Bill Taylor (naval officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Commodore
Bill Taylor
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|---|---|
| Administrator of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories | |
| In office 4 February 1999 – 30 July 2003 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor-General | Sir William Deane Peter Hollingsworth Michael Jeffery |
| Preceded by | Ronald Harvey |
| Succeeded by | Evan Williams |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Groom |
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| In office 9 April 1988 – 31 August 1998 |
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| Preceded by | Tom McVeigh |
| Succeeded by | Ian Macfarlane |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 September 1938 Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Occupation | Naval officer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Branch/service | Royal Australian Navy |
| Years of service | 1957–1988 |
| Rank | Commodore |
Commodore William Leonard Taylor, also known as Bill Taylor, was born on 14 September 1938. He is a former Australian naval officer and a politician. He served as a high-ranking officer in the Royal Australian Navy.
After his naval career, he became a member of the Australian Parliament. He represented the Liberal Party in the House of Representatives from 1988 to 1998. He held the seat of Groom in Queensland. Later, from 1999 to 2003, he was the administrator of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories.
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Early Life and Education
Bill Taylor was born in Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia. He went to Toowoomba Grammar School. He studied at university, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. He also completed a Master of Literature degree from the University of New England.
Taylor joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1957. He moved up through the ranks during his service. In 1971, he became a lieutenant commander. He was promoted to commander in 1974. By 1981, he was a captain. His highest rank was commodore, which he achieved in 1986. He served in the Navy until 1988.
Political Journey
Bill Taylor became a member of the Liberal Party in 1972. He was elected to parliament in 1988. This happened during a special election for the Groom seat. He won with strong support from voters.
Time in Parliament
While in parliament, Taylor worked on important committees. He was part of the Joint Statutory Committees on Public Works and Public Accounts. From 1996 to 1998, he led the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties. He was re-elected in the 1990, 1993, and 1996 federal elections.
In 1994, Taylor openly disagreed with the leader of the Liberal Party at the time. He believed the party needed a change in leadership. He retired from politics before the 1998 election.
Later Public Service
After leaving parliament, Bill Taylor continued to serve Australia. From 1999 to 2003, he was the administrator of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories. This role meant he was based on Christmas Island. During his time as administrator, several important events occurred. These included the Tampa incident in 2001. This period also saw the establishment of the Christmas Island Detention Centre.
