Jan Murray (public relations consultant)

Last updated
Jan Murray
Born
Janice Beatrice Murray

1943 (age 80–81)
Australia
Education Macquarie University
Occupations
  • Public elations consultant
  • writer
  • media personality
  • TV personality

Janice Beatrice Murray (born 1943) is an Australian public relations consultant, writer and media personality. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Career

Politics

Murray contested the seat of Eastwood at the 1978 New South Wales state election for the New South Wales branch of the Australian Labor Party. [1] Although gaining a swing of over 7% in her favour and contributing to a swing away from the Liberal Party of over 13%, Murray was unsuccessful, beaten by incumbent Member for Eastwood, and former TreasurerJim Clough, who secured 51.44% of the vote compared to Murray's 42.52%. [4]

Public relations

From 1981, Murray was principal of Jan Murray & Associates Pty Ltd––a public relations firm that handled a variety of high-profile campaigns, including the spectacular Gala Opening of the Gold Coast International Hotel, and the Australian Tourism Commission's Shrimp on the barbie advertisements featuring Australian actor Paul Hogan, which was overseen by her then-husband, Minister for Tourism, John Brown. [1]

In 1987/8 Murray's firm worked gratis to rescue what would become the highlight of the Australian Bicentenary celebrations, the First Fleet Re-enactment Voyage . [1] The brave venture was in dire straights––the Commonwealth refusing to contribute. JMA raised millions of dollars by organizing an emergency radiothon on 2UE and sourcing corporate sponsorship for the venture. The consultancy finished the exhaustive but highly successful eight-month campaign having personally lost $60,000.

The consultancy was also involved in other aspects of public relations and was able to have the Bjelkie-Petersen government contribute $10million to save the still-incomplete Mike Gore Sanctuary Cove development. The appreciative Mr Gore had Murray accompany him in his helicopter the day it flew over the vast property at the moment the dam was opened to allow the water to flood in to the completed and spectacular resort.

During the historic bushfires which ringed Sydney in the summer holiday period of 1994, Murray and her son Christopher Brown––with the new Lord Mayor of Sydney Frank Sartor on holidays with his family on the south coast of NSW––took up residence in his (empty) Lord Mayoral chambers and after legally establishing the Lord Mayor's Bushfire Appeal and the Commonwealth Bank as the receiving bank, set about hitting up Australia's 'Top end of Town', raising $11.3million from the corporate sector (again gratis). In the following weeks, Murray was appointed to the Lord Mayor's Bushfire Appeal Trust which had the responsibility to disseminate the funds––mainly to purchase upgraded firefighting equipment––and made certain at least $250,000 went towards wildlife rescue.

The following year, with the Festival of Sydney in trouble and the main corporate sponsor of the Christmas Carols in the Park pulling out––and hence Channel Nine considering not broadcasting––the consultancy helped put the show back on the road by raising funds and bringing the TV network back onboard. Again, the consultancy gave its services gratis.

Television

On television, during the 70's and 80's Murray was a regular guest on The Mike Walsh Show and was the controversial left wing panellist on Ch10/Foxtel's daytime discussion program Beauty and the Beast from 1996 to 2005, where she became known for her frequent volatile arguments with the show's host, Stan Zemanek. [1] [5]

Writing

Murray, with her background in Tourism, developed the concept for what became Channel Nine's "Getaway" show in 1992. In 2010 she published her memoir Sheer Madness: Sex, Lies and Politics . [6] [7] [8] In 2012, Murray published a novel called Goodbye Lullaby. [9] [10] Murray has recently published a revised edition of "Goodbye Lullaby" (2022) along with a new novel "Bright Echoes" and a middle school book, NO BRIDGE, NO WAY!: A Glencairn Island Mystery. [11] Also in 2019, Murray published her second memoir, Pilgrim Souls: A Memoir. [12] The books are marketed online at www.janmurray.com

Personal life

From age six, Murray suffered from severe hearing loss and subsequently learned to lip read. [2] In 1963, Murray married John Brown, who became Member for Parramatta at the 1977 Australian federal election and became a Federal Government Minister in 1983 in the First Hawke Ministry before he entered Cabinet in 1987. [1]

Murray graduated from Macquarie University in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), majoring in political science, English and media. [2]


Sex on the desk scandal

Following initial reports in The Sun , Murray admitted during a 60 Minutes interview in 1987 to having sexual intercourse with her husband on his desk in his office at Parliament House in Canberra in 1983, and leaving her knickers in an ashtray. [13] [14] A spokesperson for then Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke said while Murray's comments were in "poor taste" they had nothing to do with Brown's ministerial duties. [13]

When Channel Nine approached the controversial Jan Murray for their 60 Minutes story, as an avowed feminist, she accepted on the condition she be given means to make the point that the role of the 'dutiful minister's wife' was not for her. She said that there would be no flowered hats and long white gloves, it was a new dawn. She said that many women, even while raising families, also had careers outside the home and the government should not expect political spouses to fall into line as in days gone by. She had previously locked horns with Prime Minister Hawke when he attempted to legislate for parliamentary wives to declare their pecuniary interests - at the same time he was spruiking his Equal Opportunity legislation and his determination to afford women independence. The ultimate 'Murray' amendment, written about in the Financial Times, is recorded in Hansard.

The so-called 'Sex on the Desk' 60 Minute scandal went to air in March 1987 and rocked the nation, being the most popular segment ever to be shown by Channel Nine (beating the popular 'Alf' segment). Nine filmed Murray for three days as she went about organizing the Gala Lunch for Bjelksie-Petersen during the opening of the Gold Coast International Hotel and she was also interviewed by Mike Monroe at her home and at the Lobby Restaurant in Canberra. However, the network heavily edited out all of Murray's feminist discussion, in which she had emphasised she had travelled to Canberra that night to seek her conjugal rights, not as the media would portray it, 'celebrating Brown's rise to the ministry'. Only one journalist, Krisitn Williamson, reported this accurately, with many others seeking to sensationalize the declaration of a wife having married sex with her husband and father of their five children. Her case was that the federal parliamentary system was contradictory to the conservative rhetoric eulogising family life. Rather, it took a parent/spouse away for days, often for weeks, from their family.

Murray's on-screen 'desk' revelation continues to be referred to occasionally in the Australian media. [15] [16] [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Hawke</span> Prime Minister of Australia from 1983 to 1991

Robert James Lee Hawke was an Australian politician and trade unionist who served as the 23rd prime minister of Australia from 1983 to 1991. He held office as the leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), having previously served as the president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions from 1969 to 1980 and president of the Labor Party national executive from 1973 to 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Lodge, Australia</span> Official residence of the prime minister of Australia

The Lodge is the primary official residence of the prime minister of Australia, situated in the national capital Canberra. It is located at 5 Adelaide Avenue in the suburb of Deakin, a short distance away from Parliament House. The Lodge is one of two official prime ministerial residences, the secondary official residence being Kirribilli House in Sydney. The building was completed in 1927 in the Georgian revival style, and has been renovated several times since then. It was not initially intended to be used as a permanent official residence, and several prime ministers have chosen to live elsewhere during their terms in office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Canberra</span> University in Canberra, Australia

The University of Canberra (UC) is a public research university with its main campus located in Bruce, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. The campus is within walking distance of Belconnen Town Centre, and 8.7 km (5.4 mi) from Canberra's Civic Centre. UC offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses covering five faculties: Health, Art and Design, Business, Government and Law, Education, and Science and Technology.

Jacqueline Marie Kelly is a former Australian politician who served as a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives from March 1996 until November 2007, representing the Division of Lindsay, New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hazel Hawke</span> First wife of Bob Hawke

Hazel Susan Hawke, AO was the first wife of Bob Hawke, the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia. She married him in 1956, and supported him throughout his prime ministership (1983–1991); they divorced in 1995. She worked in social policy areas, and was an amateur pianist and a patron of the arts. After she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, she made public appearances in order to raise awareness of the disease.

Roslyn Joan Kelly AO is an Australian former politician. She was a member of the Australian House of Representatives, having represented the Division of Canberra from 18 October 1980 to 30 January 1995. She was a minister in the governments of Bob Hawke and Paul Keating.

The following lists events that happened during 1990 in Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susan Ryan</span> Australian politician (1942–2020)

Susan Maree Ryan was an Australian politician and public servant. She was a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and held ministerial office in the Hawke government as Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women (1983–1988), Minister for Education and Youth Affairs (1983–1984), Minister for Education (1984–1987) and Special Minister of State (1987–1988). She was the first woman from the ALP to serve in cabinet and was notably involved in the creation of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and the Affirmative Action Act 1986. Ryan served as a senator for the Australian Capital Territory from 1975 to 1987. After leaving politics she served as the Age Discrimination Commissioner from 2011 to 2016, within the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Jan Elizabeth McLucas is a former Australian politician. McLucas was an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian Senate representing Queensland from 1999 to 2016. McLucas was the Minister for Human Services in the Rudd Government till the 2013 Election.

The history of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) as a separate administrative division began in 1911, when it was transferred from New South Wales to the Australian federal government. The territory contains Australia's capital city Canberra and various smaller settlements. Until 1989, it also administered the Jervis Bay Territory, a small coastal region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blanche d'Alpuget</span> Australian writer

Josephine Blanche d'Alpuget is an Australian writer and the second wife of Bob Hawke, the longest-serving Labor Prime Minister of Australia.

Diane Robin Bell is an Australian anthropologist, author, and social justice advocate. Her work focuses on the Aboriginal people of Australia, Indigenous land rights, human rights, Indigenous religions, violence against women, and on environmental issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neal Blewett</span> Australian politician and political scientist

Neal Blewett, AC is an Australian Labor Party politician, diplomat and historian. He was the Member of the House of Representatives for Bonython from 1977 to 1994. He served in both the Hawke and Keating governments, notably in the former as Minister for Health from 1983 to 1991, during which time he oversaw the Government's reaction to HIV/AIDS. After retiring from Parliament in 1994, he was appointed High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, a role he held until 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Brown (Australian politician)</span> Australian politician (born 1931)

John Joseph Brown AO is a retired Australian politician. He served in the House of Representatives from 1977 to 1990, representing the Division of Parramatta for the Australian Labor Party (ALP). He held ministerial office in the Hawke government as Minister for Administrative Services (1983–1984), Sport, Recreation and Tourism (1983–1987), and Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories (1987).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne Summers</span> Australian writer and journalist

Anne Summers is an Australian writer and columnist, best known as a leading feminist, editor and publisher. She was formerly First Assistant Secretary of the Office of the Status of Women in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Her contributions are also noted in The Australian Media Hall of Fame biographical entry

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne Ruston</span> Australian politician (born 1963)

Anne Sowerby Ruston is an Australian politician who served as Minister for Families and Social Services in the Morrison government from 2019 to 2022. She has been a Senator for South Australia since 2012.

Michael Henry Codd is a retired Australian senior public servant and university chancellor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susan Templeman</span> Australian politician

Susan Raye Templeman is an Australian politician. She is the member for Macquarie in the Australian House of Representatives and is Australia's Special Envoy for the Arts. She is a member of the Australian Labor Party and defeated the Liberal Louise Markus at the 2016 federal election. She was re-elected in 2019. Templeman had previously run twice for the same seat, in 2010 and 2013.

Jacqueline Sarah Gleeson is an Australian judge. She has been a Justice of the High Court of Australia since 1 March 2021, and was a judge of the Federal Court of Australia, based in Sydney, from April 2014 to February 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019–20 Australian bushfire season</span> Major natural disaster

The 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, or Black Summer, was one of the most intense and catastrophic fire seasons on record in Australia. It included a period of bushfires in many parts of Australia, which, due to its unusual intensity, size, duration, and uncontrollable dimension, was considered a megafire by media at the time. Exceptionally dry conditions, a lack of soil moisture, and early fires in Central Queensland led to an early start to the bushfire season, beginning in June 2019. Hundreds of fires burnt, mainly in the southeast of the country, until May 2020. The most severe fires peaked from December 2019 to January 2020.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Alafaci, Annette (1 February 2006) Murray, Janice Beatrice, Australian Women's Register . Accessed 3 October 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Fidler, Richard (24 September 2010) Jan Murray's rich life beyond being that of a Cabinet Minister's wife, Conversations , Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  3. ↑ Jan Murray, IMDb. Accessed 3 October 2019.
  4. ↑ Eastwood - 1978, Election Results, New South Wales Parliament. Accessed 3 October 2019.
  5. ↑ (2001) Stan Zemanek fights with and throws book at Jan Murray, Beauty and the Beast , Foxtel. Accessed 3 October 2019.
  6. ↑ Murray, Jan (2010) Sheer Madness: Sex Lies and Politics, Mira Books. ISBN   1921685638
  7. ↑ Saville, Margot (31 March 2010) Jan Murray on sex, lies and politics, Crikey . Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  8. ↑ Harper, Hilary; Mackenzie, Michael (13 April 2010) Sheer madness: Jan Murray, Life Matters , Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  9. ↑ Murray, Jan (2012) Goodbye Lullaby, HarperCollins Australia. ISBN   1460885112
  10. ↑ Selinger-Morris, Samantha (14 October 2012) More wilful than wayward, The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  11. ↑ Murray, Jan (2019) NO BRIDGE, NO WAY!: A Glencairn Island Mystery, Tablo Pty Limited. ISBN   1922309044
  12. ↑ Murray, Jan (2019) Pilgrim Souls: A Memoir, Tablo Pty Limited. ISBN   1925993981
  13. 1 2 (25 April 1987) Of Sport, Recreation and Tourism, The Canberra Times. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  14. ↑ (27 April 1987) A frank talk on sex, life, The Canberra Times. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  15. ↑ (22 October 2012) Sex pair's romp in MP's office, The Sunshine Coast Daily . Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  16. ↑ Lee, Alex (20 October 2015) 8 Australian political scandals that will make you blush, BuzzFeed . Retrieved 3 October 2019.
  17. ↑ Koziol, Michael (23 February 2018) Sex in Parliament: it ain't what it used to be, The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.