Ian Gordon Sharp (April 23, 1913 – July 26, 1996) was a former senior Australian public servant, best known for his time as

Secretary A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a w ...

heading the

Department of Labour The Ministry of Labour ('' UK''), or Labor ('' US''), also known as the Department of Labour, or Labor, is a government department responsible for setting labour standards, labour dispute mechanisms, employment, workforce participation, training, a ...

and subsequently the

Department of Labor and Immigration The Department of Labor and Immigration was an Australian government department that existed between June 1974 and December 1975. History When the Department of Labor and Immigration was formed by the Whitlam Government in June 1974, ...

in the early 1970s.

Life and career

Dr Ian Sharp was born in 1913. He attended the University of Western Australia, studying Law. Graduating with first class honours, he was admitted to the London School of Economics. His Ph.D thesis "Industrial Conciliation and Arbritration in Great Britain" was published by Allen and Unwin in 1950. In 1972, Dr Sharp was appointed Secretary of the new Department of Labour, Contrary to the practice of most Whitlam Ministers, who inherited departmental heads from their Menzies Government colleagues, Dr Sharp was hand-chosen for the role by the Minister for Labour

Clyde Cameron Clyde Robert Cameron, (11 February 191314 March 2008), was an Australian politician. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and served in the House of Representatives from 1949 to 1980, representing the Division of Hindmarsh. He wa ...

. Sharp, a lawyer with a background in arbitration was said to be regarded as an old friend by Cameron. When a New Ministry was announced, and his Minister's role was expanded to include immigration, Dr Sharp's role too expanded and he was made Secretary of the new

. When Sharp handed over his Secretary position to

Peter Wilenski Peter Stephen Wilenski, (10 May 1939 – 3 November 1994) was a senior Australian public servant and ambassador. He was a champion of women's rights and equal opportunity. Early life Peter Wilenski was born in Łódź, Poland on 10 May 1939. He ...

in 1975, he spent three months with Wilenski in something of an "apprenticeship" role, sharing authority in the department, before leaving in March that year. On 31 March 1975 Dr Sharp started a three-year appointment as a judge of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission.

Awards

Dr Sharp was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in June 1989 for his public service, particularly in the field of industrial relations.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharp, Ian 1913 births 1996 deaths Officers of the Order of Australia Secretaries of the Australian Government Immigration Department