William George Burns (22 October 1933 – 16 March 2009) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party and served in the House of Representatives from 1977 to 1980, representing the

Victorian Victorian or Victorians may refer to: 19th century * Victorian era, British history during Queen Victoria's 19th-century reign ** Victorian architecture ** Victorian house ** Victorian decorative arts ** Victorian fashion ** Victorian literature ...

seat of

Isaacs Isaacs may refer to: * The Isaacs, a bluegrass Southern gospel music group * Isaacs (surname) * Isaacs, Australian Capital Territory, a suburb of Canberra, Australia * Division of Isaacs, a federal electoral division in Victoria, Australia * Divisi ...

. He ran a pub in Collingwood before entering parliament.

Early life

Burns was born in Northern Ireland. He arrived in Tasmania in 1951 as a "Little Brother" with the Big Brother Movement and settled in the Derwent Valley. He eventually moved to Melbourne where he became a publican, the proprietor of the Sir Robert Peel Hotel in Collingwood.

Politics

Burns joined the Young Liberal Movement in Tasmania in 1952. There he was introduced to Senator

Reg Wright Sir Reginald Charles Wright (10 July 190510 March 1990) was an Australian barrister and politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party and served as a Senator for Tasmania from 1950 to 1978. He held ministerial office in the Gorton and Mc ...

who he later described as "a great friend and adviser". Following

David Hamer David John Hamer (5 September 1923 – 14 January 2002) was an Australian politician and Royal Australian Navy officer. Early life and naval career Born in Melbourne, he was educated at Geelong Grammar School and then the Royal Australian Nav ...

's transfer to the

Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

, Burns won Liberal preselection for the

Division of Isaacs The Division of Isaacs is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It is located in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, on the eastern shores of Port Phillip Bay. It covers the suburbs of Mordialloc, Keysborough (part), ...

and was elected to parliament at the 1977 federal election. In his maiden speech he raised the issues of tax breaks for zoos and government support for the disabled. One of his final speeches in the House was a condolence motion for his friend Jim Brosnan, the federal president of the Democratic Labor Party. He was defeated by the Labor candidate David Charles at the 1980 federal election.

Later life

Burns died on 16 March 2009.Hansard announcement of death
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References

Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Isaacs Members of the Australian House of Representatives 1933 births 2009 deaths 20th-century Australian politicians Publicans Northern Ireland emigrants to Australia {{Australia-Liberal-politician-stub