Ray Devlin

Arthur Ray Devlin (17 March 1926 – 17 May 1995) was an Australian trade unionist and politician. He was a Senator for Tasmania from 1984 to 1990, representing the Australian Labor Party (ALP). He was a waterside worker from Burnie, Tasmania, before entering politics and served as secretary of the Burnie Trades and Labour Council from 1966 to 1993.

Early life Devlin was born on 17 March 1926 in Burnie, Tasmania. He was one of eight children born to Sarah Ellen (née Holmyard) and Llewellyn Max Devlin; his father was a waterside worker.

Devlin attended Burnie State School. He left school at the age of 14 and began working at the Electrolytic Zinc Company's Hercules mine near Williamsford. He later worked for the Postmaster-General's Department and then in 1950 joined his father working on the Burnie waterfront. He subsequently clashed with the TTLC's leader Brian Harradine, who established the Burnie Trades Union Council as a rival body. Devlin and the BTLC subsequently aligned with the new Tasmanian Trade Union Council headed by John Devereux. The situation was resolved in the early 1980s via ACTU mediation and Devlin later served alongside Harradine and Devereux in the Senate. He retired at the expiry of his term on 30 June 1990, in accordance with the ALP's age limit on candidates that prevented him seeking preselection at the 1990 election. Devlin served on several Senate committees, including as chair of the Select Committee on Animal Welfare from 1989 to 1990. He regularly spoke on veterans' issues, including compensation for prisoners of war and support for wounded servicemen. He supported the expansion of the Tasmanian forestry industry, a divisive issue in the ALP, and the opening of the Wesley Vale pulp mill, citing its employment benefits.

Personal life Devlin had one son from his first marriage to Rae Summers and two step-children from his second marriage to Vurlie. He was an amateur boxer and boxing coach and played for the Montello and Burnie Football Clubs. He was also a boundary umpire in the North West Football Union.

Devlin died of cancer in Burnie on 17 May 1995, aged 69.