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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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 | Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia |
14 September 1938
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, AM (born 14 September 1938) is a former Australian naval officer and politician. He was a senior officer in the Royal Australian Navy, resigning to run for federal parliament. He represented the Liberal Party in the House of Representatives from 1988 to 1998, holding the Queensland seat of Groom. He later served as administrator of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories from 1999 to 2003.
Early life
Taylor was born on 14 September 1938 in Toowoomba, Queensland. He attended Toowoomba Grammar School. He holds the degrees of Bachelor of Arts from the Campaspe College of Adult Education and Master of Literature from the University of New England.
Military career
Taylor joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1957. He was promoted to lieutenant commander in 1971, commander in 1974, captain in 1981 and commodore in 1986.
Later activities
From 1999 to 2003 Taylor served as administrator of the Australian Indian Ocean Territories, based on Christmas Island. His tenure was relatively eventful, including the Tampa affair of 2001, a possible typhoid outbreak, and the creation of the Christmas Island Detention Centre.