Ian Griffith
Ian Griffith | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 September 1925 Caulfield, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 8 November 1992 (aged 67) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Years active | 1956–1978 |
| Known for | Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly (1956–1978); Ministerial roles in New South Wales government |
Ian Ross Griffith (25 September 1925 – 8 November 1992) was a politician from Australia who served in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 1956 and 1978. As a representative of the Liberal Party, he held various ministerial positions within the administrations led by Sir Robert Askin and Eric Willis.
Early life
Griffith was born in Caulfield, Victoria to a father employed as a chemical analyst. He completed his education at Melbourne High School and initially worked as a bank officer with the National Bank of Australasia. Later, he transitioned into a role as a public relations officer based in Sydney. During the Second World War, he served in the Royal Australian Navy, achieving the rank of Lieutenant.
State Parliament
At the 1956 election, Griffith was elected to the New South Wales parliament as the Liberal representative for Sutherland, unseating the sitting Labor member Tom Dalton. Due to an electoral redistribution that reduced Liberal support in Sutherland, he contested and won the more secure seat of Cronulla at the 1959 election. He maintained his position as member for Cronulla until he lost Liberal endorsement prior to the 1978 election, after which he stepped down from political life.
Government
Between 1972 and 1975, Griffith held the posts of Chief Secretary and Minister for Tourism under Premier Sir Robert Askin. Following Askin’s retirement and Premier Tom Lewis taking office, Griffith was relegated to the backbench. However, he rejoined the cabinet as Minister for Housing during Eric Willis’s short-lived administration from January to May 1976.