Guide to the Papers of Peter Reith [JHL 003]

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Manuscript Name Papers of Peter Reith
Manuscript Number JHL 003
Last Updated August 2021
Extent 25 boxes
Location Special Collections, UNSW Canberra
Abstract Diaries, notebooks and travel diaries kept Peter Reith

Collection Subject Type 

Politics

Scope and Content

This collection relates to the political career of The Honourable Peter Reith AM. It includes correspondence, diaries, files, and other material relating to his time in office. The bulk of the collection comprises detailed notebooks from his time in office. 

Date Range of Content

1977-2001

Biographical Note

Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Reith

Peter Keaston Reith was a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1982 to 1983 and from 1984 to 2001 representing the Division of Flinders. Reith was born in Melbourne, Victoria and was educated at Monash University where he studied law. In 1990, Reith was elected deputy leader of the Liberal Party under John Hewson. He was replaced by Michael Wooldridge after the 1993 election. In the Howard Government, Reith served as Minister for Industrial Relations (1996 – 1997), Minister for Small Business (1997 – 2001), Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations (1998 – 2001), and finally Minister for Defence from January 2001 until his retirement at the 2001 election. 

References: 

Parliament of Australia ‘Hon Peter Reith MP’ https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=WI4retr... 18 March 2020

Administrative Information 

Access and Copying Conditions

Access: The permission of The Howard Library Director is required to access this collection. 

This collection contains a variety of copyright material. Copyright is held by the creator of each item. Specific conditions for this collection are listed below. If no conditions are stipulated then the standard terms of the Copyright Act apply for published and unpublished items. Digitised material from manuscript collections is provided to clients by UNSW Canberra in good faith for private study and research only, and may not be published or re-purposed without the express and written permission of the individual legal holder of that copyright. Refer also to the UNSW copyright, disclaimer and takedown policy. 

Copying: Copying of material for private study and research is approved. 

 

Preferred Citation 

Papers of Peter Reith, Special Collections, UNSW Canberra, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, JHL 003, Box [Number], Folder [Number].

 

Provenance

The collection was donated to The Howard Library by Peter Reith in 2017. 

 

Related Material

Further papers of Peter Reith are held by the National Archives of Australia. Series A750 https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports...

 

Subject Keywords

 

Subjects

Howard government, political history, Liberal Party of Australia, Division of Flinders

 

Personal Names

Peter Reith, 1950-

Corporate Names

Liberal Party of Australia

Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division) 

 

Occupations 

Politicians

Container List 

 

Box 1

Notebook 85 From April 1998 – Index 

Notebook 86 From 8 May 1998 – Index 

Notebook 86/1 From June 1998 – Index 

Notebook 87 From 29 June 1998 – Index 

Notebook 88 From 27 July 1998 – Index 

Notebook 89 From 13 April 1998. Newspaper cuttings about the Waterfront dispute.

Notebook 90 From 16 August 1998 – Index 

 

Box 2 

Notebook 91 From 30 August 1998. Day of the announcement of the 1998 election – Index 

Notebook 92 From 12 September 1998 – Index 

Notebook 93. The last 8 days of the 1998 Federal Election – Index 

Notebook 94 From 4 October 1998 – Index 

Notebook 96 From 6 November 1998 – Index 

Notebook 97 From December 1998 – Index 

(NB: Notebook 98 wasn’t transferred but is referred to in Notebook 97 as Trip New Zealand  January 1999) 

Notebook 99 From 25 March 1999 – Index 

 

Box 3 

Notebook 100 From 19 May 1999 – Index. Includes program for Cabinet Dinner hosted by Prime Minister and Mrs Howard to honour The Hon Tim Fischer MP 

Notebook 103 From 30 July 1999 – Index. Includes Chinese President address to Cabinet and program for Parliamentary Luncheon hosted by Prime Minister Howard and Mrs Howard for His Excellency Mr Jiang Zemin President of the People’s Republic of China 

Notebook 104 From 18 September 1999. Victorian State Election – Index 

Notebook 105 From 19 October 1999 – Index 

Notebook 106 From 1 February 2000 – Index includes program for Dinner in honour of Mr Bertie Ahern TD Taoiseach of Ireland hosted by Prime Minister John Howard and Mrs Howard, seating arrangements booklet for The Queen’s Tour Luncheon hosted by The Prime Minister and Mrs Howard and the Premier and Mrs Carr 20 March 2000 

Notebook 107 From 8 May 2000 – Index includes program for Annual Coalition Dinner hosted by John and Janette Howard and John and Julia Anderson, 8 May 2000

 

Box 4

Four volumes of Workplace Reform in Australia and A Compendium of Ministerial Papers

Two volumes of Fightback! and Taxation and Expenditure Reform for Jobs and Growth 

and Fightback Supplementary Papers 

Volume 2 A – 14 August 1987 – 16 September 1988 

Volume 2 B – 14 August 1987 – 16 September 1988 

Volume 2 C – 14 August 1987 – 16 September 1988 

Volume 3 A – 16 September 1988 – 12 May 1989 

Volume 3 B – 16 September 1988 – 12 May 1989 

Volume 4 A – 12 May 1989 – 24 March 1990 

Volume 4 B – 12 May 1989 – 24 March 1990 

 

Box 5

Volume 5 A – 25 March 1990 to 31 December 1990 

Volume 5 B – 25 March 1990 to 31 December 1990 

Volume 6 A – 1 January 1991 to 31 December 1991 

Volume 6 B – 1 January 1991 to 31 December 1991 

1988 Constitutional Referendums 

 

Box 6 

Notebook 47 From February 1995 – Index 

Notebook 48 From May 1995 Includes Index for all at March 1995 

Notebook 50 From 1 June 1995 includes Geneva 6 – 23 June 1995

Notebook 52 From 11 July 1995 – Index 

Notebook 54 From 10 October 1995 – Index 

Notebook 55 From 16 December 1995 – Includes Index up to & including Notebook 55  

Notebook 56 From 27 January 1996 – Index 

Notebook 57 From 25 February 1996 – Index 

Notebook 58 From March 1996 

Notebook 59 From March 1996 – Concurrent with Notebook 58 For Public Service House 

 

Box 7

Notebook 60 From 22 April 1996 - Index 

Notebook 61 From 22 May 1996 – Index 

Notebook 62 From 16 July 1996 – Index 

Notebook 63 From 18 August 1996 – Index 

Notebook 64 From 17 September 1996 – Index 

Notebook 65 From 14 October 1996 – Index 

Notebook 66 From 8 November 1996 – Index 

Notebook 67 From 8 December 1996 – Index 

Notebook 68 From 3 February 1997 – Index 

Notebook 69 From 16 March 1997 – Index 

Notebook 70 From April 1997 including trip to Japan, Korea, Hong Kong – Index 

 

Box 8 

Notebook 79 (inside 79A) – Waterfront Reform – Sequence of Events 

Notebook 72 From 6 May 1997 – Index

Notebook 108 From 14 August 2000 – Index 

Notebook 109 From 5 Jan 2001 – Index 

Notebook 111 From April 2001? – Index

Notebook 112 Opened 1 July 2001 – Index including Tampa and dinner program Australia-United States Ministerial Talks given by the Honourable John Howard 30 July 2001 

 

Box 9

Notebook 113 From 30 August 2001 – Index includes Tampa 

Notebook 114 From 28 September 2001 – Index includes removal of Unauthorised Boat Arrivals (UBAs) from HMAS Manoora, and US military relations with Allies, SIEV X, Costello

Notebook 115 From November 2001 – Index  

Notebook 116 From 31 December 2001 – Index 

‘Breaking the Gridlock – Towards a Simpler National Workplace Relations System’ 

‘Breaking the Gridlock – Towards a Simpler National Workplace Relations System – Discussion Paper 1 The Case for Change’ 

‘Breaking the Gridlock – Towards a Simpler National Workplace Relations System – Discussion Paper 2 A New Structure’  

‘Commissioning of HMAS Warramunga’ Saturday 31 March 2001 

ACTU The Need for Fairness in the Workplace – ACTU Response to the Federal Government’s ‘The Reform of Workplace Relations-Implementation Discussion Paper March 1996’ 

‘Towards a best practice Australian public service’ Issued by the Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service the Hon Peter Reith MP November 1996 – discussion paper

'Reith releases Waterfront meeting agenda’ dated 26 October 1996 and attached papers

Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Development Consultancy Commission No.97/0733 ‘Consultancy for research advice on maritime and Stevedoring occupational health and safety issues’ October 1997  

Coopers & Lybrand ‘WST or GST unravelling the key issues’ Solutions for Business, 1991

 

Box 10

Waterfront – National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) Webb Dock dispute 28 January 1998 

Waterfront – NFF Webb Dock dispute 29 January 1998 

Waterfront Reform 7 Benchmark Objectives April 1998 

Pattern Bargaining and Industrial Action – Ministerial Information Paper May 2000 

International Performance Indicators Waterfront Research Report 47 1993 

Linder Shipping Cargoes and Conferences Report of the Part X Review Panel 1993 

A framework for reform of Australian Shipping – Report by the Shipping Reform Group 1997 

Tax Reform not a new tax – a new tax system The Howard Government’s Plan for a New Tax System, August 1998 

Reform of the Australian Taxation System - Statement by the Treasurer The Hon. Paul Keating, MP, September 1985 

The Things that Matter Coalition Goals Supplementary Papers September 1994 

Labor’s ‘Wealth’ Tax threatens the unwealthy family, Peter Reith, 2nd Edition, November 1986

Unfair dismissal: Impact on business and hiring intentions. A compendium of supporting materials. Peter Reith, November 1998

The continuing reform of workplace relations: Implementation of More Jobs, Better Pay, Peter Reith, May 1999

Planning in Victoria, Elaine V. Reith and Peter K. Reith, 1977 

Protecting job opportunities for young people, Peter Reith, June 1998

Improving access and service delivery: administration of the AIRC and the Registry, Peter Reith, July 1998

19 February 1942, The bombing of Darwin Official Program of Commemoration 19 February 2001

Direct Democracy The Way Ahead  Peter Reith, Autumn, 1994

The Case for Further Deregulation of the Labour Market.  A research paper prepared by Des Moore on behalf of contributing members of the Labour Ministers’ Council, November 1998

Policies for a Coalition Government. More Jobs, Better Pay A Stronger Australia 

 

Box 11 

Waterfront – NFF Webb Dock Dispute 30 January 1998 

Waterfront – NFF Webb Dock Dispute 31 January 1998, 1 March 1998, 2 March 1998 

Waterfront – NFF Webb Dock Dispute 3 February 1998 

Waterfront – NFF Webb Dock Dispute 4 February 1998 and 5 February 1998 

 

Box 12 

Waterfront – NFF Webb Dock Dispute 6 February 1998, 7 February 1998, 8 February 1998 

Waterfront – NFF Webb Dock Dispute 9 February 1998, 10 February 1998, 10 February 1998, 11 February 1998, 12 February 1998 

Waterfront – NFF Webb Dock Dispute 4 March 1998 – 16 March 1998 

Waterfront Dispute 8 April 1998 

 

Box 13 

Waterfront Dispute 8 April 1998

Waterfront Dispute 9 February 1998 

Waterfront Dispute 10 April 1998, 11 April 1998 

Waterfront Dispute 12 April 1998 to 14 April 1998

 

Box 14 

Waterfront Dispute 15 April 1998  

Waterfront Dispute 18 April 1998 and 19 April 1998

Waterfront Dispute 20 April 1998 

Waterfront Dispute 21 April 1998 media/press cuttings

 

Box 15

Waterfront Dispute 8 May 1998 

Waterfront Dispute 9 May 1998 to 11 May 1998

Waterfront Dispute 12 May 1998 to 15 May 1998 

Waterfront General – Media Monitors and office notes and copy of Fynwest document ‘Confirmation of Contract Details for Dubai Trainees’

 

Box 16

Waterfront Dispute 16 May 1998 to 22 May 1998

Waterfront Dispute 23 May 1998 to 5 June 1998

Waterfront Dispute 6 June 1998 to 17 June 1998 (Media Monitors)

Waterfront Dispute 18 June 1998 to 30 June 1998 (Media Monitors)

 

Box 17

Waterfront Dispute 1 July 1998 to 3 October 1998 (Media Monitors)

Waterfront Dispute 4 October 1998 (Media Monitors) 

Waterfront – Kernot, McMullan, Crean, Ferguson, Evans, Others (Media Monitors)  

 

Box 18

Waterfront – NFF Webb Dock Dispute 24 February 1998 to 3 March 1998 

Waterfront Dispute 1 April 1998 to 7 April 1998 

Tuesday 21 April 1998 

Waterfront Dispute Thursday 23 April 1998 

 

Box 19 

Waterfront Dispute 24 April 1998 

Waterfront – NFF Webb Dock Dispute 17 March 1998 to 25 March 1998 

Waterfront – Beazley Tanner (February 1998 to May 1998) 

Waterfront – NFF Webb Dock Dispute 13 February 1998 to 17 February 1998 

 

Box 20

Waterfront – NFF Webb Dock Dispute 26 March 1998 to 31 March 1998 

April 1998 Media Monitors papers 

Waterfront Dispute 20 April 1998 

Waterfront Dispute 22 April 1998

 

Box 21 

Waterfront – NFF Webb Dock Dispute 18 FEbruary 1998 to 23 February 1998 

Waterfront Dispute 16 April 1998 

Waterfront Dispute 23 April 1998 

17 April 1998 Media Monitors papers 

Agreement between the Commonwealth Government and the Australian Democrats on the Workplace Relations Bill October 1996 

Franchising Code of Conduct 

Waterfront Reform 7 Benchmark Objectives April 1998 

The continuing reform of workplace relations: Implementation of More Jobs, Better Pay, May 1999 

 

Box 22

'Tax Reform not a new tax a new tax system’

'An Initiative of the Federal  Government – Indigenous Employment Policy’ 

Reith – On Republic 1993-1999 

Waterfront Papers 

‘Referendum 1988 The YES and NO cases’ [Audio]

‘Liberal Party – Referendum M123A. 124A’ [Audio]

‘The Referendum Questions – Our Constitutional Crisis’ Dr David Mitchell [Audio]

Pilots’ Dispute 1989 

Coalition Bulletin Special Edition 'Fightback! The Coalition’s Economic Reform Package’ 

Coopers & Lybrand ‘WST or GSST Unravelling the key issues’

Index – up to and including Notebook 114 – at November 2001 

Waterfront Dispute 17 April 1998 

Waterfront Dispute court judgements

 

Box 23 

Miscellaneous Web Dock documents 

NOTEBOOKS NUMBERED 1-15 

1: Commenced April 1986: some notes in point form on a range of issues 

2: Notes with Index

3: Housing and construction – notes and includes a few notes by Tuckey 

4: Shadow Attorney-General – appointed 14 August 1987 – Index 

5: Shadow Attorney-General notes – Index 

6: Shadow Attorney-General – Index 

7: Notes with Index 

8: Constitutional Issues – notebook opened 4 January 1988 – Index 

9: Notes with Index 

10: Notebook opened 3 March 1988 – ‘Started to use this notebook for Industrial Relations on 12 October 1988’ – Index 

11. Industrial Relations from 16 September 1988 to 12 May 1989 – Index 

12. Education portfolio – appointed Shadow Minister 12 May 1989 – Index 

13. Schools Policy Notebook – from 12 June 1989 – Index 

14. Inside front cover ‘(For Memoirs) 14 BNG [?] 24 re Fraser . RBA . & Page 22’ – Index 

15. ‘This is the third book opened on Treasury issues. 27 May 1990’ – Index 

 

Box 24

Notebook 73 from 8 June 1997 – Index – Current Issues Speaking Points  

Notebook 74 from 14 July 1997 – 18 July 1997 Sworn in Workplace Relations and Small Business – Index 

Notebook 75 from 11 August 1997 – Index – Full Ansett ticket 

Notebook 76 from 14 September 1997 – Index - Cartoon 

Notebook 77 from 4 October 1977 – Maritime Reform from 9 October 1997 – Index 

Notebook 78 – Trip International Labour Organization Asian Regional meeting. 7 December 1997 to 13 December 1997. Bangkok, Thailand – Index 

Notebook 79 from 4 November 97 – Index Ansett boarding pass and program for dinner in honour of Mr Wim Kok, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Mrs Rita Kok given by The Honourable John Howard MP and Mrs Howard 10 November 1997 

Notebook 80 from 28 November 1997 – Index 

Notebook 81 from 7 January 1998 – Index 

 

Box 25 

Notebook 82 from 1 February 1998 – Index 

Notebook 83 from 21 February 1998 –  Index 

Notebook 84 from 20 March 1998 – Index 

Notebook 16 – Index (1990-1991-1992?) 

Notebook 17 – Index (includes pages marked ‘for Memoirs’) 

Notebook 18 includes the 1993 election campaign note book – Peter Reith, March 1993 –Index  - includes Fightback booklet 

Notebook 19: After the 1993 Election – Index 

Notebook 20: Appointed 8 September 1993 Shadow Special Minister of State Member of Shadow Cabinet - Index 

Notebook 35 NZ 1992 Old Passports – Trip to New Zealand – Tuesday 28 July 1992: Friday 31 July 1992 Indonesia/Malaysia – Visit to Indonesia 5 July 1992 - 9 July 1992 – Index 

Notebook 39 China 1994

Notebook 32 – Trip to the United States 23 January 1991 to 9 February 1991 – Index 

Notebook 53 – Trip to the United Kingdom 29 September 1995 to 8 October 1995

Notebook 33 – Papua New Guinea 1991 – Index

Notebook 102 Trip to Japan 24 July to 30 July 1999

Notebook 98 – Trip to NZ January 1999 

Notebook 110 – Visit to China March 2001 

Notebook 41 – Taiwan Pacific Democrat Union Korea 1994  

Index (20 June 2000 - 24 June 2000, Brunei)   

Notebook 101 – Geneva-United Kingdom 5 June 1999 – 19 June 1999 

Notebook 40 - United Nations Hawaii  – Trip to the United Nations. New York, USA September - October 1994

Notebook 38 – Trip to New Zealand 13 June 1994 to 17 June 1994 includes change of Liberal Party leadership notes and Defence in NZ

United States 2001, 26 April 2001 – 3 May 2001

Notebook 37, Israel. 1993. Index

 

BOUND VOLUMES 

Volume 7 A -1 January 1992 to 31 December 1992 

Volume 7 B -1 January 1992 to 31 December 1992 

Volume 8 – 1 January 19993 to 23 March 1993 

Volume 9 – 23 March 1993 to 17 January 1994 

Volume 10 – 17 January 1994 to 25 September 1994 

Volume 11 – 25 September 1994 to 31 January 1995 

Volume 12 A – 31 January 1995 to 1 December 1995 

Volume 12 B – 31 January 1995 to 1 December 1995 

Volume 13 – 2 December 1995 to 2 March 1996 

Volume 14 – 3 March 1996 – 30 June 1996 

Volume 15 – 1 July – 31 December 1996 

Volume 16 – 1 January 1997 – 30 June 1997 

Volume 17 A – 1 July 1997 – 31 December 1997 

Volume 17 B – 1 July 1997 – 31 December 1997 

Volume 18 A – 1 January 1998 – 30 June 1998 

Volume 18 B – 1 January 1998 – 30 June 1998 

Volume 18 C – 1 January 1998 – 30 June 1998 

Volume 19 A – 1 July 1998 – 31 December 1998 

Volume 19 B – 1 July 1998 – 31 December 1998 

Volume 20 A – 1 January 1999 – 30 June 1999 

Volume 20 B – 1 January 1999 – 30 June 1999 

Volume 21 A – 1 July 1999 – 31 December 1999 

Volume 21 B – 1 July 1999 – 31 December 1999 

Volume 22 A – 1 January 2000 – 30 June 2000 

Volume 22 B – 1 January 2000 – 30 June 2000 

Volume 23 A – 1 July 2000 – 31 December 2000 

Volume 23 B – 1 July 2000 – 31 December 2000 

Volume 24 A – 1 January 2001 – 30 June 2001 

Volume 24 B – 1 January 2001 – 30 June 2001 

Volume 25 A – 1 July 2001 – 3 October 2001 

Volume 25 B – 1 July 2001 – 3 October 2001