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'{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2010}} {{Other persons|Bob Carr}} {{Infobox president | honorific-prefix = <small>[[The Honourable]]</small><br> | name =Bob Carr | image = Bobcarrholdingbookinlibrary.png | nationality =Australian | order =39th [[Premier of New South Wales]] | term_start =4 April 1995 | term_end =3 August 2005 | deputy =[[Andrew Refshauge]] | predecessor =[[John Fahey (politician)|John Fahey]] | successor =[[Morris Iemma]] | office2 = [[Leader of the Opposition (New South Wales)|Leader of the Opposition of New South Wales]] | term_start2 = 11 April 1988 | term_end2 = 4 April 1995 | predecessor2 = [[Nick Greiner]] | successor2 = [[Peter Collins (Australian politician)|Peter Collins]] | constituency2 = | majority2 = | constituency_MP3 = [[Electoral district of Maroubra|Maroubra]] | parliament3 = New South Wales | term_start3 = 22 October 1983 | term_end3 = 3 August 2005 | majority3 = | predecessor3 = [[William Haigh]] | successor3 = [[Michael Daley]] | office4 = | term_start4 = | term_end4 = | predecessor4 = | successor4 = | constituency4 = | majority4 = | birth_date ={{Birth date and age|1947|9|28|df=y}} | birth_place =[[Matraville, New South Wales|Matraville]], New South Wales | party =[[Australian Labor Party]] | spouse =[[Helena Carr]] | profession =Journalist}} '''Robert John "Bob" Carr''' (born 28 September 1947), Australian politician, was [[Premier of New South Wales]] from 4 April 1995 to 3 August 2005.<ref name=nsw/> He holds the record for the longest continuous service as premier of NSW. Only [[Henry Parkes|Sir Henry Parkes]] served longer, but held the office not continuously but on five separate occasions. ==Blog== His blog, including links to his articles and reviews of books and films can be found at http://bobcarrblog.wordpress.com/ ==Early life and career== Carr was born in the Sydney suburb of [[Matraville, New South Wales|Matraville]], to Edward and Phyllis Carr. He was educated at Matraville High School from which he graduated as dux in 1964.<ref name ="Timing ripe for graceful exit">{{cite news | first = David | last = Humphries | title = Timing ripe for graceful exit | url = | publisher = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | date = 28 July 2005 | accessdate = 7 September 2007 }}</ref> He was the first person in his family to finish high school, and became interested in a career in politics in his teenage years.<ref name ="Boxing on for the love of a dead-end job - Saturday Interview">{{cite news | first = Roger | last = Coombs | title = Boxing on for the love of a dead-end job – Saturday Interview | url = | publisher = [[The Daily Telegraph]] | date = 24 November 2004 | accessdate = 7 September 2007 }}</ref> While still a 15-year-old student at school, he joined the local branch of the [[Australian Labor Party]]. He would go on to become the President of the New South Wales branch and then the national President of [[Australian Young Labor|Young Labor]] in 1970 and 1972 respectively.<ref name ="A Bra' Boy">{{cite news | first = | last = | title = A Bra' Boy | url = | publisher = [[The Canberra Times]] | date = 30 July 2005 | accessdate = 7 September 2007 }}</ref> He completed his tertiary education at the [[University of New South Wales]], from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with honours in history. After graduation, Carr worked as a journalist for the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] Radio's ''[[AM (ABC Radio)|AM]] '' and ''[[PM (ABC Radio)|PM]]'' current affair programs from 1969 to 1971. He was also a reporter on [[industrial relations]] and politics for ''[[The Bulletin]]'' magazine from 1978 to 1983.<ref name="A Bra' Boy"/> He later recalled that his work as a journalist provided good preparation for his political career.<ref name="Boxing on for the love of a dead-end job - Saturday Interview"/> He also spent a period working as an education officer for the [[Labor Council of New South Wales]] (1972–78).<ref name="A Bra' Boy"/> In 1972, Carr met the [[Malaysia]]n economics student, Helena on a vacation in [[Tahiti]], and they married on 24 February 1973. [[Helena Carr]] became a successful businesswoman; while she provided strong personal support, Helena largely remained out of the political spotlight during her husband's career.<ref name ="Major supporting act">{{cite news | first = | last = | title = Major supporting act | url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/major-supporting-act/2005/07/29/1122144024636.html | publisher = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | date = 30 July 2005 | accessdate = 7 September 2007 }}</ref> ==Entry into politics== Carr entered the [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly]] at a [[by-election]] in October 1983 as the member for [[electoral district of Maroubra|Maroubra]], representing the [[Australian Labor Party]].<ref name=nsw>{{cite web | title =The Hon. (Bob) Robert John Carr (1947 – ) | work =Members of Parliament | publisher =[[Parliament of New South Wales]] | url =http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/members.nsf/1fb6ebed995667c2ca256ea100825164/41bee69c23651b434a25674500016550?OpenDocument | accessdate = 8 February 2010 }}</ref> In December 1984 he was appointed Minister for [[New South Wales Department of Planning|Planning]] and the [[Department of Environment and Climate Change (New South Wales)|Environment]] in the [[Neville Wran]] government. In February 1986 he also took on the Consumer Affairs portfolio, which he held until he became Minister for Heritage in July 1986 when [[Barrie Unsworth]] became premier.<ref name ="The Carr Horizons">{{cite news | first = Shaun | last = Carney | title = The Carr Horizons | url = | publisher = [[The Age]] | date = 28 July 2005 | accessdate = 7 September 2007 }}</ref> [[Image:BobandQVB.png|thumb|380px|right|Carr as activist Planning Minister 1985 with conserved Queen Victoria Building.]] ==Leader of the opposition== The [[Barrie Unsworth|Unsworth]] Labor government was defeated in a landslide in [[New South Wales state election, 1988|March 1988]], in the context of a 'time for a change' sentiment after 12 years of Labor. Carr was interested in [[international relations]], and his long-term ambition was to enter federal politics and become [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)|Minister for Foreign Affairs]].<ref name ="The bald ambition that led to Labor dynasty - BOB CARR: HIS LEGACY">{{cite news | first = Malcolm | last = Farr | title = The bald ambition that led to Labor dynasty – Bob Carr: His Legacy | url = | publisher = [[The Daily Telegraph]] | date = 28 July 2005 | accessdate = 7 September 2007 }}</ref> However, following the election Carr was pressured by his own Right [[Political faction|faction]] to stand for the leadership. Further, the party organisation did not want [[Laurie Brereton]] as leader; he would go on to represent the federal seat of [[Division of Kingsford Smith|Kingsford Smith]], which Carr viewed as his path to federal politics. Thus Carr reluctantly agreed to become Leader of the Opposition.<ref name="Timing ripe for graceful exit"/> His diary entries from the time reveal his thoughts. <blockquote>I spent today like a doomed man, taking phone calls and drafting a statement, still saying to the press I wasn't shifting. I feel a jolt in my stomach about what I'm getting myself in for. I will destroy my career in four years. Everything's altered. It's my fate ... So, for better or for worse, I become leader of the party next week.<ref>{{cite news | last =Stephens | first =Tony | title =A 'solid chapter' comes to an end | publisher =[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | date =28 July 2005 | url =http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/a-solid-chapter-comes-to-an-end/2005/07/27/1122143905010.html | accessdate = }}</ref></blockquote> Despite his misgivings, Carr's performance as Opposition Leader gained approval in the party as he approached his task seriously.<ref name ="The bald ambition that led to Labor dynasty - BOB CARR: HIS LEGACY"/> He maintained a disciplined message, attacking [[Nick Greiner]]'s coalition government for waste and mismanagement while releasing his own costed policies to present Labor as an alternative government.<ref name ="The fine art of opposition">{{cite news | first = Nick | last = Richardson | title = The fine art of opposition | url = | publisher = [[The Herald Sun]] | date = 29 July 2005 | accessdate = 7 September 2007 }}</ref> Polling in the lead-up to the [[New South Wales state election, 1991|1991 election]] suggested another heavy defeat, yet Labor performed strongly and won back all but one of the seats lost at the previous election, and Greiner was forced to lead a [[minority government]] with the support of independents.<ref name ="Timing ripe for graceful exit"/> In 1992 Greiner resigned following adverse findings against him from the [[Independent Commission Against Corruption (New South Wales)|Independent Commission Against Corruption]]. [[John Fahey (politician)|John Fahey]] replaced him as premier, but was hampered by his need to negotiate with independents.<ref name ="The Carr Horizons"/> Carr ran a focused campaign in the [[New South Wales state election, 1995|1995 election]] and won government with a majority of one seat.<ref name ="The legacy of an accidental premier">{{cite news | first = | last = | title = The legacy of an accidental premier | url = | publisher = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | date = 28 July 2005 | accessdate = 7 September 2007 }}</ref> ==Premier of New South Wales== In 1995 he became Premier at another close election. He was to win big majorities in both [[New South Wales state election, 1999|1999]] and [[New South Wales state election, 2003|2003]].<ref>{{cite news | last = Mitchell | first = Alex | title = Labor win hands Carr his third term | work = [[The Sunday Age]] | date = 23 March 2003 | page = 13 | url = http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/03/22/1047749989634.html | accessdate = 11 February 2009 | location=Melbourne}}</ref> [[Image:Boband03swearingin.png|thumb|420px|left|2003 Swearing-in Ceremony for the Carr Ministry.]] His centrist, cautious government was characterised by conservative financial management<ref name ="Yes">Clune, David (2005). "Bob Carr: The unexpected colossus". In Wanna, John; & Williams, Paul (Eds.), Yes, Premier – Labor Leadership in Australia's States and Territories, p. 53. UNSW Press</ref> and the encouragement of market forces, and a "[[tough on crime]]" policy. It was also seen as having a strong pro-environment character and being committed to curriculum rigour, testing and literacy initiatives in schools. Carr ventured into national policy issues, particularly issues concerning the environment, population growth, embryonic stem cell research, Federal-State relations and support for a minimalist model of an Australian Republic. ===Nature Conservation=== Nature conservation emerged as a high priority early in the life of the Carr government. It quickly banned canal estates because of the impact on the quality of river systems. The government implemented a key election promise to save the South East forests that straddle the coastal range from Batemans Bay to the Victorian border. These had been slated for logging when the state government was elected. Carr’s election policy had included a commitment to protect 90,000 hectares in a string of new national parks. He exceeded the promise, gazetting 120,000 hectares. He later argued that this action had “saved the magnificent Myamba Gorge, the upper Towamba River and the ancient towering forests of the Coolangubra and Tantawangalo, crammed with their gliders, bandicoots and owls”.<ref name="Carr">{{cite news | last = Carr | first = Bob | title = Logging River Red Gums is Vandalism | work = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | date = 27 July 2009 | page = | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> The initiative was supported by a $6 million dollar restructuring package to build a modern mill and a 20 year guarantee of alternative timber to keep it busy. [[Image:Bobbushwalkingblackandwhite.png|thumb|420px|right|Bob Carr in his first year as Premier, hiking the Kowmung river with legendary conservationist Milo Dunphy.]] Followng the 1999 state election Carr declared 100 new national parks between Nowra and the Bega Valley.<ref name="Carr"/> Before leaving office Carr stopped logging in the Brigalow belt, in the Pilliga region north of Coonabarabran. This intervention saved “semi-arid woodland of ironbark and Cypress pine, its Malleefowl and Barking Owl, and providing the chance to recharge the reserves of the Great Artesian Basin”.<ref name="Carr"/> Negotiations to restructure the mills in the Brigalow Belt were painstaking but successful. Carr claimed in 2009 that “rural towns did not ‘die’ as a result of these conservation measures. The old timber towns now boast communities with a strong economic base, world-class national parks on their doorstep and thriving nature-based tourism”.<ref name="Carr"/> In its first term the government banned the removal of old-growth vegetation from farmlands and introduced pricing for rural water and an environmental allocation to the state’s river systems. Both initiatives proved controversial in pitching farmers and the state government in conflict. In June 2001 Carr banned jet ski’s from Sydney Harbor. “You wouldn’t allow motor bikes in the Botanic Gardens” he said.<ref>{{cite news | last = Dodkin | first = Marilyn | title = Bob Carr: The Reluctant Leader | work = | date = 2003 | page = 217 | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> Two other decisions on forest won the support of the NSW conservation movement. In 2003 the government saved the so called forest icons, now regarded as jewels in the reserve system in north-eastern NSW. They included, in Carr’s own words, “the old growth forest at Chaelundi where historic conservation battles had been fought a decade previously; nationally significant biodiversity hotspots at Whian; and the largest koala population on the east coast on SNW at Pine Creek near Coffs Harbour".<ref name="Carr"/> The curbs on the clearing of nature vegetation were counted as a serious anti-greenhouse gas measure, helping Australia achieve its Kyoto targets. In addition, in January 2003 the Carr government launched the world’s first greenhouse gas trading scheme, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme, which set a limit on carbon emissions by electricity retailers. It was listed by the World Bank as the world’s first carbon trading scheme. In 2004 the government created the building sustainability index which set up energy and water reduction targets that all new houses had to meet.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite news | last = | first = | title = Major Reforms of the Carr Government | work = Premiers Office | date = Unknown 2006 | page = | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> It mandated reductions in energy and water use of up to 40 percent in every new dwelling. Pursuing environmentalism and education improvement gave Carr a lot of satisfaction. He noted in his diary for April 21, 1997: <blockquote>Yesterday our school reforms were announced. All the ideas I’d formulated in Opposition. Four-unit English for the HSC. Compulsory exams at the end of Year 10. Soft options gone… I mark the package with forestry. I could leave politics and be satisfied with my achievements.<ref name="ReferenceA"/></blockquote> ===State Debt and Infrastructure=== During Carr’s 10 years as Premier net debt was reduced from 7.4 percent of gross state product to zero. Carr claimed his government was the first in the state’s history to reduce debt rather than add to it. But, he argued, investment in infrastructure was running at record levels during his years in office. He argued that in 10 Carr budgets he allocated $61 billion to new infrastructure and $10 billion to debt retirement.<ref>{{cite news | last = Carr | first = Bob | title = Letters | work = The Australian Financial Review | date = 8 June 2006 | page = | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> Carr said public investment was running in real terms adjusted for inflation at 33 percent higher than the average for the 1990s and 66 percent higher than the average for the 1980s. He quoted as examples the $2 billion spend on the new Epping-Chatswood rail link, the $1.5 billion rail clearways plan and the $490 million on 140 Millennium trains plus 440 million on other rolling stock. He also instanced the new bus transit ways such as the $346 million transit way from Liverpool to Parramatta that provides express way conditions to bus travelers in Sydney’s west. He boasted of $3.7 billion on 27 major hospital projects from Broken Hill to Wyong. He particularly instanced the new St Vincent’s, the new sections of Royal Prince Alfred and the new Canturbury Hospital. He referred to the rebuilding of the Conservatorium of Music and the new Sydney Theatre in Hickson Road.<ref>{{cite news | last = Carr | first = Bob | title = Letters | work = The Australian Financial Review | date = 8 June 2006 | page = | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> [[Image:BobinMoircartoon.png|thumb|420px|left|Cartoon by Alan Moir, illustrating the Carr government tort reforms.]] ===Tort Reform=== In its second term the Carr government embarked on tort law reform that ultimately won Carr a description from Forbes magazine as “a giant slayer”. In 1999 with the cost of greens slips (compulsory third party motor accident insurance) increasing Carr gave his Minister John Della Bosca the task of reform. It resulted in what the government would call ‘legal rorts’ being stripped from the system. The average price of a green slip was to drop $150 on 1999 prices. Carr was to argue that this created a template for what he called ”the most comprehensive tort reform that any government has developed, moving from motor accident to medical indemnity, public liability and worker’s compensation. Carr argued “…this taught law reform was the best microeconomic reform out of any state government in a decade. It cut the cost of doing business and fed directly into productivity improvement, not at the expense of workers but at the expense of the plaintiff lawyers who had fed on a culture of rorts and rip-offs”.<ref>{{cite news | last = Carr | first = Bob | title = As You Give Della A Kick Remember His Success | work = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | date = 2 September 2009 | page = | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> Carr noted in his diary: <blockquote> I have cost the law profession hundreds of millions. First, freeing business conveyancing from the lawyers’ monopoly in 1995. [Then] the reforming of accident compensation (cost them hundreds of millions alone) in 1999. Now cutting them out of the action on workers comp. It’s not worth being Premier unless you can take privileges off the undeserving.<ref name="Dodkin, Marilyn p 213">Dodkin, Marilyn. "Bob Carr: The Reluctant Leader", p 213, (2003)</ref></blockquote> ===Drug Laws=== As a result of the 1999 drug summit sponsored by the government the Carr cabinet introduced Australia’s first medically supervised injecting room for heroin users, located in King’s Cross. The government argued it would provide “a pathway to rehabilitation”. The government argued it was a harm minimization measure to keep drug users alive until they make the decision to get off drugs. Other reforms included the introduction of drug courts and a voluntary diversion program that allows magistrates to refer offenders to treatment rather than lock them up.<ref>{{cite news | last = Carr | first = Bob | title = As You Give Della A Kick Remember His Success | work = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | date = 2 September 2009 | page = | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> ===Police Reform=== The Carr-led Opposition had backed a motion by independent [[John Hatton]] in May 1994 to establish a Royal Commission into corruption in the NSW Police. As a result, Carr inherited the work of the Royal Commission and its reports. In November 1996 one of the reports recommended that the government give increased power to the Police Commissioner to hire and fire all staff, random drug and alcohol testing of all police officers, the formation of the police detection commission to detect and audit police corruption. But the recommendations sparked strong objection from the Police Association backed by the Labor Council and demonstrations at parliament house by 1500 police. There was a revolt in Carr’s parliamentary party.<ref name="Dodkin, Marilyn p 213"/> The Premier was adamant that the commissioner must have the increased power if the police force were to be rid of corrupt or compromised officers. The legislation was passed. The ''Sydney Morning Herald'' stated in an editorial that Carr had shown “a steely courage in resisting the pressure of the police association" <ref name="Dodkin, Marilyn p 213"/> ===Private Public Partnership=== The Carr Government pioneered private public partnerships to fund additional infrastructure, creating a model followed in other states. Five new projects delivered Sydney a ring road system: * M5 Extension * Eastern Distributor * M7 Westlink * Lanecove Tunnel * Cross City Tunnel As a result an hour was slashed from travel times on a north-south journey in Sydney’s West using the 42 kilometers of M7 Westlink. Motorists could get from the northern suburbs to the Victorian border without a single set of traffic lights. The Cross City Tunnel eliminated 18 traffic lights on an East-West journey under the city and reduced the journey time by 20 minutes. These roads had a total value $5.4 billion. All but $800 million was contributed by the private sector. In 2007 Infrastructure Partnerships Australia awarded three projects began under Carr’s Premiership as the best PPP’s in Australia. They were the Westlink M7 opened in late 2005; school construction and maintenance which the Auditor General said had saved tax payers $55 million; the maintenance of 626 new rail carriages, the largest procurement of trains in Australian history.<ref>Media Release "NSW Schools Project the Nations Best Infrastructure Project" [[Infrastructure Partnerships Australia]] February 23, 2007</ref> Carr argued that the victory of his successor Morris Iemma (who was re-elected with a big majority in March 2007) came about because of this infrastructure spending. Writing in the ''Australian Financial Review'' on March 27, 2007 he observed that [[Barry Collier]], the member for Miranda, had cited $500 million in infrastructure spending in his electorate including the rebuilding of Sutherland Hospital and the construction of Bangor Bypass and Woronora Bridge. Carr also pointed out that [[Steve Whan]], the member for Monara, had referred to the $60 million rebuilding of Queanbeyan hospital. In Parramatta, he argued, a new rail-bus interchange worth $100 million was a dramatic demonstration of the local member’s capacity to deliver.<ref>{{cite news | last = Carr | first = Bob | title = | work = [[The Australian Financial Review]] | date = March 27, 2007 | page = | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> ===Government House=== A year after his appointment as premier, Carr caused controversy when he recommended that the newly appointed [[Governors of New South Wales|New South Wales Governor]], [[Gordon Samuels]], not live at [[Government House, Sydney|Government House]], which would become a museum open to the public. This decision was seen by monarchists as an attempt by Carr, a republican, to downgrade the importance of the office of Governor. [[Image:Bobandqe2athomebush.png|thumb|300px|left|Showing Queen Elizabeth the completed Olympic Stadium, Homebush Bay.]] ===2000 Olympics=== Carr’s Government was responsible for the building of facilities and the conduct of the 2000 Olympic Games, described by the International Olympic Committee as 'the best ever!'. Carr was to boast that the 2000 Olympics were paid in full without a cent in debt.<ref>{{cite news | last = Carr | first = Bob | title = Letters | work = The Australian Financial Review | date = 8 June 2006 | page = | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> ==Legacy== After ten years as Premier, Carr announced his resignation both as Premier and as the Member for Maroubra on 27 July 2005 to be effective from 3 August. This immediately prompted speculation that the resignation was a prelude to a move into federal politics, but Carr denied this. His successor as Premier was former Health Minister [[Morris Iemma]]. Carr's resignation triggered the resignations of Deputy Premier [[Andrew Refshauge]] and Planning Minister [[Craig Knowles]]. Retired Premier [[Neville Wran]] described Carr as "the very model of a modern Labor premier, an articulate and powerful public performer who identified himself with the contemporary policy issues of education and the environment." Wran noted that the Carr model became a template for other Australian Labor Party leaders, with some regarding him as a mentor.<ref name="theage.com.au">{{cite news| url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/editorial/closing-a-big-chapter-in-the-bob-carr-story/2005/07/27/1122143904728.html | location=Melbourne | work=The Age | title=Closing a big chapter in the Bob Carr story | date=28 July 2005}}</ref> Under Carr the NSW government was able to boast that while in 1994 there were 328 national parks covering four million hectares of NSW, Carr’s policies meant 770 national parks covering 6.6 million hectares by 2006. Wilderness protection was expanded: there were 650,000 hectares in 1994, by 2006 nearly two million hectares. The North Side Sewage Tunnel, funded by the government in its first term, stopped more than 20 billion litres of sewage reaching Sydney harbour and saw whales and dolphins return to it. The government also built pollution traps to capture litter and rubbish that would have otherwise been flushed with storm water onto Sydney beaches. In 1994, before the election of the government, 430 kilograms of waste was being generated by every Sydney resident each year, and only 60 kilograms being recycled. Reforms to the waste industry saw a 28 percent reduction to 310 kilograms per person and a 65 percent increase in recycling to 102 kilograms per person.<ref>"Labor's Environmental Record, then and now" Publication of the NSW Environment Minister (unknown 2006)</ref> Media commentary following Carr's retirement noted that his achievements included improvements to education standards and literacy rates. Writing in the Australian Financial Review in March 2007 Carr quoted one school Principal Jenny Allum on SCEGGS Darlinghurst “I know of no national test in which NSW students are not at the top"<ref>{{cite news | last = Carr | first = Bob | title = | work = [[The Australian Financial Review]] | date = March 27, 2007 | page = | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> He received credit for the increase in the number and size of the State's national parks.<ref name ="The legacy of an accidental premier"/> Less positive comment was received about rail transport which recorded a period of poor on-time running and a damaging industrial dispute in 2004.<ref name ="The legacy of an accidental premier"/> ==Literature== [[Image:Bobandgorevidal.png|thumb|360px|right|Bob Carr and Gore Vidal at Ravello.]] {{multiple image | direction = vertical | align = left | width = 170 | footer = Books by Bob Carr | image1 = Thoughtlines.png | image2 = Myreadinglife.png | image3 = Whataustraliameanstome.png }} Bob Carr is the author of several books, including ''Thoughtlines'' (Viking, 2002) and ''My Reading Life'' (Penguin, 2008). He is a charter member of the [[Chester A. Arthur]] Society, a U.S. political trivia group named after the U.S. president, 1881-1885. In May 2003, a biography by [[Marilyn Dodkin]], ''Bob Carr: the reluctant leader'', was published. It was partly based on Carr's private diaries and included his often uncomplimentary thoughts on various political personalities.{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} A second biography, ''Bob Carr: A Self-Made Man'', by Andrew West and Rachel Morris, was published in September 2003 by [[Harper Collins]]. Carr appeared on stage at the 2004 [[Sydney Festival]] in conversation with Sir [[Tom Stoppard]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} and has associated with other writers including Gore Vidal and Norman Mailer. ==After politics== Since leaving parliament Bob Carr has heavily involved himself in public debate. He championed embryonic stem cell research and helped persuade his successor not to retreat from support for the polling he had promoted in government. Writing in The Telegraph on August 24, 2006 he argued, “Stem cell research enjoys great public support. Let the doctors and scientists get on with the job. Their research might save a life in your family or mine”.<ref>{{cite news | last = Carr | first = Bob | title = | work = [[The Daily Telegraph]] | date = August 24, 2006 | page = | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> Urging support for somatic cell nuclear transfer (or therapeutic cloning) he wrote in The Sydney Morning Herald on July 25, 2006: <blockquote>There is an air of unreality about the rejection by the Prime Minister, John Howard, of the Lockhart review, which recommended the go-ahead for one form of stem cell treatment, called somatic cell nuclear transfer (or therapeutic cloning), leaving it to the states to ponder whether they can validly legislate on their own. A century from now, people will consider this bewildering, especially when the embryos are byproducts of IVF treatment and if not used in research get thrown out in plastic bags of hospital waste.<ref>{{cite news | last = Carr | first = Bob | title = Age-old objections must not be allowed to delay this revolution | work = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | date = July 25, 2006 | page = | url = | accessdate = }}</ref></blockquote> He continued to champion nature conservation for example by advocating generous national park declarations over the River Red Gums. The river red gums are “Australian icons, part of our folklore, symbols of inland Australia” he wrote in an op-ed in The Sydney Morning Herald in July 2009.<ref>{{cite news | last = Carr | first = Bob | title = Logging River Red Gums is Vandalism | work = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | date = July 23, 2009 | page = | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> He was described by The Australian’s Paul Kelly as Australia’s leading opponent of a charter of rights. When the federal government accepted Carr’s argument against a charter Carr wrote in The Australian that, “If the public believed the executive arm of government were stifling freedoms, Australia slipping behind other democracies, there would have been a decided shove towards a human rights act”. He continued “Instead…it sunk below the water, not leaving a slick of printer’s ink”.<ref>{{cite news | last = Carr | first = Bob | title = Three Cheers That We Won't Have a Charter of Rights | work = [[The Australian]] | date = April 22, 2010 | page = | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> Pursuing the interest in literacy he urged an opening of the Australian book market to permit the import of cheaper books.<ref>{{cite news | last = Carr | first = Bob | title = Consumers Will Force Books Rethink | work = [[The Australian]] | date = November 14, 2009 | page = | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> The rise in the annual immigration intake brought Carr into the debate on what he calls 'Australia’s carrying capacity'. Wrote Mathew Moore in The Sydney Morning Herald “For more than two decades Bob Carr has been warning Australians against unchecked population growth, cautioning that the fragile soils and erratic rivers of the world’s oldest continent make it highly vulnerable to the pressures imposed by every extra resident”.<ref>{{cite news | last = Moore | first = Matthew | title = The Big Country Takes A Lean Turn | work = [[The Australian]] | date = April 4, 2010 | page = | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> Carr has argued that “The debate is about whether immigration should be running at very high levels. It’s about whether we end up with a population of 36 million in 2050 in contrast to the previous expectation of 28.5 million".<ref>{{cite news | last = Carr | first = Bob | title = Why Our Cities Will Really Choke With Population Growth | work = [[Crikey]] | date = April 1, 2010 | page = | url = | accessdate = http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/04/01/bob-carr-why-our-cities-will-really-choke-with-population-growth/}}</ref> During the 2010 Federal election, both sides of politics appeared to accept Carr's arguments. Carr took up the issue of obesity and argued that chain restaurants should be forced by law to put calorie measurements next to menu items, that trans fats be banned as in some US states and food manufacturers be made to reduce salt content.<ref>{{cite news | last = Carr | first = Bob | title = Follow US lead and count the cost of calories | work = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | date = March 27, 2010 | page = | url = | accessdate = }}</ref> The NSW Premier Kristina Keneally appeared to accept his case with an announcement of a State government initiative on food labeling in May 2010.<ref>{{cite news | last = Premier | first = Keneally | title = NSW advocates for national approach on calorie/kilojoules labelling for Australian fast food chains | work = [[Media Release]] | date = May 26, 2010 | page = | url = | accessdate = http://www.premier.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/100526-Calorie-Kilojoule-Intake.pdf }}</ref> In retirement Carr has made speeches at international conference on climate change, Australia-China relations and multiculturalism. He interviewed American novelist Gore Vidal at the Shanghai and Hong Kong writer’s festivals in 2007 and Simon Sebag Montefiorre, the biographer of Stalin, at Sydney Writers Week in 2008. In October 2005 Carr became a part-time consultant for [[Macquarie Bank]], Australia's largest investment bank, advising the company on policy, climate change, renewables and strategic issues with a focus on the United States, the People's Republic of China.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.macquarie.com.au/au/about_macquarie/media_centre/20051010a.htm |title=The Hon. Bob Carr joins Macquarie Bank as part-time consultant |author= |work=Macquarie Bank website |date= |accessdate=24 April 2008}}</ref> Carr continued pursuing his literary interests, interviewing authors and lecturing regularly at the [[Sydney Writers' Festival]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.swf.org.au/component/option,com_events/task,view_detail/agid,187/year,2008/month,05/day,23/Itemid,192/ |title=Sydney Writers' Festival Program |author= |work=Sydney Writers' Festival website |date= |accessdate=24 April 2008}}</ref> He appeared as a guest reporter for the ABC television show ''[[Foreign Correspondent (TV program)|Foreign Correspondent]]'', conducting an interview with friend [[Gore Vidal]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2006/s1567148.htm |title=Hollywood & Politics: An Encounter with Gore Vidal |author= |work=Foreign Correspondent website |date= |accessdate=24 April 2008}}</ref> In 2008 he attended the [[Australia 2020 Summit]] as part of the economy panel, and raised the issues of an [[Republicanism in Australia|Australian Republic]] and childhood obesity.<ref name ="Carr's warning to 2020 'zealots'">{{cite news | first = | last = | title = Carr's warning to 2020 'zealots' | url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/18/2220960.htm | publisher = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] | date = 18 February 2008 | accessdate = 24 April 2008 }}</ref> He has been serving on the board of book retailer [[Dymocks]] since July, 2007 and the board of directors at the [[United States Studies Centre]] since 2009. In 2010 he was appointed Patron of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Foundation and Patron of the Chifley home, Bathurst. ==Awards== [[Image:Bobandbillclinton.png|thumb|220px|right|Bob Carr welcoming President Bill Clinton to Sydney in 1996.]] His work on US-Australia relations has been recognized with the Fulbright Distinguished Fellow Award Scholarship. He donated the prize money to launch scholarships for the State's teachers to complete studies abroad. His services to conservation have been recognised with a World Conservation Union International Parks Merit Award and Life Membership in the Wilderness Society. In 2008 he was award the Cavliere di Gran Croce, or Grand Knight Cross, in recognition of his services to Italian culture. ==Notes== {{Reflist}} ==Further reading== * {{Cite book|last=Dodkin|first=Marilyn|authorlink=Marilyn Dodkin|year=2003|title=Bob Carr: The Reluctant Leader|publisher=UNSW Press|isbn=0-86840-757-7}} * {{Cite book|last=West|first=Andrew|authorlink=Andrew West (Australian journalist)|year=2003|title=Bob Carr: A Self-made Man |publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=0-73227-750-7}} *{{Cite book |last1=Clune |first1=David |authorlink1=David Clune |editor1-first=John |editor1-last=Wanna |editor2-first=Paul |editor2-last=Williams |title=Yes, Premier: Labor Leadership in Australia's States and Territories. |edition=First |year=2005 |publisher=UNSW Press |location=Sydney |isbn=0-86840-840-9 |chapter=Bob Carr: The unexpected Colossus}} *Bob Carr '''"Thoughtlines''''''"''' 2002 publisher Penguin Books ISBN 0-670-04025-8 {{S-start}} {{s-par|au-nsw}} {{Succession box| title=[[Electoral district of Maroubra|Member for Maroubra]] | before=[[William Haigh]] | after=[[Michael Daley]] | years=1983–2005}} {{S-off}} {{Succession box| title=[[Premier of New South Wales]]| before=[[John Fahey (politician)|John Fahey]]| after=[[Morris Iemma]]| years=1995–2005| }} {{s-ppo}} {{S-bef|before= [[Barrie Unsworth]] }} {{s-ttl|title=[[Leader of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales]]|years=1988–2005}} {{S-aft|after= [[Morris Iemma]] }} {{S-end}} {{NewSouthWalesPremiers}} <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] --> {{Persondata |NAME=Carr, Robert John |ALTERNATIVE NAMES= |SHORT DESCRIPTION=Australian politician and [[Premier of New South Wales]] |DATE OF BIRTH= 28 September 1947 |PLACE OF BIRTH= [[Matraville, New South Wales|Matraville]], New South Wales |DATE OF DEATH= |PLACE OF DEATH= }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Carr, Bob}} [[Category:1947 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Australian Labor Party politicians]] [[Category:Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly]] [[Category:People from Sydney]] [[Category:Premiers of New South Wales]] [[Category:University of New South Wales alumni]] [[fr:Bob Carr]] [[zh:鲍勃·卡尔]]'