63-511: Alan Bond (22 April 1938 – 5 June 2015) was an Australian businessman noted for his high-profile and often corrupt business dealings. These included his central role in the WA Inc scandals of the 1980s; the biggest corporate collapse in Australian history; and also his criminal conviction that saw him serve four years in prison. He is also remembered for bankrolling the successful challenge for
126-511: A 2003 interview with Andrew Denton , Bond described the negotiations as follows: ...when we first sat down, we said, 'We're either going to sell our stations to you for $ 400 million, or you're going to sell your stations to us.' And [Kerry Packer] said, 'Well, I don't really want to sell my stations.' And I said, 'Oh, is that right?' So, anyway, after much discussion, Kerry thumped the table and said, 'Listen, if you can pay me $ 1 billion, I'll sell them to you, otherwise bugger off'. ... [T]hen I rang
189-563: A brief "To inquire into and report" whether there had been "corruption, illegal conduct, improper conduct, or bribery" on the part of any person or corporation in the "affairs, investment decisions and business dealings of the Government of Western Australia or its agencies" . In the introductory part of its report, the commission noted that it had heard from 543 witnesses encompassing 847 appearances. [...] There were, however, some who may have been able to give valuable information to
252-570: A charade he saw no need to keep up afterwards. He was forced to sell Glympton Park in England, which he purchased in 1988. In 1995, his family bought him out of bankruptcy, with creditors accepting a payment of A$ 12 million, a little over half a cent per dollar. In 1997, Bond was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to using his controlling interest in Bell Resources to deceptively siphon off A$ 1.2 billion into
315-528: A confidential appendix (not published) containing an "outline of matters to be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions", and a list of recommendations impinging on open government, accountability, integrity in government, the Parliament, the administrative system, and a proposed Commission on Government The royal commission cost $ 30 million, including $ 12.5 million in witness costs. Of
378-696: A great influence over our environment because of the standards and examples they set". In 2015, at the Garma Festival , he was honoured by the University of Melbourne with an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) . In a statement, Professor Margaret Sheil , Provost at the University of Melbourne, said the Honorary Doctor of Laws award to Yunupingu was to recognise and celebrate the significance of his work for Indigenous rights. Yunupingu
441-649: A long illness. The Yothu Yindi Foundation described him as "a giant of the nation". He was survived by two of his four wives, 12 children, including daughter Binmila, and many grand- and great-grandchildren. A statement signed by Binmila announcing his death, along with a recording of Yunupingu leading traditional song, was posted on the Yothu Yindi Foundation website, saying that ceremonies would be conducted in North Eastern Arnhem Land in coming weeks. It requested that only
504-648: A loss of public money, estimated at a minimum of $ 600 million and the insolvency of several large corporations. Bond and Connell were major contributors to the party in government, the Labor Party and its remarkable fundraising structure, the John Curtin Foundation . A royal commission (the Royal Commission into Commercial Activities of Government and Other Matters ) was established in 1990 by Labor premier Carmen Lawrence to examine
567-559: A private hospital in Perth to replace and repair his heart valves . Following complications, he was transferred to Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth and placed on life support in an induced coma . He died on the morning of 5 June 2015. John Wood portrayed Bond in the miniseries The Challenge (1986), which depicted Australia's famous victory of the 1983 America's Cup . In the Australian TV miniseries Killing Time (2011), he
630-715: A prominent leader and strong voice on behalf of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory and Australia , gaining the respect and admiration from many. In 1975, Yunupingu joined the Northern Land Council (NLC), the authority appointed under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976 to represent traditional Aboriginal landowners and Aboriginal people. He was chairman of the NLC from 1977 to 1980, an executive member until 1983 when he
693-624: A set of public-private partnerships in Western Australia in the 1980s associated with the Western Australian Development Corporation , which became a political scandal . The state government , which was led for much of the period by premier Brian Burke , engaged in business dealings with several prominent businessmen, including Alan Bond , Laurie Connell , Dallas Dempster , John Roberts , and Warren Anderson . These dealings resulted in
SECTION 10
#1732780193325756-495: A single painting at the time. However, the purchase was funded by a substantial loan from the auctioneer Sotheby's , which Bond failed to repay. The transaction was criticised by art dealers as possibly a manipulated sale designed to artificially inflate values generally (which it seems to have done). The painting was subsequently re-sold in 1990 to the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles . That same year, Bond also organised
819-427: A suspected accidental overdose of prescription medication. Bond married Diana Bliss , a public relations consultant and theatre producer, in 1995. On 28 January 2012, Bliss was found dead in the couple's swimming pool. Police said the circumstances of her death were not suspicious and concluded that Bliss, a long-time sufferer of depression , had committed suicide. On 2 June 2015, Bond underwent open-heart surgery at
882-406: Is a cousin of car dealer John Hughes ). She and Bond were both 17, and she was pregnant at the time. Bond, who had been raised Protestant , converted to Catholicism for the marriage. The couple had four children: John, Craig, Susanne and Jody. Bond and Eileen divorced in 1992. Susanne, an equestrian showjumper who had been a member of the Australian showjumping team for seven years, died in 2000 from
945-408: Is about the drastic changes brought upon Perth in the aftermath of the 1983 America's Cup, repeatedly mentions Bond with the line, "Alan was a rolling stone". In real life, Bond was represented by criminal lawyer Andrew Fraser, notable for representing Australian underworld figures and other unsavoury elements. Fraser himself would later become imprisoned. WA Inc WA Inc was the name for
1008-479: Is co-chaired by Wyatt, Marcia Langton and Tom Calma . Yunupingu loved music and helped to guide his brother's band, Yothu Yindi, sometimes singing traditional elements of the band's songs. He also painted their album covers. In the early 1970s, Yunupingu sang a song written by Ted Egan , called "Gurindji Blues", about the struggles of the land rights movement in the NT at the time. Released on RCA Victor in 1971,
1071-426: Is no reason to believe that many of the fundamental questions raised by our inquiry were unique to this period or to this State. On the contrary, as detailed studies in other States and overseas clearly demonstrate, they have been raised elsewhere as a consequence of events similar to those which we have experienced. 1.1.2 Some ministers elevated personal or party advantage over their constitutional obligation to act in
1134-613: The 1983 America's Cup , the first time the New York Yacht Club had lost it in its 132-year history. He is also the founder of Bond University , Gold Coast, Australia. Alan Bond was born on 22 April 1938, the son of Frank and Kathleen Bond in the Hammersmith district of London , England. In 1950, aged 12, he emigrated to Australia with his parents and his elder sister Geraldine, living in Fremantle , near Perth. At
1197-710: The 1983 America's Cup , which had been held by the New York Yacht Club since 1851, thus breaking the longest winning streak in the history of sport. That victory, widely regarded as one of Australia's greatest international sporting achievements, resulted in Bond's receipt of the Order of Australia , in the grade of Officer. In 1987, Bond paid $ 1 billion to purchase the Australia-wide Channel Nine television network from Kerry Packer 's PBL . In
1260-413: The 1987 stock market crash , several major businesses based in Perth found themselves in difficulties and ultimately went into bankruptcy. These included: A proposed petrochemical plant was to be built as a joint venture between Laurie Connell and Dallas Dempster , both being businessmen with close government connections. $ 100,000 was outlaid as a deposit on a block of land at Kwinana but otherwise
1323-707: The Aboriginal Australian community. He was involved in Indigenous land rights throughout his career. He was a Yolngu man of the Gumatj clan, from Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory . He was the 1978 Australian of the Year . Galarrwuy Yunupingu was born at Melville Bay , near Yirrkala , on 30 June 1948, and was a member of the Gumatj clan of the Yolngu people. His father, Mungurrawuy Yunupingu ,
SECTION 20
#17327801933251386-670: The National Australia Bank . I said, 'Look, I'm in discussions here to buy these television stations. Kerry will sell to me, and what I want to do is put our stations together and then, with Sky Channel , I'm going to float it off as a separate entity and raise the capital to pay for it... [Packer] said $ 1 billion [was his asking price], but I think I'll get it for $ 800 million.' ... [The bank manager] duly rang back and said yes. I said, 'Thank God. I'll go and have some further negotiations with Kerry,' which I did. And true to his word, he never budged one penny off it. So I settled
1449-534: The Queensland premier, Joh Bjelke-Petersen by paying out A$ 400,000. He said in a television interview several years later that he paid because "Sir Joh left no doubt that if we were going to continue to do business successfully in Queensland then he expected the matter to be resolved". In 1987, Bond purchased Vincent van Gogh 's renowned painting Irises for $ 54 million—the highest price ever paid for
1512-527: The " Barunga Statement ". Hawke responded by saying that he wished to conclude a treaty between Aboriginal and other Australians by 1990. In June 1991 the Aboriginal band, Yothu Yindi , whose lead singer was Yunupingu's younger brother Mandawuy Yunupingu , wrote and released the hit song " Treaty " to commemorate the Barunga statement. The brothers and the band wanted to highlight the lack of progress on
1575-762: The Commission, who died before the Commission hearings commenced or after they had begun. There were others who were unwilling to assist and were beyond the reach of compulsory process. The following had died or been incapable on health grounds: Peter Beckwith ( Bond Corporation ), Bill Burgess ( Rothwells ), Robert Holmes à Court , Thomas Hugall (Rothwells), Bruce Kirkwood ( SECWA ), Andrew Mensaros (former Liberal state minister), Terence McDonnell (solicitor), and Jack Walsh (Rothwells). The following declined to give evidence: Yosse Goldberg (entrepreneur), Peter Mitchell (Bond Corporation), Tony Oates (Bond Corporation), and Ms Kim Rooney (wife of David Parker ). Dr Shrian Oskar
1638-737: The Kao diamond pipe in the Kingdom of Lesotho . In 2007, the Federal Court rejected an attempt by Bond to sue freelance journalist Paul Barry over an article Barry wrote about his dealings in Africa with the Lesotho Diamond Company. Bond had claimed that the article had several false statements. In 2008 Bond appealed but this, too, was rejected by the same court which found Bond's claims had no reasonable prospects of success. Bond
1701-405: The age of 14, he was charged with stealing and being unlawfully on premises. Aged 18, he was arrested for being unlawfully on premises, and reportedly admitted planning a robbery. Bond began his career as a signwriter under the name 'Nu-Signs' after terminating his apprenticeship 18 months before it was due to end. In 1956 he was charged with attempted burglary, having been found by police roaming
1764-710: The aspirations of his people. Yunupingu was a member of the Referendum Council set up in 2015, which led to the Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2017. In November 2019, it was announced that Yunupingu would be one of 20 members of the Senior Advisory Group to help co-design the Indigenous voice to government set up by Ken Wyatt , the Minister for Indigenous Australians . The Group
1827-699: The coffers of the Bond Corporation. The funds were used to shore up the cash resources of the ailing Bond Corporation, which spectacularly collapsed, leaving Bell Resources in a precarious and uncertain position. He was stripped of his 1984 honour as an Officer of the Order of Australia . Bond was released from Karnet Prison Farm in 2000, having served four years in various Western Australian prisons. Following release, he became active in various mining investments, predominately in Africa, including Madagascar Oil PLC and Global Diamond Resources, of Lesotho and
1890-451: The commission had summarised: [The Government was not entitled] to risk the public resources of the State without its actions being subjected to critical scrutiny and review. Effective accountability was a casualty of its entrepreneurial zeal. Influence in the conduct of this State's public affairs was captured by a small group of self-interested businessmen. The commission's report included
1953-447: The connections between many of the deals and cross-ownership of businesses involved, it is difficult to say precisely where the government's fault started and ended. A minimum loss to the state of $ 600 million has been reported. In 1991, barrister Bevan Lawrence published what he regarded as a conservative itemisation of the government's actual losses. The figures are summarised as follows: On 19 November 1990, Carmen Lawrence ,
Alan Bond - Misplaced Pages Continue
2016-583: The deal with $ 800 million and a $ 200 million note. So he put his own $ 200 million in. So I had $ 1 billion. And we put our other two stations up as collateral, which were worth probably $ 400 million. In fact, the agreed price was $ 1.05 billion. Packer took $ 800 million in cash and $ 250 million in subordinated debt in Bond Media. When Bond went bankrupt, Packer was able to turn the debt into a 37% equity in Bond Media, which now included Channel 9 in Brisbane, and
2079-610: The dealings. Connell alleged [in evidence to the Commission] that Hawke dropped a proposed gold tax after Connell and various Perth high-flyers donated $ 250,000 each to Labor during an infamous lunch in Brian Burke's office in 1987—a claim the former PM vigorously denied. Burke's loyalty to those who had donated their efforts (and money) to Labor was no less fervent. Taking the John Curtin Foundation axiom to
2142-520: The decision to involve the Government, through WAGH, in the Kwinana petrochemical project as a means of removing the Government's contingent liability for certain of the debts of Rothwells. Electoral advantage was preferred to the public interest. 1.1.4 Personal associations and the manner in which electoral contributions were obtained could only create the public perception that favour could be bought, that favour would be done. In an earlier finding,
2205-511: The early 1960s, with his father, Gumatj clan leader Mungurrawuy, Yunupingu entered the struggle for land rights and helped draw up the Yirrkala bark petitions , which his father helped to paint. He came to national attention in the late 1960s for his role in the landmark, but unsuccessful Gove Land Rights Case . This legal action was the first by Indigenous Australians to challenge mining companies' rights to exploit traditional lands. He became
2268-755: The establishment of the Bond Centre in Hong Kong , which was located in a twin tower skyscraper complex. The property was later bought by the Lippo Group of Indonesia, and is now known as the Lippo Centre . Bond became a public hero in his adopted country when he bankrolled challenges for the America's Cup , which resulted in his selection in 1978 as Australian of the Year (awarded jointly with Galarrwuy Yunupingu ). His Australia II syndicate won
2331-553: The journalists convicted of contempt of court after some electronic documents disappeared. In 2008, Bond made a return to the Business Review Weekly ' s "Rich 200 List", in 157th spot, with an estimated wealth of $ 265 million—thanks primarily to his stakes in Madagascar Oil and Global Diamond Resources. In 1955, Bond married Eileen Hughes, a member of a prominent Catholic family in Fremantle (she
2394-402: The land and specific sacred sites. He said: "We will continue to fight for the right to make our own decisions about our own land". In October 2004, Yunupingu resigned from his position as chair of the NLC after 23 years in the role and around 28 as a member of the council. In June 2005 The Weekend Australian , based on information provided by his son and other relatives, reported that there
2457-458: The landmark constitutional law case of Castlemaine Tooheys Ltd v South Australia , and G. Heileman Brewing Company in La Crosse, Wisconsin , US), gold mining , television , and airships . Australia's first private university, Bond University , was founded by the Bond Corporation in 1987. He purchased QTQ-9 Brisbane and settled an outstanding defamation dispute the station had with
2520-522: The latter, $ 3.6 million funded Burke's own legal fees ($ 1.71 million) and those of David Parker ($ 1.92 million). Burke and his predecessor, the Liberal premier Ray O'Connor ultimately served prison sentences as a result of convictions which arose from findings of the commission. The premier immediately after Burke, Peter Dowding , and public servant Len Brush were both found to have acted improperly. The Western Australian Development Corporation's remit
2583-468: The name Yunupingu be used to refer to him, and only the images provided should be used. The statement included the words: We remember him for his fierce leadership, and total strength for Yolŋu and for Aboriginal people throughout Australia. He lived by our laws always. Yunupiŋu lived his entire life on his land, surrounded by the sound of bilma ( clapsticks ), yidaki (didgeridoo) and the manikay (sacred song) and dhulang (sacred designs) of our people. He
Alan Bond - Misplaced Pages Continue
2646-724: The next level, Burke created the West Australian Development Corporation and installed fellow Catholic John Horgan (pictured second from left, top) on $ 800,000 a year, an extraordinary figure for a public servant not only then but now.—Journalist Tony Barrass, 2009. In 1991, political scientist Paddy O'Brien identified the members of the government most associated with WA Inc deals as premier Burke and his successor Peter Dowding , deputy premier David Parker , industrial development minister Julian Grill and attorney-general Joe Berinson . As an outcome of questionable business practices, precipitated by
2709-428: The proposal did not proceed beyond designs and stood as a basis for fund-raising, loans, collateral transactions, development of proposed plant, management fees to Bond Corporation and, eventually, was sold for $ 400 million —$ 175 million being provided by a government agency, WA Government Holdings. The government had lent large sums of money, offered financial guarantees and acquired assets at inflated prices. Because of
2772-462: The public interest. The decision to lend Government support to the rescue of Rothwells in October 1987 was principally that of Mr Burke as Premier. Mr Burke's motives in supporting the rescue were not related solely to proper governmental concerns. They derived in part from his well-established relationship with Mr Connell, the chairman and major shareholder of Rothwells, and from his desire to preserve
2835-594: The single features Vincent Lingiari of Gurindji strike fame, who introduces the recording in Gurindji , followed by a translation into English. Yunupingu also sings on the B side of the record. In January 2010 he spent time in hospital after collapsing in a bank in Nhulunbuy . In late 2016, he had a kidney transplant . Yunupingu died in the Northern Territory on 3 April 2023, at age 74, after
2898-511: The standing of the Australian Labor Party in the eyes of those sections of the business community from which it had secured much financial support. 1.1.3 Subsequently, Mr Dowding, as Premier, presided over a disastrous series of decisions designed to support Rothwells when it was or should have been clear to him and to those ministers closely involved that Rothwells was no longer a viable financial institution. This culminated in
2961-493: The streets of Fremantle dressed in State Electricity Commission overalls and carrying tools. Nu-Signs changed its name to Lesmurdie Heights – after the name of Bond's biggest estate – and changed the name again to Bond Corporation in 1959. In the 1960s, as a property developer in an expanding market, he was one of WA's largest borrowers from finance companies eager to lend to developers and uncritical of
3024-562: The then Labor premier, announced her government's intention to hold a royal commission to "inquire into certain matters". This decision followed more than a year of strong public advocacy by the activist group, People for Fair and Open Government headed by the premier's brother, barrister Bevan Lawrence , Professor Emeritus Martyn Webb and prominent political scientist Paddy O'Brien . O'Brien edited The Burke Ambush , subtitled Corporatism and Society in Western Australia , which
3087-475: The treaty between Aboriginal peoples and the federal government . As chair of the NLC, Yunupingu led the Gagudju people in negotiations with mining and government bodies. Not opposed to mining in principle, Yunupingu saw it as a way for Aboriginal people to escape the welfare trap if it is conducted on the traditional owners ' terms. These include a fair distribution of the economic benefits and respect for
3150-576: The valuations Bond put on his estates. Some of his developments included apartments along the Swan River and Lesmurdie Heights. In his heyday the Perth -based Bond was one of Australia's most prominent businesspeople. He extended his business interests into fields outside property development including brewing (he controlled Castlemaine Tooheys in Australia, leading the business to legal success in
3213-594: Was a recognition for Aboriginal people as "the indigenous people of this country who must share in its future". In the Australia Day Honours in 1985, James Galarrwuy Yunupingu was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his services to the Aboriginal community. In 1998 Yunupingu was added to the list of 100 " Australian Living National Treasures " selected by the National Trust of Australia as leaders in society "considered to have
SECTION 50
#17327801933253276-548: Was a well-known artist and leader of his clan; siblings included lead singer of Yothu Yindi , his brother Mandawuy Yunupingu ; and several artist sisters, including Nyapanyapa Yunupingu and Nancy Gaymala Yunupingu . He attended the Mission School at Yirrkala in his formative years, and moved to Brisbane to study at the Methodist Bible College for two years, returning to Gove in 1967. In
3339-463: Was again played by John Wood. The Australian TV miniseries House of Bond (2017) is a heavily fictionalised account of Bond's life. Bond was portrayed by Ben Mingay . It was aired on the Nine Network on 24–25 April 2017. In 2021, Perth-based psychedelic rock/pop band Pond released a song titled "America's Cup" that would go on to appear on their ninth studio album, 9 ; the song, which
3402-472: Was born on our land, he lived all his life on our land and he died on our land secure in the knowledge that his life's work was secure. In 1978 Yunupingu was named Australian of the Year for his negotiations on the Ranger uranium mine agreement. He said the award 'would help him to shake off the image of ratbag and radical' and would give him "greater strength as an individual and as a leader". He also said it
3465-410: Was included in Business Review Weekly 's "Rich 200 List" in 2008. In 2003, Bond was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame . Since 2003, Bond had worked closely with his son Craig and longtime business partner Robert Quinn through Strategic Investments Ltd. Interests related to the Bond family also control Global Diamond Resources plc (formerly Lesotho Diamond Corporation) which is developing
3528-551: Was involved in a long-running defamation case against The West Australian newspaper and journalists Mark Drummond and Sean Cowan over a series of articles published in December 2005, in which it was alleged that Bond's friend and business partner Robert Leslie Nelson was moving to hide Bond's involvement in Lesotho Diamond Corporation, Madagascar Oil and a gold company. During that case, Bond tried to have
3591-417: Was re-elected as chairman. He has led a number of negotiations with mining and government bodies. In 1988, Yunupingu and Wenten Rubuntja presented prime minister Bob Hawke , who was on a visit to the Northern Territory as part of Bicentennial celebrations, with a statement of Aboriginal political objectives, painted on a 1.2-square-metre (13 sq ft) sheet of composite wood. This became known as
3654-451: Was reduced over time, and it was finally wound up in 1998. (Page numbers cited in PDF documents are PDF pages, not necessarily corresponding to folio numbers printed on original pages.) Galarrwuy Yunupingu Galarrwuy Yunupingu AM (30 June 1948 – 3 April 2023), also known as James Galarrwuy Yunupingu and Dr Yunupingu , was an Indigenous Australian activist who was a leader in
3717-605: Was serving a 6-year prison term in the UK. The witnesses whose testimony was received by the commission are listed in an appendix to the report. After approximately 21 months of enquiries and hearings, the commission's final report began: 1.1.1 The Commission has found conduct and practices on the part of certain persons involved in government in the period from 1983 to 1989 which were such as to place our governmental system at risk. Unfortunately, some of that conduct and some of those practices were peculiar to Western Australia; but there
3780-649: Was some discontent among the Yunupingu family and other community members about the distribution of mining royalties paid to the Gumatj Association. In 2007 Yunupingu spoke about the need for action in reducing Indigenous poverty . In reference to the Howard government 's Northern Territory National Emergency Response , known as "The Intervention", he said "The intervention was an incomplete process about which he would reserve his judgement until he knew what
3843-403: Was the first substantial exposé of Burke's pro-corporate government—a collection of articles by himself and other Western Australian writers, including Hal Colebatch , Robert Bennett, Joseph Poprzeczny, John Hyde , Paul Nichols, Michael McKinley, Anthony Dale and Tom Herzfeld . The commission of three was headed by Geoffrey Kennedy and joined by Sir Ronald Wilson and Peter Brinsden , with
SECTION 60
#17327801933253906-399: Was working and what wasn't". In 2009 he spoke out against the inability of the government to provide adequate housing. As of early 2009, he continued to live near Yirrkala, fulfilling his role as a senior ceremonial leader and community elder . He still held numerous positions on committees and organisations where he was able to share his wide experience with other Australians and promote
3969-471: Was worth about $ 500 million. It was valued at $ 1 billion, but had $ 500 million in debt on the books. Packer was quoted as saying "You only get one Alan Bond in your lifetime, and I've had mine". In 1992, Bond was declared bankrupt after failing to repay a $ 194 million personal guarantee on a loan for a nickel -mining project. His debts reportedly totalled $ 1.8 billion at the time. He feigned brain damage to avoid answering questions during bankruptcy trials,
#324675