Frank Clifton Green

Frank Clifton Green (26 June 1890 – 12 September 1974) was an Australian public servant. He served as clerk of the Australian House of Representatives from 1937 to 1955, the longest-serving holder of the position.

Early life Green was born on 26 June 1890 in Mole Creek, Tasmania. He was the third of five children born to Kate Elizabeth (née Reardon) and Joseph Richard Green; his father was a schoolteacher.

Green attended the state school at Cygnet and completed his secondary education at Queen's College, Hobart (later merged into The Hutchins School). He matriculated to the University of Tasmania in 1908, studying arts and law, but did not complete a degree. Around that time he developed a friendship with future prime minister Joseph Lyons, his cricket and football teammate. In 1909, Green joined the Tasmanian state government's Crown Law Department as a clerk. He transferred to the Parliament of Tasmania in 1911 and was appointed as clerk-assistant to the House of Assembly. During World War II he worked closely with Prime Minister John Curtin, including during secret meetings of parliament, and "protected the interests of enlisting members of his staff". He sought damages of £10,000 but ultimately settled the suit outside of court.

Green retired as Clerk of the House on 25 June 1955 after a record 18 years of service. Green opposed their imprisonment and had previously advised the House of Representatives privileges committee that parliamentary privilege should not be used to protect members from defamation outside of parliament, where they could instead pursue civil legal action.

Green and his wife retired to Hobart, where he served as state president of the RSPCA from 1961 to 1964. He contributed fifteen entries to the Australian Dictionary of Biography and was the inaugural chairman of its Tasmanian working party. He published a memoir titled Servant of the House in 1969.