george turner (australian politician)

Sir George Turner (8 August 1851 - 12 August 1916), Australian politician, was Premier of Victoria and a member of the first federal ministry. Turner was born in Melbourne, and was educated at the University of Melbourne, graduating as a lawyer in 1881. A Protectionist, he was a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly from 1889-1901. He was Minister of Health 1891-93, Commissioner for Trade and Customs 1891-93 and 1900, Solicitor-General 1892-93, Minister for Defence 1894-95 and Vice-President of the Board of Land and Works 1894-95. He was Premier and Treasurer of Victoria 1894-99 and 1900-01. Turner became Premier at a time when Victoria was plunged in a deep depression following the Crash of 1892. He imposed a policy of strict economy and balanced budgets, in accordance with the economic theory of the time. Although these policies did little to relieve the effects of the Depression, they did restore confidence in Victoria's public finances and the banking system. Turner was elected to the Australian House of Representatives in 1901 as member for the Division of Balaclava. He was a natural choice to be Treasurer in the first federal ministry under Edmund Barton. He held this post 1901-04 and 1904-05. He retired in 1906.

George Turner (Australian Politician)

See also