphasise continuity and Cabinet teamwork, but his first press conference as leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party made it plain that his Government would be no mere extension of the Bolte Government.
Mr Hamer has already thrown his support behind the appointment of an ombudsman —a measure Sir Henry has always resisted.
And yesterday he said firmly: “I want to make my own mark. I am a different person and the mark I will make will be seen in the future. It won’t be any-thing like Sir Henry’s, because he is inimitable.”
Mr Hamer did borrow one Bolte-like phrase. Victoria, he said, would continue to be “the sheet-anchor of Liberalism”.
What sort of Liberalism? “I would think if you had to put me in a category, it would be with a small l”, he said.
Mr Hamer said Sir Henry had strong views on a wide range of subjects. “I have equally strong views — and they won’t be the same any more than between any other two people.
“Sir Henry Bolte had a style of his own and it would not be possible to emulate it even if you were silly enough to try”.
Mr Hamer said his deputy (Mr Thompson) “has proved in this very difficult portfolio of education that he has got what it takes”.
Mr Hamer has been Chief Secretary and Deputy Premier, since April last year, when he took over on Sir Arthur Rylah’s retirement.
Sir Rupert Hamer was the 39th premier of Victoria and served in that position for 8 years and 286 days. He is the fourth-longest serving premier in Victoria. Under Hamer the death penalty was abolished, anti-discrimination laws were introduced and a modernisation program for Melbourne’s ageing tram system began.
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