Richard Butler (Australian politician)

Richard Butler (Australian politician)
Name	Richard Butler
Office	Governor of Tasmania
Term start	2 October 2003
Term end	9 August 2004
Predecessor	Sir Guy Green
Successor	William Cox
Office2	Australian Ambassador to the United Nations
Term start2	1992
Term end2	1997
Predecessor2	Peter Wilenski
Successor2	Penny Wensley
Birth date	13 May 1942
Birth place	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Death date	22 June 2022 (aged 80)
Death place	Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Spouse	Jennifer Grey (m. 1966; div. 1995), Michele Grattan (m. 1996)
Party	Australian Labor Party
Alma mater	University of Sydney
Occupation	Diplomat, politician

Richard Butler (Australian politician) was a prominent Australian diplomat, politician, and the 27th Governor of Tasmania. His distinguished career in international affairs included serving as the Australian Ambassador to the United Nations and as the final United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) chief weapons inspector in Iraq. His tenure as governor was notably brief and controversial, ending in his resignation.

Early life and education

Richard Butler was born on 13 May 1942 in Sydney, New South Wales. He was educated at St Aloysius' College in Milsons Point. He subsequently attended the University of Sydney, where he studied arts and law, becoming actively involved in student politics and the Australian Labor Party. His early intellectual development was influenced by the political ferment of the 1960s, setting the stage for his future career in public service and international diplomacy.

Political career

Butler's initial foray into politics was as a staffer for Gough Whitlam and later as an adviser to Lionel Bowen. He served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1973 to 1978, representing the Australian Labor Party. During this period, he developed a reputation as a skilled negotiator and a formidable intellect on foreign policy matters. His work in state politics provided a foundation for his later shift into the international arena, where he would gain greater prominence.

Diplomatic service

Butler's diplomatic career was his most significant contribution to public life. He served as Australia's Ambassador to Thailand and later as the Australian Ambassador to Cambodia during the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) period. His most high-profile role was as the Australian Ambassador to the United Nations in New York City from 1992 to 1997. Following this, he was appointed by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan as the Executive Chairman of the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM), tasked with disarming Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs, a role that placed him at the center of international tensions with Saddam Hussein's regime.

Governor of Tasmania

On 2 October 2003, Butler was sworn in as the Governor of Tasmania, appointed by Premier Jim Bacon. His tenure was marked almost immediately by controversy and reported clashes with staff and government officials. Facing mounting criticism over his conduct and style, and after a formal complaint from the Tasmanian Government, his appointment was terminated by Queen Elizabeth II on the advice of Premier Paul Lennon. He resigned on 9 August 2004, serving one of the shortest terms in the office's history.

Later life and death

Following his resignation, Butler largely retreated from public life. He lived in Hobart with his wife, journalist Michele Grattan, and occasionally wrote and commented on international affairs. He maintained a connection to academic circles and global policy institutes. Richard Butler died in Hobart on 22 June 2022, at the age of 80.

Honours and legacy

Butler was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1998 for his service to international relations. He also received honors from the governments of Thailand and Cambodia. His legacy is complex, defined by a highly respected and tough-minded diplomatic career on the global stage, particularly regarding nuclear non-proliferation, contrasted sharply with a tumultuous and abbreviated vice-regal appointment in Tasmania. He is remembered as a significant, if sometimes polarizing, figure in Australian international policy.

Category:1942 births Category:2022 deaths Category:Australian diplomats Category:Governors of Tasmania Category:Companions of the Order of Australia