Jeffrey Kennett (b. 1948) was premier of Victoria from 1992 to 1999. He entered politics from a career in advertising, winning the state seat of Burwood for the Liberal Party in 1976. He led the opposition from 1982 to 1989, surviving four challenges, and regained the leadership in 1992 when the Liberals won with an overwhelming majority. His premiership began amidst union and community protests, but Kennett maintained his commitment to rejuvenation of the inner city and a program of cuts to public spending and incentives to business. Projects such as the $1.8 billion CityLink tollway, the huge exhibition centre known as 'Jeff's Shed' and the Docklands refurbishment generated the regional and rural disaffection that led to the Government's election loss in September 1999. Kennett has since edited a volume of poems for dog lovers, and briefly hosted a Melbourne drivetime radio show.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002
© Hugh Stewart
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