Queensland's Cold War Warrior: The Turbulent Days of Vincent Clair Gair, 1901-1980

Abstract

Vincent Gair (1901 – 1980) former Queensland Premier This thesis is a historiography of controversial Queensland politician Vincent Gair, detailing his career from railway clerk to Queensland Premier, Senator of the Democratic Labor Party and his controversial appointment as Ambassador to Ireland in 1974. Specific attention is paid to Gair’s premiership years between 1952 and 1957, in particular focus on the Labor split in Queensland and the breach between the organisational and parliamentary wings of the Labor party in Queensland. The thesis concludes with an assessment of Gair’s role in Queensland and Australian political history.