Reginald Greive Withers was born in Bunbury, one of seven children. His father was Labor member for Bunbury in the Western Australian State Parliament (1924-47). Withers received his primary and secondary education in Bunbury and, during World War II, served with the Royal Australian Navy (1942-46). He later graduated in law from the University of Western Australia, was admitted to the Bar in 1953, practised in Bunbury and was Secretary of the South West Law Society (1955-68). He was also active politically in this period, as a local councillor for Bunbury (1954-57) and in the Liberal and Country League of Western Australia (Vice-President 1958-61 and President 1961-65).

Withers entered the Senate in 1966 to fill the vacancy left by the death of Senator Shane Paltridge, representing the Liberal Party. Defeated in the 1966 election, he was re-elected as a Senator for Western Australia the following year and retained his seat until retiring twenty years later (1967-87, term deemed to begin July 1968).

In the first ten years of his career in federal politics, Withers was Government Whip (1969-71) and served on Parliamentary committees relating to the Senate House and Library (1968-71), National Capital and External Territories (1968-72), Standing Orders (1969-78), Senate Estimates (1970-72), Regulations and Ordinances (1971), Publications (1971-72), Legal and Constitutional Affairs (1971-73), Privileges (1971-75), Foreign Ownership and Control of Australian Resources (1972-73) and New Parliament House (1975). During the Whitlam Labor Government he was elected Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, survived a challenge in July 1974 and held the position (1972-75) until the withdrawal of the Government's commission in November 1975. He was also a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry and spokesman on transport (1972-74) and services and property (1974-75).
 
In the Fraser 'Caretaker' Government, Withers became Special Minister of State, Minister for the Capital Territory, Minister for the Media and Minister for Tourism and Recreation (November-December 1975) and a member and Vice President of the Federal Executive Council. He subsequently retained the latter position and was Minister for Administrative Services and Leader of the Government in the Senate (1975-78). These appointments were terminated in August 1978, however, following the release of the Report of the Robinson Royal Commission into electoral redistribution (see CA 2584). The Report had indicated impropriety on Senator Withers' part concerning the re-naming of a Federal electorate in Queensland in 1977.

Withers later served again as a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry (1983-87) and on various Parliamentary committees relating to Senate Estimates (1979-83), Disputed Returns and Qualifications (1981-83), House, Finance and Government Operations (1981-85), Industrial Relations Legislation (1982), Statutory Authority Financing (1983), Privileges (1984-85), New Parliament House (1985-87) and Regulations and Ordinances (1986-87).

Since retiring from politics, Withers been Chairman of Cityview Investments Ltd (1989-96), Lord Mayor of Perth (1991-93) and President of the Royal Western Australian Historical Society (2001-  ).

Senator Withers was appointed a Privy Councillor (PC) on 26 July 1977 and was a recipient of the Centenary of Federation Medal in 2003. 

Sources:

The Age, 5 August 1976, p 9; 9 August 1978, pp 1, 9
Australian Government Gazette, No S230, 12 November 1975; No S262, 22 December 1975; No S149, 8 August 1978
The Canberra Times, 9 July 1974, p 3 
Parliamentary Handbook 1973, p 221; 1986, pp 218-9; 1988, p 235; 1991, p 303
Who's Who in Australia 1974, p 1059; 2004, p 2158

Summary heading

  Rt Hon Reg Withers (CP 177)

Unregistered links

  17 Mar 1976 – 5 Jun 1987:  Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust – Member

  Oct 1976: Australian Constitutional Convention, Hobart – Member of Commonwealth Parliamentary Delegation

  Jul 1978:  Australian Constitutional Convention, Perth – Member of Commonwealth Parliamentary Delegation