The Hon
Sir William Knox
OSJ, KSJI
22nd Deputy Premier of Queensland
In office
13 August 1976 – 9 October 1978
PremierJoh Bjelke-Petersen
Preceded byGordon Chalk
Succeeded byLlew Edwards
Leader of the Queensland Liberal Party
Elections: 1977, 1986
In office
3 November 1983 – 31 January 1988
DeputyBill Lickiss (1983–1986)
Angus Innes (1986–1988)
Preceded byTerry White
Succeeded byAngus Innes
In office
13 August 1976 – 6 October 1978
DeputyFred Campbell
Preceded byGordon Chalk
Succeeded byLlew Edwards
Minister for Employment and Labour Relations
In office
23 December 1980 – 18 August 1983
PremierJoh Bjelke-Petersen
Preceded byFred Campbell
Succeeded byVince Lester
Minister for Health
In office
15 December 1978 – 23 December 1980
PremierJoh Bjelke-Petersen
Preceded byLlew Edwards
Succeeded byBrian Austin
36th Treasurer of Queensland
In office
13 August 1976 – 15 December 1978
PremierJoh Bjelke-Petersen
Preceded byGordon Chalk
Succeeded byLlew Edwards
Deputy Leader of the
Queensland Liberal Party
In office
20 December 1971 – 13 August 1976
LeaderGordon Chalk
Preceded byPeter Delamothe
Succeeded byFred Campbell
Attorney-General of Queensland
and Minister for Justice
In office
20 December 1971 – 13 August 1976
PremierJoh Bjelke-Petersen
Preceded byPeter Delamothe
Succeeded byBill Lickiss
Minister for Transport
In office
23 December 1965 – 20 June 1972
PremierFrank Nicklin
Jack Pizzey
Gordon Chalk
Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Preceded byGordon Chalk
Succeeded byKeith Hooper
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Nundah
In office
3 August 1957 – 2 December 1989
Preceded byJim Hadley
Succeeded byPhil Heath
Personal details
Born(1927-12-14)14 December 1927
Kew, Victoria
Died22 September 2001(2001-09-22) (aged 73)
Political partyLiberal Party
SpouseDoris Alexia Ross[1]
Children4
Alma materMelbourne High School
OccupationCompany secretary, Company director

Sir William Edward Knox OSJ, KSJI (14 December 1927 – 22 September 2001)[2] was born in Kew, Victoria, Australia and was the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland representing the district of Nundah for the Liberal Party between from 1957 to 1989.[2] He was Liberal leader in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 1976 to 1978 and again from 1983 to 1988 and was given life membership that same year.

Early life

He was born in Kew, Victoria to Edward Knox and Bessie Alice (née Thomas).

Knox was one of the founders of the Liberal Party in Queensland and together with Sir James Killen established the Young Liberal movement in this state in 1949.

A company secretary and manager by profession, Knox was Vice President of the Queensland Liberal Party between 1956 and 1957.

Political career

Member of Parliament

In 1957 he elected as the member for Nundah defeating Queensland Labor Party incumbent Jim Hadley, taking advantage of a split within Labor.

Government Minister

Knox entered the Ministry in 1965 as Transport Minister. He would later hold the portfolios of Health, Justice and Attorney-General.

After the retirement of Peter Delamothe in 1971 he was elected Deputy Liberal Leader, and in 1976 he succeeded Gordon Chalk as leader.

The Liberal's lost a net 6 seats at the 1977 election which led to his ousting as leader in favour of Llew Edwards in the hope that he would be more publicly assertive with Premier Bjelke-Petersen.[3]

Return to the Leadership

When the Ginger Group replaced Llew Edwards with Terry White in 1983, Knox joined the rest of the Liberals in moving to crossbench. Following their heavy defeat at the 1983 election he was once again elected as leader to lead the rump group of 8 members.

He was replaced as leader by his deputy Angus Innes in 1988, and at the 1989 election he was by defeated the ALP's Phil Heath on a 13.4% swing.

Post Political career

Upon losing his seat to the Labor he became involved in community groups.

Personal life

He had 2 sons, 2 daughters with his wife Doris Ross.

He was State Chairman of the St John Ambulance Association and the President of the Association of Independent Schools of Queensland.[2]

A state funeral was held for him.[4]

References

  1. ↑ KNOX, Lady - Doris Alexia (Lex) — The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Former Members". Parliament of Queensland. 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Reynolds, Paul L. (2002). Lock, Stock & Barrel: A Political Biography of Mike Ahern. Univ. of Queensland Press. ISBN 9780702232947.
  4. ↑ "Motion of condolence" (PDF). Hansard. Queensland Parliament. 16 October 2001. pp. 1–11. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 April 2019.
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