Hayden, Bill (1933-2023), served as governor general of Australia from 1989 to 1996. He was previously leader of the Australian Labor Party in the federal Parliament from 1977 to 1983. He resigned in 1983, and Bob Hawke assumed leadership of the party.
William George Hayden was born on Jan. 23, 1933, in Brisbane, Australia. He was educated at Brisbane State High School. After leaving school at age 16, he worked for four years in the Queensland public service. He was a police officer in Queensland from 1953 to 1961.
In 1961, Hayden was elected to the federal Parliament for the seat of Oxley in Queensland. He completed an economics degree at the University of Queensland in 1968. He was minister for social security from December 1972 to June 1975 and treasurer from June 1975 to November 1975. As minister for social security, he was responsible for the establishment of Medibank, a health insurance system. Hayden died on Oct. 21, 2023.
