PETER IAN NOLAN
UNION OFFICIAL
14-6-1934 24-7-2012
PETER Nolan, the secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions in 1979, was in the running to succeed Bob Hawke as president. But he received an acutely embarrassing and unnerving accolade.
After he skilfully negotiated a resolution that pulled the country back from serious industrial disruption, then prime minister Malcolm Fraser said it was a delight to work with him after the abrasiveness of Hawke he said Nolan would be his choice for the next ACTU president.
Nolan, who has died of heart failure at home in Paynesville in Gippsland, aged 78, was entrusted with positions that required a broad view of the world, including with Telstra, the Reserve Bank, the International Labour Organisation, Australia-Japan Foundation, the Bicentennial Authority and the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission.
On Nolan's appointment to the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission, Bryan Noakes, representing employers, said: "He had earned the respect and confidence of all employers he had dealt with, while at the same time not abandoning or compromising the ideals in which he believes."
Bill Kelty, who succeeded Nolan as ACTU secretary, said his ability to compromise and rationalise helped lay "the basis for which a trade union movement could look to the next generation".
Nolan was born in Brisbane, the fourth son of a linotype mechanic, Charles Nolan, and his wife, Thelma (nee Sexton). He attended Ascot State School but left aged about 15 to take up a printing apprenticeship. He joined the Printing and Kindred Industries Union and, while on a holiday in Hobart, took a job on The Mercury newspaper.
In 1958, he married an accounts clerk, Jan Gregory, and by age 25 Nolan was father of the chapel at The Mercury. He then left the paper and became Tasmanian branch secretary of the PKIU. He declined an invitation to stand for the Senate.
Then came an embarrassing quirk of fate. Very busy with his new job, he forgot to pay his union dues and, rules being rules, was out of a job. Moving to Melbourne, he came to the attention of the Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary, Ken Stone, who in 1970 gave him a job as a research officer. He became part of a successful campaign for long service leave for building workers.
In 1971, Nolan became the ACTU's assistant secretary, and in 1975 first assistant secretary. He was a strong supporter of trade union training and helped to establish Clyde Cameron College in Albury-Wodonga. However, the pressure of his work affected his marriage he and Jan separated and divorced.
In 1977, Nolan succeeded Harold Souter as ACTU secretary. He described himself as left of centre, but added: "I don't see myself as a great radical."
A strong supporter of Hawke, Nolan was a junior vice-president of the Victorian ALP but there were too many demands on his time and he stepped down from the political job. In 1979, he married Sophie Neef, a production co-ordinator with Crawford Productions. That year, he had to steer the ACTU ship through a period of industrial turmoil, in the absence of Hawke, and had to negotiate directly with Fraser.
After intense closed-door negotiations, he announced that a blockade of goods to Western Australia and a proposal to ban exports from that state were off.
Nolan's career with the ACTU was not plain sailing, either externally or internally. In 1982, renovation of the ACTU's headquarters in Melbourne went way over budget and, though there was no criticism of him, he resigned and conceded that overspending had been a factor. The Victorian Labor government immediately offered him a job as an industrial relations adviser and personal adviser to the Victorian minister for labour and industry, Bill Landeryou.
In 1984, the Hawke government appointed Nolan to the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission, a position he held until 1997, when he retired. He moved with his wife to East Gippsland where, among other things, he became secretary of the Lions Club. In that capacity, he drove firefighters during the bushfires of 2006.
In retirement his interests included playing the trumpet, fishing, and doing The Age crosswords each day religiously. "I knew he was sick the day he stopped doing the crosswords," his wife, Sophie, said.
Nolan is survived by Sophie, his children from his first marriage, Mark, Kinta and Peta Jan, and five grandchildren.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Who was Peter Nolan and why is he important to investors watching Australian industrial relations?
Peter Nolan was a long‑time Australian union leader who served as ACTU secretary (1977–1982) and later as a commissioner on the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission (1984–1997). His skill at negotiating industrial disputes and shaping workplace policy mattered to businesses and markets because labour rulings and bargaining outcomes influence company costs, supply chains and investor risk.
What high‑profile appointments did Peter Nolan hold (Telstra, Reserve Bank, ILO) that matter to corporate governance and investors?
The article says Nolan was entrusted with a range of appointments requiring a broad outlook, including roles with Telstra, the Reserve Bank, the International Labour Organisation, the Australia‑Japan Foundation, the Bicentennial Authority and the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission. Those appointments signalled he was a trusted figure in forums that touch on public policy, corporate governance and labour standards — areas that can affect business conditions and investor confidence.
How did Peter Nolan handle the industrial turmoil of 1979 and why should investors care about that episode?
In 1979 Nolan steered the ACTU through a period of industrial turmoil in the absence of Bob Hawke. After closed‑door negotiations with then prime minister Malcolm Fraser he announced that planned blockades and export bans affecting Western Australia were off, averting major disruption. For investors, that kind of dispute resolution matters because it reduces the risk of supply interruptions, trade shocks and sudden costs to companies.
Why did Peter Nolan resign as ACTU secretary in 1982, and what was the immediate outcome for his career?
Nolan resigned in 1982 after an over‑budget renovation of the ACTU headquarters; he conceded overspending had been a factor. Immediately afterwards the Victorian Labor government offered him a role as industrial relations adviser and personal adviser to the Victorian minister for labour and industry, Bill Landeryou, keeping him active in public policy.
When did Nolan serve on the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission and what does that role mean for investors?
Nolan was appointed to the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission in 1984 and served until his retirement in 1997. Commissioners help resolve industrial disputes and shape wage and employment rulings — decisions that can affect labour costs, productivity and the operating environment for companies, all of which are relevant to investors assessing sector and company risk.
What was Peter Nolan’s leadership reputation with employers and unions?
Nolan was widely respected for his ability to compromise and rationalise. Employers’ representative Bryan Noakes said Nolan earned the respect and confidence of employers while remaining true to his principles. Bill Kelty, who succeeded him as ACTU secretary, said Nolan’s pragmatism helped lay a foundation for the trade union movement’s next generation. That reputation made him an effective bridge between labour and business.
How did Peter Nolan’s personal background shape his approach to trade unions and industrial relations?
Nolan came from a working background: born in Brisbane, he left school around 15 for a printing apprenticeship, worked at The Mercury newspaper, joined the Printing and Kindred Industries Union and became a branch secretary. His practical union experience — including campaigning for long service leave for building workers and supporting trade union training — informed a pragmatic, less‑radical style focused on negotiation and training.
When did Peter Nolan die and who survives him?
Peter Nolan died of heart failure at his home in Paynesville, Gippsland, aged 78. He is survived by his wife Sophie and his three children from his first marriage — Mark, Kinta and Peta Jan — and five grandchildren.
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