Reginald (later Sir Reginald) Charles Wright was born at Central Castra, Tasmania in 1905 and educated at Devonport High School and the University of Tasmania. A barrister and solicitor, he was admitted to the Tasmanian Bar (1928) and became a lecturer in law at the University of Tasmania (1931-46, excluding 1941-44). In 1941, Wright enlisted in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force and was appointed a Lieutenant in 6th Australian Field Regiment. He was promoted to Captain in the Australian Field Artillery AIF in 1943 and placed on the retired list on 13 July 1944. 

After the war, Wright entered state politics as Liberal member for Franklin in the Tasmanian House of Assembly. Before resigning to successfully contest the December 1949 federal election, he was also Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Tasmania.

In February 1950, Wright began his 28-year term in Commonwealth Parliament as a Senator for Tasmania. One of his first federal Parliamentary appointments was as Government Whip in the Senate (1950-51). He was also President of the Tasmanian Liberal Party (1955-56). 

During his Parliamentary career, Wright held only two portfolios:- as Minister for Tourist Activities under the Minister for Trade and Industry (1968-71) and as Minister for Works (1968-72) in the Gorton and McMahon Governments. He served extensively on various parliamentary committees, however, sometimes on more than one occasion and including committees relating to Standing Orders, Regulations and Ordinances, Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Privileges and Senate Estimates (see related agencies for full details).

Wright resigned from the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party on 1 June 1978 on a matter of principle concerning the Parliamentary Superannuation Amendment Bill. The Bill provided for lump sum payments for retiring senators and members who had been federal Ministers. Later the same month, as an Independent, he also retired from the Senate. 

Sir Reginald Wright was created a Knight Batchelor (Kt) in June 1978 and died in March 1990.


Sources:

Who's Who in Australia 1959, p 871; 1974, p 1069; 1988, p 950
Australian Parliamentary Handbook 1973, p 224; 1978, pp 178-9
J Rydon, A Biographical Register of the Commonwealth Parliament 1901-1972, p 228
The Canberra Times, 2 June 1978, p 1

Summary heading

  Sir Reginald Wright (CP 157)

Unregistered links

  11 Nov 1976-3 Dec 1976: Senate Select Committee on Operations of the Mount Lyell Company - Chairman