Hon. Dean Brown AO

Former South Australian Premier

Studying Rural Science at UNE taught former South Australian Premier Hon. Dean Brown AO many things about problem-solving and complex ecosystems, which was extremely useful during 27 years in the state's "bearpit". His experience of interstate rail travel proved equally memorable.

"I worked out that I spent 42 nights sleeping or trying to sleep on trains during my travels between Adelaide and Armidale," he says. "I'd catch the overnight train from Adelaide to Melbourne, spend all day in Melbourne, then take the Spirit of Progress the next night to Sydney, spend all day in Sydney, and then the Armidale Express overnight to Armidale. It was freezing in winter."

Transport aside, living and learning in regional NSW had its compensations. “Rural Science was an excellent program; it gave me a broad education that I could apply to many political situations later in life. It taught me the need to learn throughout life," Dean says. "There weren't too many politicians with a background in science in those days."

Young Dean arrived at UNE in 1961, on a cadetship from the South Australian Government, and lived in Wright College for the duration of his studies. “I had never been to Sydney, let alone Armidale. My rural experience was visiting my grandparents' property on the Yorke Peninsula for holidays," he says. "College life had an international flavour and exposed me to a lot of different students from different backgrounds, with different views. It was excellent preparation for politics, which requires an understanding of the broad needs and expectations of communities."

Upon graduation, Dean returned to Adelaide to work for the Department of Agriculture. The innovation his rural science education encouraged was to become a hallmark of Dean's political contributions for the next three decades. "It was while working as a senior research scientist with the department that I became frustrated by the lack of strategic policy, so I took my concerns to my local Member of Parliament," he recalls. "I was completing my Masters at UNE by that stage and the MP asked me to chair a discussion group designed to develop a number of policies, in agriculture and a range of other areas."

In 1973, at the relatively young age of 29 and with an attractive offer to do his PhD at Penn State University pending, Dean found himself being courted by the Liberal Party. "I had no political ambitions at the time, but the party encouraged me to stand for the safe Liberal seat of Davenport," he says. "Somewhat unexpectedly I won pre-selection and then the seat, and spent my first years in Parliament as a backbencher, helping to develop policy. I was particularly interested in industrial development, innovation and high technology, but I thoroughly enjoyed serving the needs of the community."

Dean began his ministerial career in 1979 as Minister for Industrial Affairs and Minister for Public Works, before losing his seat in 1985. He was urged to run again in 1992, this time for the Fleurieu Peninsula seat, was re-elected and swiftly promoted to Leader of the Opposition.

The 1993 State election remains one of South Australia's most memorable. A firm favourite, Dean led the South Australian Liberals to a landslide victory, claiming 14 seats from Labor to record almost 61% of the two-party vote, and winning 37 of the 47 seats.

“The election was the start of a major restructuring of the Government and the State’s economy to overcome the massive debt left by the collapse of the State Bank,” he says. "There was constant pressure, but that never worried me. You need to be alert 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Very few people understand the major issues that come up every hour or so when you are a Premier, most of which the public never hear about."

Establishing an information technology industry, developing aquaculture, rebuilding the state's manufacturing industry, and constructing tourism infrastructure were among his proudest achievements as Premier. Dean gave the first apology of any government in Australia to the Stolen Generation and his government was also the first in the world to outsource data processing.

Even after losing the premiership, in late 1996, Dean went on to hold portfolios in Industrial Relations, Information and Contract Services; Aboriginal Affairs; Human Services (Health); and Disability Services and Ageing. "My time in politics was extremely rewarding," he says. "People ask would I do it again, and most certainly I would. I enjoyed assisting people with their immediate needs, but also helping to develop, direct and implement policy."

Since leaving politics in 2006 Dean has maintained his strong interest in innovation and technology, and River Murray affairs, and was recently appointed chairman of the Coorong Partnership to restore the health of the Coorong. He also served on the board of Foodbank SA, as a director of Mission Australia, and as a director of the National Youth Mental Health Advisory Council, which established Headspace. He was the Premier’s Special Adviser for the Millennium Drought and continues to chair the Playford Memorial Trust, a scholarship scheme established by the South Australian Parliament to encourage young students to further their STEM studies.

UNE awarded Dean an honorary doctorate in October 2014 and a Distinguished Alumni Award in 1999 and he continues to maintain a keen interest in science students through a UNE scholarship. "I want other students to have the experience and benefit of the education I received at UNE," he says. "A good university program will teach you to learn, and to learn for the rest of your life, and to think in the broadest of terms. Rural Science at UNE did just that for me."

Words of advice:

If you have the opportunity to pursue a political career, then take it up. Make sure you do it for the right reasons - to serve the broad community and to make a difference. Be prepared, though, for it to become all-consuming in terms of your time, effort and family. There will be sacrifices to make.