Terry Hampson

Interviewed by
Sue Yarrow
May 17 2011
Terry Hampson
Labor Party stalwart Terry Hampson (1935-2014) recalls his long history with the party, focusing on the events around the 1980 federal intervention in the state party. A founding member of the Socialist Left faction as well as a former party secretary, Hampson provides personal insights into the party and into political campaigning from the 1960s through to the 1990s.
Biography
Time Summary Keywords
00:00:17 Terry Hampson discusses his strong family roots in Labor, joining Young Labor in 1961 and then the main party after a meeting with Denis Murphy. Denis Murphy, Young Labor
00:01:54 Terry Hampson outlines the 1957 Labor Party split and the way that internal reactions were subsumed by wider concerns in the 1960s.  DLP
00:05:02 Terry Hampson notes the lessons that weren't learnt from the 1957 split, particularly in terms of managing conflict between the parliamentary party and Labor's rank and file. He discusses party president Jack Egerton. Jack Egerton
00:07:48 Terry Hampson recalls his early involvement with the Labor Party in the 1960s, including working on Reg O'Brien's and Kenny Turbot's campaigns.
00:10:09 Terry Hampson discusses the growing frustration of the Labor branches with the central executive's lack of leadership and representativeness, and the way that their resistance to change eventually led to the intervention. Denis Murphy, Manfred Cross
00:15:39 Terry Hampson describes his involvement with political activism during the 1960s, and the growing divide between the progressive branches and the conservative executive. Bill Hayden, George Georges, Peter Beattie, Springboks Rugby tour 1971, unions
00:21:16 Terry Hampson recalls the way that Queensland Labor's problems undermined the federal party's ability to win government.
00:23:26 Terry Hampson discusses the creation of the Reform Group within Labor that sought to modernise the party and its campaigns. Denis Murphy, Peter Beattie
00:25:13 Terry Hampson recalls the formulation of the Socialist Left faction, largely to drive reform within the party. factions, Joe Harris, unions, women
00:30:14 Terry Hampson describes the Trades Hall faction that dominated Labor until the creation of the Left faction, and the ongoing conflict over the admission of the AWU. Denis Murphy, factions, unions
00:32:44 Terry Hampson notes the growing antagonism between Labor branches and executive, and the disunity that continues to threaten the party.
00:34:27 Terry Hampson discusses Denis Murphy, his historical understanding of the party, and his desire for reform that brought him into conflict with the executive. Denis Murphy
00:37:16 Terry Hampson discusses Denis Murphy, the importance of his leadership and his influence in the party. Denis Murphy, Peter Beattie
00:41:13 Terry Hampson describes the Rockhampton conference, which brought the conflict within the party to a head and marked the emergence of women in Labor. Diane Butler, Harry Hauenschild, media, women
00:45:24 Terry Hampson recalls the expulsions of several party members as a major catalyst for the intervention, as well as the public conflict between state and federal Labor. He discusses the extended court case that followed the intervention. Bill Hayden, Denis Murphy, Manfred Cross, Peter Beattie
00:50:51 Terry Hampson discusses the main catalysts for the intervention, including Queensland Labor's ineffectiveness in combating the Bjelke-Petersen Government. He comments on the work done by key supporters of the administration to keep the party together. Clem Jones, Ed Casey
00:55:02 Terry Hampson describes the animosity between Labor's old and new guard in the early 1980s, with each faction maintaining its own administrations, and the possibility of another split. factions
00:57:29 Terry Hampson discusses the Wyndham Report and resultant reforms to federal Labor which prompted the intervention in the Queensland branch of the party, and the partisan support offered by the other state parties.
01:01:42 Terry Hampson describes the factions that emerged within Labor in the 1980s, including the Socialist Left, the Centre Left, the Old Guard and the New Guard. factions, unions
01:04:41 Terry Hampson recalls the alliance between the Socialist Left and AWU factions in 1986. factions, unions
01:06:20 Terry Hampson details taking up the position of  ALP state secretary in 1988, and the work done within the party, particularly by Peter Beattie, which enabled Labor to win the 1989 election. 1989 election, Peter Beattie, Wayne Swan
01:10:21 Terry Hampson outlines the way the post-intervention cohesion in the party allowed Labor to present itself as an alternative government, and the importance of their progressive policy. 1989 election, Wayne Goss, Wayne Swan
01:13:14 Terry Hampson discusses what he sees as the growing disconnect between the parliamentary party and the rest of Labor, and the risk that, as in the late 1970s, Labor is becoming less relevant. women
01:20:05 Terry Hampson discusses the support of the trade unions before and after the intervention, as well as the importance of Manfred Cross, and the tensions following the intervention. Denis Murphy, Manfred Cross, Peter Beattie, unions
01:27:56 Interview ends.
Position:
Other
Decade:
1970s, 1980s
Sound byte: 

Terry Hampson

Biography

Terry Hampson

Terry Hampson was a key figure in the 1980 reform of the Queensland Labor Party. Hampson served on the Brisbane City Council from 1994 to 2004.

Terry Hampson (1935-2014) grew up in Allora on the Darling Downs before coming to Brisbane to work, and joining the Australian Labor Party in 1965. He lived on Brisbane’s north side in the Petrie (federal) electorate and became a member of the Bald Hills branch of the Labor Party. The branch actively participated in many social protest movements including: environment movement; anti-uranium movement; Springboks demonstration; anti-Vietnam war protests; and support for civil liberties under the Bjelke-Petersen Government.

In this period the Queensland branch of the Labor Party was languishing in the polls and suffering from internal conflict. Hampson became involved in the efforts to reform the Queensland branch. He actively supported the formation of the early Socialist Left faction in Queensland in the late 1970s and the push for reform. Although they aligned to different factions, Terry remained a firm friend of Dr Denis Murphy, a history lecturer at the University of Queensland, and a close ally of Peter Beattie. Like Hampson, Murphy was an integral figure in the quest to reform the state Labor Party. Once the push for reform had been successfully prosecuted Hampson continued to be involved in the reformed branch. He became the Queensland State Secretary of the Labor Party in July 1988, a position he held until 1991. Through all these years, Hampson worked for the Brisbane City Council. In 1994 Hampson became the Councillor for the Brisbane Ward of Marchant until he retired in 2004.

Hampson is a member or board member of many Queensland organisations: Fraser Island Defenders Organisation; Chermside and District Historical Society; Mountains to Mangroves; Wilderness Society; Rainforest Conservation Society; Barcaldine Workers Heritage Centre; and the Australian Fabians.

In 2001, Hampson became a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his services towards conservation of the environment, particularly regarding the natural habitat of Fraser Island; and also his distinguished services to local government and politics in Queensland and the community. He was a life member of the Labor Party. He passed away on 22 September 2014.

Copyright © The Centre for the Government of Queensland, the University of Queensland, 2011.

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Sue Yarrow