John Bannon (1943-2015)
by Mary W Maxwell, PhD, LLB
John Bannon was only 39 when he became premier of South Australia in 1982, succeeding David Tonkin and Don Dunstan in that role. He was born in Bendigo and died in Adelaide last week of cancer, age 72. His resignation as Labor leader in 1992 resulted from the collapse of the State Bank.
I thought of John mainly as an intellectual, rather than as a politician. This week his obituaries are all about his performance in Parliament, in sport, and — ad nauseam — about the state bank affair. Hmm. How about his legal brain? He was as thoughtful about the law as you could wish.
How about his PhD in History at Flinders? Hey, how about his book “The Crucial Colony: South Australia’s Role in Reviving Federation, 1891-1897” (thank you, South Australia!), and his political biography of Sir John Downer, entitled “Supreme Federalist.”
At the state funeral today, December 21, in Adelaide’s Anglican cathedral, one of his eulogists, Chris Gent, pointed out how much JB cared about states rights, while at the same looking up to Charles Cameron Kingston, the radical federalist. Kingston was, like Bannon, a premier of SA – but ninety years earlier.
I suspect that Bannon was disappointed never to have been made a High Court judge. I believe he would have been a good one, just by his valuing of states rights. In 1997 he wrote, in
“In practice over this century the balance of power has shifted from the states to the centre to a far greater extent than contemplated: the Senate has acted as a partisan rather than states house; and the High Court has had a profound effect on the balance of central and state powers—assuming a function beyond that which could be seen as mere interpretation.”
He also said – and I hope teachers will hear him:
“The story [of federation] should be taught and understood by all Australia as we try to make sensible decisions about the future, which can only be effective if they are based on an understanding of where we have come from.”
Yay!
Bob Hawke attended the funeral today and said to Channel 9 News “John was a man of total decency, enormous capacity and very self-effacing” – and had “accepted responsibility “beyond the bounds of necessity” for the State Bank collapse when he chose to resign despite being cleared of any personal wrongdoing.”
I agree. Naturally I think Bannon should have let the blame-chips fall where they may.
Many cricketers were in attendance at St Peter’s Cathedral in North Adelaide today. They might like to know of his remark about the Australian Constitution having been written NOT in time of crisis.
“It is fair to say that the Australian Constitution was forged not in war or revolution but very much as a sensible compact to try to make something workable which would add to the welfare and prosperity of all living in this part of the world. In that it is probably different from most other constitutions which have tended to arise from crises—the United states Constitution is a classic example of that.
That does not mean that national feeling was not around. It is significant that in the nineties the test cricket series of England versus Australia really came into their own. The first modern series was in the summer of 1894–95; a very significant summer for federation. It was then that all the colonies united together against a common foe.”
John Bannon studied at St Peter’s College where his father, the artist Charles Bannon, was a teacher. He went to the University of Adelaide, were he became editor of the student newspaper On Dit, and was awarded the LLB. (Julia Gillard, also an Adelaide alumna, was at the ceremony today, too.)
“JB” was the husband of a wonderful woman, Angela Bannon, who is, among other things, a fine actress and a Guide leader. Together they were Master of St Mark’s College from 2000 to 2007.
Other mourners at the cathedral today were his daughter Victoria Bannon, his first wife Judge Robin Layton, and his stepson, entertainer Dylan Lewis.
I want to quote from the eulogy by his daughter Victoria, who is a humanitarian aid worker. She said she had not been a long distance runner like her father, until she recently tried it. She asked him for advice. (I’ll paraphrase):
“Dad, when I come to that part in the middle of the race when the pain is really bad, how to I make the decision – to quit or to just face up to continuing to the end?”
Dad’s reply: “It never comes to a decision in the middle of the race. You make your commitment before you begin as to how far you are willing to go, and you just do it.”
The final hymn of the service, which John had chosen a week ago when he knew he was dying, was, appropriately enough, Simeon’s canticle, the Nunc Dimittis.
— Mary W Maxwell lives in Adelaide.
hasty comment deleted by request.
Dear Fair Dinkum, I can’t comment on whether Bannon was a promise keeper or a promise breaker. It’s outside of my scope. I was writing about his role as a scholar of federation. This is important stuff.
I note you have been screaming about square clouds in the sky. (Thank you, I am screaming, too, to absolutely no avail.) Screaming won’t, by itself, cause change. Other aspects of political power may be more effective.
Let me show an area where my other nation, the US, screwed up. The framers of the Constitution (hereinafter, the Con, and I mean that abbreviation only as an ink-saver!) decided in 1787 that the Senate would in some way be the protectors of state’s rights. Easy-peasy: Article I, Sec 3 said the choice of the two senators for each state would be “chosen by the legislature thereof.” Goodie.
Then along comes (I’ll bet) the Bozo gang and persuades citizens that it would be more fair or democratic (oh, please) if the senators from each state were elected directly by the people. So they passed the 17th amendment to the Con and thus now there is little protection of the states as a component body of the nation. Pathetic, huh?
Bannon said the same thing re the fact that Oz senators today are now thought of as representing the Greens, the Libs, the whatevers — not NSW, SA, or Tas. But the state MATTERS. It is closer to the community.
I am also interested in Bannon’s (or anybody’s) support for the Con as such. The Con is like a statement of the nation’s values. It was achieved with a lot of compromise, of course, as each human in the nation does not have the same interest as others.
You could say the Con is a bare minimum of the nation’s demands on the individual and on any political bodies. Long may it continue to function like that! We should do more to celebrate the fact that the Aus Con has survived intact since 1901. Yay!
We should try to see how it can help us with the Square Cloud problem. I hate it when there are ceremonial fetes of the Con, all cute and cuddly, and nobody says Ex-cu-u-use me, what about the friggin square clouds, what does the Con say about THEM!
Hi Mary,
I didnt mean Bannon didnt keep promises, but he acted as a character reference for a Con man. Bad judge of character or recipient of kickbacks? I wont bore you. I was perhaps a bit impulsive last night.
regarding the other things you speak of, I find myself again, in agreement with you. You often bring a perspective to topics that I previously may not have considered, and I appreciate the work you Ladies do here. (Gals?)
local councils are even closer to the community than state governments, however.. I believe some people have actually been challenging their council rates, on the basis that councils do not in fact have any power to enforce them.
http://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/news/man-dorrigo-not-paying-rates-high-court/535267/
http://www.voiceofthepeoplelobbygroup.com/who_gave_local_governments_their.htm
Im not sure if they do by law, or not, have to pay them. Im no lawyer, but i know the law is an ass, and there are often cases when depending on how much money you have, and how much of a public personality you have, the law is often applied differently, accordingly.
In the past, they have tried to sneak in changes to the constitution, calling it local council recognition. maybe this means that paying council rates is actually a bit iffy, and they want it watertight.
http://councilreferendum.com.au/
So far, without any luck. Im sure they will try again, and feel they are doing this because the word is slowly getting out, that some people are not paying their rates, and if more people took up that option, and were able to succeed in not paying rates, or maybe even council fines, or parking fees.. etc.. well, the consequences!!!!
Do you know any constitutional lawyers who would say one way or other on the legality of non payment of council rates? That would be a fun fact to know. 🙂
Im pretty sure there would also be something in there about the unnatural dimming of our once radiant southern cross too.. damn clouds never sleep, no matter how hoarse I get from screaming.
found this too, not sure how credible it all is though.
http://larryhannigan.com/the_commonwealth_of_australia_vs_local_councils.htm
and if people have been paying rates that councils had no power to enforce, what hope of getting a refund? what hope for any sort of justice in this land. if we cant have blue skies, and martin bryant cant have a fair trial, then what is the point of even having a constitution.
Tony Abbott wasnt/isnt even eligible to be an MP apparently, let alone PM!
https://independentaustralia.net/article-display/tony-abbott-is-almost-certainly-a-dual-citizen–and-heres-why,7773
http://theaimn.com/why-did-tony-abbott-wait-until-he-was-almost-24-years-old-to-become-an-australian-citizen/
Dinkum, I think Tony got in in 1994 when UK was not considered foreign. Then a High Court case of 1998 turned an applicant down on the basis that she was foreign (British). As far as I know, no entity then disturbed the legality of those already sitting.
Not to be confused with Obongo who is Illegality Personified.
sometimes hasty comments are good
Dear Fair, I can’t stop to research it at the moment. I think there was a constitutional referendum in Oz in the Nineties to either raise or lower the power of the local councils. It did not pass. Referenda seldom do.
I had not heard of any “I won’t pay tax” protest. However my GUESS is that when your council demands money from you, this is backed by the power of your state.
Not long ago I saw an excellent article by David Mitchell, in what I would call a Madisonian tone, begging us not to let the Commonwealth have more control over local councils. I will attempt to report on that soon. Thanks for reminding me.
Re syntax, I could not tell in your Bannon comment if the referent for the “who” was Bannon or Anders. If the latter, maybe you should email Dee at Gumshoe to rescind the whole comment.
I really did not know Bannon and can’t judge him. (I know his widow and she is super, simply super, IMHO).
Yesterday at the end of Chris Gent’s eulogy for JB he said – in a noticeably raised voice – “and he was a thoroughly decent man.” I took that to be a jibe at those who still blame Bannon “for everything.”
While it is de rigueur for a eulogist to be positive, I can tell you that yesterday I asked my neighbor to give me a lift to the church. En route I asked “What did you think of Bannon?” After a pause he said “The word ‘decent’ comes to mind….”
Fair, last night I was pretty miffed by your saying that a politician has to be a baddy. I mean that may be so, and if so is a terrible situation.
Have to run now but will elaborate later.
Signed,
Gal, girl, Old Boiler, whatever
How about “Dame”? I’d like that!
I lost a brother early 20’s and i think that shapes my life. Bannon lost his brother when he was 16.His brother at 10 became lost while bushwalking — disappeared while walking through a clearing — he was wearing only shorts and a light shirt, carrying nothing to eat or drink. Within 30 minutes of his disappearance one of the most extensive searches made in Australia at the time was mounted, including Billy Pepper, a black tracker, and Johnny Cadell, who both had roles in the film Robbery Under Arms.
After seven days the search was called off, but volunteers vowed to never give up. Nicholas’s skeletal remains were found in September, 1961, 2 years later.
Apparently John Bannon took on the duty of achieving not just for himself but for his dead brother.Don Hopgood, deputy under Bannon “a very decent human being”, but that he was “far too hard on himself”, including about the death of his younger brother. The family events also making the man.” As Michael Owen wrote in the Australian
It’s now five years since my husband died, and I’ve just been sent a link to this conversation. Thank you Mary M Maxwell and Dalia Mae for your insightful comments about John Bannon. He was the love of my life; a man of integrity and virtue. He is missed by many. Angela Bannon.