William Knox (Queensland politician)

**The Hon**
Sir William Knox
**OSJ**, **KSJI**
The Hon Sir William Knox OSJ, KSJI
22nd Deputy Premier of Queensland
	In office; 13 August 1976 – 9 October 1978
Premier	Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Preceded by	Gordon Chalk
Succeeded by	Llew Edwards
Leader of the Queensland Liberal Party; Elections: 1977, 1986
	In office; 3 November 1983 – 31 January 1988
Deputy	Bill Lickiss (1983–1986); Angus Innes (1986–1988)
Preceded by	Terry White
Succeeded by	Angus Innes
	In office; 13 August 1976 – 6 October 1978
Deputy	Fred Campbell
Preceded by	Gordon Chalk
Succeeded by	Llew Edwards
Minister for Employment and Labour Relations
	In office; 23 December 1980 – 18 August 1983
Premier	Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Preceded by	Fred Campbell
Succeeded by	Vince Lester
Minister for Health
	In office; 15 December 1978 – 23 December 1980
Premier	Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Preceded by	Llew Edwards
Succeeded by	Brian Austin
36th Treasurer of Queensland
	In office; 13 August 1976 – 15 December 1978
Premier	Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Preceded by	Gordon Chalk
Succeeded by	Llew Edwards
Deputy Leader of the; Queensland Liberal Party
	In office; 20 December 1971 – 13 August 1976
Leader	Gordon Chalk
Preceded by	Peter Delamothe
Succeeded by	Fred Campbell
Attorney-General of Queensland; and Minister for Justice
	In office; 20 December 1971 – 13 August 1976
Premier	Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Preceded by	Peter Delamothe
Succeeded by	Bill Lickiss
Minister for Transport
	In office; 23 December 1965 – 20 June 1972
Premier	Frank Nicklin; Jack Pizzey; Gordon Chalk; Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Preceded by	Gordon Chalk
Succeeded by	Keith Hooper
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly; for Nundah
	In office; 3 August 1957 – 2 December 1989
Preceded by	Jim Hadley
Succeeded by	Phil Heath
Personal details
Born	14 December 1927; Kew, Victoria
Died	22 September 2001 (aged 73)
Political party	Liberal Party
Spouse	Doris Alexia Ross
Children	4
Alma mater	Melbourne High School
Occupation	Company 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[edit]

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[edit]

Member of Parliament[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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

Personal life[edit]

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[edit]

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

External links[edit]

"Motion of Condolence" (PDF). Hansard. Queensland Parliament. 16 October 2001. pp. 2779–2789. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 April 2019.

Political offices
Preceded by Gordon Chalk	Parliamentary Leader of the Liberal Party in Queensland 1976–1978	Succeeded by Llew Edwards
Preceded by Terry White	Parliamentary Leader of the Liberal Party in Queensland 1983–1988	Succeeded by Angus Innes
Preceded by Gordon Chalk	Deputy Premier of Queensland 1976–1978	Succeeded by Llew Edwards
Preceded by Gordon Chalk	Treasurer of Queensland 1976–1978	Succeeded by Llew Edwards
Preceded by Gordon Chalk	Minister for Transport 1965–1972	Succeeded by Keith Hooper
Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by Jim Hadley	Member for Nundah 1957–1989	Succeeded by Phil Heath

[courier-1] KNOX, Lady - Doris Alexia (Lex) — The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 8 January 2015.

[qp-2] "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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