Bob Ellicott facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Bob Ellicott AC, KC
Judge of the Federal Court of Australia
In office 2 March 1981 – 24 February 1983
Minister for Home Affairs and the Environment
In office 3 November 1980 – 17 February 1981
Prime Minister	Malcolm Fraser
Preceded by	Himself (Home Affairs) David Thomson (Environment)
Succeeded by	Michael MacKellar
Minister for Home Affairs
In office 20 December 1977 – 3 November 1980
Prime Minister	Malcolm Fraser
Preceded by	New position
Succeeded by	Himself
Minister for the Capital Territory
In office 20 December 1977 – 3 November 1980
Prime Minister	Malcolm Fraser
Preceded by	Tony Staley
Succeeded by	Michael Hodgman
Attorney-General of Australia
In office 22 December 1975 – 6 September 1977
Prime Minister	Malcolm Fraser
Preceded by	Kep Enderby
Succeeded by	Peter Durack
Member of the Australian Parliament for Wentworth
In office 18 May 1974 – 17 February 1981
Preceded by	Les Bury
Succeeded by	Peter Coleman
Personal details
Born	(1927-04-15)15 April 1927 Moree, New South Wales, Australia
Died	31 October 2022(2022-10-31) (aged 95)
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Occupation	Barrister

Robert James Ellicott (15 April 1927 – 31 October 2022) was an important Australian lawyer, politician, and judge. He was known for his work as the top lawyer for the Australian government, called the Solicitor-General of Australia, from 1969 to 1973. Later, he became a member of the Australian Parliament for the Liberal Party.

Ellicott held several important jobs in the government led by Malcolm Fraser. He was the Attorney-General (the chief legal officer) and a minister for different departments, including Home Affairs and the Capital Territory. After his political career, he became a judge on the Federal Court of Australia.

Early Life and Legal Career

Growing Up and Education

Robert Ellicott was born on 15 April 1927 in a town called Moree, New South Wales, Australia. He went to Fort Street High School and then studied at the University of Sydney. There, he earned degrees in Arts and Law.

Becoming a Top Lawyer

In 1950, Ellicott became a barrister, which is a type of lawyer who argues cases in court. He was appointed Queen's Counsel (QC) in 1964, a special title for experienced lawyers. From 1969 to 1973, he served as the Solicitor-General of Australia. This role meant he was the main legal advisor to the Australian government. During this time, he helped the High Court of Australia make new decisions that gave the national government more power compared to the states.

Political Career

Joining Parliament

In 1974, Robert Ellicott was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as a member of the Liberal Party. He represented the area called Division of Wentworth.

Serving as Attorney-General

From 1975 to 1977, Ellicott was the Attorney-General of Australia in the government led by Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser. This was a very important job, as he was responsible for legal matters for the whole country. He later stepped down from this role due to a disagreement with Prime Minister Fraser about who should pay legal costs in a court case.

Ministerial Roles and Achievements

After his time as Attorney-General, Ellicott took on other important roles in government. From 1977 to 1980, he was the Minister for Home Affairs and the Minister for the Capital Territory.

• Australian Institute of Sport: As Home Affairs Minister, he played a key role in setting up the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). This was created to help Australian athletes train better after the country didn't perform well at the 1976 Summer Olympics.
• Film Industry: In 1978, he made a decision to stop funding a film project. This was a rare example of a politician getting involved in the Australian film industry.

From November 1980 to February 1981, he was the Minister for Home Affairs and the Environment. He resigned from this position to become a judge. Robert Ellicott is the only person in Australia's history to have served as both the Solicitor-General and the Attorney-General.

Judicial Career and Later Life

Becoming a Judge

In 1981, Robert Ellicott was appointed as a judge on the Federal Court of Australia. He served in this role until February 1983. He is one of only a few people who have been both a member of the Australian Parliament and a judge on the Federal Court. He resigned from the court to return to being a barrister and to get involved in public matters again. Many people saw him as an "outstanding judge."

Continued Public Service

Even after leaving the court, Ellicott continued to be involved in important work.

• Sports Arbitration: In 2007, he worked as an arbitrator for the Court of Arbitration for Sport. This court helps settle disputes in the world of sports.
• Investigating Misconduct: In the same year, he was chosen to lead a group investigating claims of bad behavior against the Chief Justice of Fiji.

Honours and Recognition

Robert Ellicott received several awards for his contributions to Australia.

• Olympic Order of Merit: In May 2006, the Australian Olympic Committee gave him the Olympic Order of Merit. This was mainly for his important work in creating the Australian Institute of Sport.
• Sport Australia Hall of Fame: In October 2016, he was added to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame as a General Member.
• Companion of the Order of Australia: In 2017, he received the highest civilian honor in Australia, becoming a Companion of the Order of Australia. This award recognized his excellent service to the Australian Parliament, his legal work, his role in developing international trade law, and his work in sports arbitration.

Personal Life

Robert Ellicott was a double cousin of Sir Garfield Barwick, who was also a very famous lawyer and politician. Like Ellicott, Barwick also attended Fort Street High School and the University of Sydney, and he also served as Attorney-General before becoming the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia.

Robert Ellicott passed away on 31 October 2022, at the age of 95.