William Gibson

William Gerrand Gibson (19 May 1869 – 22 May 1955) was an Australian politician. He was the first member of the Country Party elected to federal parliament, serving in the House of Representatives (1918–1929, 1931–1934) and as a Senator for Victoria (1935–1947). He was the party's deputy leader from 1923 to 1929 and was a government minister in the Bruce–Page government.

Early life Gibson was born on 19 May 1869 in Gisborne, Victoria. His parents Grace (née Gerrand) and David Gibson were both born in Scotland, and arrived in Victoria in 1860. His younger brother David also became a member of parliament. Gibson was educated locally, and worked with his father for a period before acquiring his own farm. He married Mary Helen Young Paterson on 4 November 1896 at Riddells Creek.

As well as farming, Gibson established himself as a merchant, running general stores at Romsey and Lancefield. He was president of the Romsey and West Bourke Agricultural Society and the local branch of the Australian Natives Association.

Politics Early career

In 1911 Gibson was elected secretary of the Lismore branch of the People's Party.

Government minister

He successfully pressed for regulated wheat and dairy prices to be raised until the abolition of price controls in 1921. He was Postmaster-General from 1923 to 1929, and encouraged the construction of telephone lines, the extension of roadside mail deliveries and the building of post offices in country districts. He also encouraged the development of radio broadcasting. In 1928, he was appointed Minister for Works and Railways, as well. He subsequently sat as an "Independent Country" senator. He was not re-admitted to the party until November 1939, when the new leader Archie Cameron invited him to rejoin.

In 1941, Gibson was elected chair of the Joint Committee on Wireless Broadcasting, which came to be known as the Gibson Committee due to his "vigorous leadership". Its report led to the passage of the Broadcasting Act 1942 by the Curtin government. His daughter Grace died suddenly in 1946 at the age of 48; she had been his private secretary for 20 years.