Max Bingham

The Honourable Sir Max Bingham QC
Deputy Premier of Tasmania
In office 27 May 1982 – 13 June 1984
Premier	Robin Gray
Preceded by	Michael Barnard
Succeeded by	Geoff Pearsall
Attorney-General of Tasmania
In office 26 May 1969 – 3 May 1972
Premier	Angus Bethune
Preceded by	Roy Fagan
Succeeded by	Merv Everett
In office 27 May 1982 – 13 June 1984
Premier	Robin Gray
Preceded by	Roy Fagan
Succeeded by	Merv Everett
Personal details
Born	Eardley Max Bingham 18 March 1927 Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Spouse(s)	Margaret Garrett Jesson
Alma mater	University of Tasmania (LLB Hons, 1950) Lincoln College, Oxford (BCL, 1953)
Profession	Lawyer
Military service
Allegiance	Australia
Service/branch	Royal Australian Navy
Years of service	1945–1946
Rank	Able Seaman
Unit	HMAS Bingera HMAS Cerberus

Sir Eardley Max Bingham QC, known as Max Bingham, (born 18 March 1927) is a former Deputy Premier and Opposition Leader of Tasmania, who represented the electorate of Denison for the Liberal Party of Australia in the Tasmanian House of Assembly from 1969 to 1984.^[1]

Early life and education

Born in at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Battery Point, Hobart, Bingham was the only son of Mr and Mrs Thomas Bingham of Sandy Bay.^[2] He was educated in New South Wales and Tasmania, completing his secondary schooling with four years at Hobart High School. At the age of 18, he enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy in April 1945, and served as an able seaman at shore stations including HMAS Cerberus, and the auxiliary anti-submarine vessel HMAS Bingera, until his discharge in December 1946.^[3][4] He was selected as the 1950 Tasmanian Rhodes Scholar.^[5] In that year, he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws with honours from the University of Tasmania.^[6] Bingham read for and received a Bachelor of Civil Law at Lincoln College, Oxford. Whilst at Oxford, Bingham met and married Margaret Jesson of Staffordshire (he had previously been engaged to Rhonda Harvey).^[7] He returned to Hobart in 1953, where he practised alongside Reg Wright, to whom he was articled at the University of Tasmania.^[8]

Political career

Bingham entered the Tasmanian Parliament when he was elected as a member for Denison at the 1969 state election on 10 May. On 26 May, he was made a minister in Angus Bethune's cabinet, becoming Attorney-General and Minister Administering the Police Department and the Licensing Act; also briefly holding the Health and Road Safety portfolio from March to May 1972.^[9] On 4 May 1972, he was elected leader of the Liberal Party in Tasmania (and opposition leader), following Bethune's resignation. Bingham contested two elections as opposition leader (1976 and 1979), but stood down as leader after the Liberal Party's two losses. Bingham's replacement as Liberal leader, Geoff Pearsall, resigned and was replaced by Robin Gray in November 1981. Gray led the Liberals to victory in the 1982 election, and Bingham was appointed as Deputy Premier and Attorney-General in Gray's cabinet (as well as Minister for Education, Industrial Relations, and Police and Emergency Services).^[10]

After politics

Bingham resigned from parliament on 13 June 1984, and subsequently joined the National Crime Authority, a federal law enforcement body focussing on organised crime. In 1989, he was a founding commissioner of the Criminal Justice Commission in Queensland^[11]—responsible for a review into the powers of the Queensland Police recommended by the Fitzgerald Inquiry. Bingham's report for the CJC was released in 1994. In 1996, Bingham was assigned to chair a further review on police powers in Queensland, which he commented were "...unsatisfactory because the police are uncertain of their powers and suspects are uncertain about their rights." The committee's recommendations on legislation of police powers and extensive community consultation led to the passing of the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 1997.^[12]

Honours, Arms

Honours

Max Bingham was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours on 15 June 1988, with the citation "In recognition of service to the law, crime prevention, parliament and the community".^[13] He was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001.^[14]

On 15 April 1991, the Tasmanian Parliament granted Bingham the right to use right to use the title 'The Honourable' for life.^[15]

Arms

Arms of Max Bingham

Notes Sir Bingham bears an Arms granted to him by the College of Arms. Adopted 2013 Escutcheon Paly wavy extended fesswise Azure and Argent in chief five Lozenges conjoined throughout the outer pair issuant from the flanks Gules. Motto CURA ET (Latin: CARE AND contends) Symbolism These arms and crest were granted to Sir Eardley Max Bingham of the City of Hobart in the State of Tasmania and Commonwealth of Australia, Kt., Q.C. and sometime Attorney-General for the State of Tasmania, LL.B. (Tasmania), B.C.L. (Oxon.), by patent of all three Kings of Arms dated 18 March 2013. Published 21 March 2013

References

1. Parliamentary biography, Parliament of Tasmania, 2005.
2. "Family Notices.". The Advocate (Burnie, Tas.: National Library of Australia). 28 March 1927. p. 2. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
3. BINGHAM, EARDLEY MAX, World War II Nominal Roll, Department of Veterans' Affairs.
4. "Rhodes Scholar Selected.". Examiner (Launceston, Tas.: National Library of Australia). 20 December 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
5. "Tas Rhodes Scholar.". The Argus (Melbourne: National Library of Australia). 20 December 1949. p. 4. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
6. "Record Number Of Students RECEIVE DEGREES AT HOBART CEREMONY.". The Mercury (Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia). 10 May 1950. p. 17. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
7. "Family Notices.". The Mercury (Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia). 8 July 1950. p. 7. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
8. "RHODES SCHOLAR RETURNS.". The Mercury (Hobart, Tas.: National Library of Australia). 6 February 1953. p. 7. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
9. Ministers – House of Assembly – 1950 to 1989, Parliament of Tasmania.
10. Cockburn, Milton: Robin Gray: the drover's dog gets the glittering prize, The Sydney Morning Herald, 26 July 1983.
11. The term of Sir Max Bingham QC, Chairman of the Criminal Justice Commission : report of the Parliamentary Criminal Justice Committee., Queensland Legislative Assembly.Criminal Justice Committee, 1991.
12. Benjamin, Ken: Modern policing essence of legislation changes, Vedette (Queensland Police Bulletin).
13. BINGHAM, Max, It's an Honour, 15 June 1988.
14. BINGHAM, Eardley Max, It's an Honour, 1 January 2001.
15. Tasmanian Members of Parliament who have been granted the right to use the title 'Honourable' for life, Parliament of Tasmania.