Robert James Ellicott interviewed by John Farquharson in the Law in Australian Society oral history project [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 98125
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Ellicott, R. J. (Robert James), 1927-, interviewee
- Access Conditions:
- Access to be determined.
- Description:
-
- 2002
- 15 digital audio tapes (ca. 866 min.)
- Series:
- Law in Australian society oral history project.
- Summary:
-
(Tapes 1-5) The Hon. Robert James Ellicott, Q.C., born April 15, 1927 at Moree, N.S.W. speaks about his early life and the initial stages of his career in law before entering Federal politics representing the N.S.W seat of Wentworth for the Liberal Party in 1974; his background and family; his education; his religious beliefs and convictions; talks about his early years at the Bar; refers to many contemporaries; the development of his practice at the Bar; some of the more outstanding cases in which he was involved before entering politics; some of the personalities associated with those cases; his appearances before the Privy Council.
(Tapes 6-10) Ellicott speaks about the offer and his acceptance of the position as Solicitor-General in the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department; his work as solicitor-general; the first steps towards taking up a political career; some of the most significant cases and events; the abolition of appeals to the Privy Council; his entry into the sphere of international trade law; the events leading up to the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor Government in November 1975; the reasons for his resignation as solicitor-general; gaining Liberal Party preselection for the safe N.S.W. seat of Wentworth.
(Tapes 11-15) Ellicott continues this series of interviews speaking about the 'loans affair'; his resignation as Attorney-General and his reasons for resigning; his relationship with Malcolm Fraser; his time as Minister for Home Affairs, the Arts and the ACT; John Clunies-Ross; his role in self-government for Norfolk Island; the provision of Australian conditions for workers on Christmas and Cocos Islands; the promotion of Canberra as the national capital; the construction of the High Court building; establishing the first council for the National Museum and securing approval for building the new Parliament House; his part in getting Aboriginal art accepted as Australian and for the National Gallery to acquire works of Albert Namatjira; the establishment of an art bank; the provision of financial assistance to get the Australian film industry off the ground; the establishment of the Institute of Sport; his decision to leave politics and the reasons; his return to his practice at the Sydney Bar; the highlights of his political career.
- Notes:
-
- Recorded on Mar. 21, 2002, Mar. 23, 2004. and Jan. 21, 2005 at Sydney, N.S.W.
- Digital master available National Library of Australia;
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summaries (15 p.) and uncorrected transcript (typescript, 128 leaves) available.
- Subject:
- Occupation:
- Other authors/contributors:
- Farquharson, John M., 1929-2016, interviewer
- Related Records:
-
This belongs to the Law in Australian society oral history project.
This collection contains 46 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
Contact us for information about copying. For access conditions return to the record display above.
- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2072 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 2002
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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