Peter Reith - Politics (Attended BGS 1958 - 68)
In the world of politics, Peter Reith found very quickly that life was not meant to be easy. He won, then quickly lost and eventually regained the Federal seat of Flinders for the Liberals and held a number of senior roles in opposition including shadow attorney general, shadow treasurer and deputy leader.
It would be in the Howard Government that he would handle the thorny issues of industrial relations as Minister for Workplace Relations, Small Business and Employment and in 1998 became embroiled in the waterfront disputes as he attempted, almost singlehandedly, to reform Australia’s Maritime industry. In 2000 he would become Minister for Defence retiring from politics in 2001. Today he is the Executive Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development based in London.
The Honorable Peter Reith was in London at the time of the OBGS Centenary Dinner and was thus unable to accept his award in person. He was presented with his Hall of Fame trophy at Senior School assembly by Deputy Headmaster, Peter Skelton in February 2009.