“Who’s Who in the W.P.,” freeEnterprise, March, 1976, pp. 4-5. Thanks to the legendary John Zube and his Libertarian Microfiche Publishing.

To many members of the Workers Party, and those on the outside looking interestedly in, the people who matter in the Party, out front or behind the scenes, are something of a mystery. What follows is a brief resume of those in the Workers Party who hold either positions of power or are likely to in the near future.

JOHN SINGLETON
33 yrs. founder, chairman and managing director of Doyle, Dayne and Bernbach, well-known advertising agency in Sydney. It is one of the most successful and profitable agencies in the country. He is also an investor in a number of other companies. Singleton was the man responsible for the controversial Liberal Party ads two elections ago, and the now-famous (infamous?) ad formula employed in the Norman Ross Discounts, Best and Less, and Uncle Bill’s Sly Grog Shop ads. Conversely, his agency is also responsible for ads such as the recent IXL Henry Jones ad. His philosophy on his work is that he is paid to sell the product. One surprising and generally unknown aspect of his activities is that he has been responsible for raising money for charities such as The Autistic Children’s Association, the Royal Blind Society and the Paraplegics Association.

John Singleton’s position in the Party is that of Chairman of the Board of Governing Directors. It is doubtful that the Party would ever have got off the ground without his energetic enthusiasm. Singleton exercises more power in the Party than he realises because of the awe which he evokes in many of his Party associates. He is without a doubt the most powerful man in the Party today, and as such, has almost dictatorial control if he wishes to exercise it. A great fan of Robert Askin, former Liberal Premier of N.S.W., John Singleton’s personal philosophy seems to be a mixture of ultra Conservatism admixed with an ever-increasing measure of libertarianism, and ockerish hedonism. No other personality in the Workers Party can match his boundless energy and ability to get results, good or bad.

ROBERT HOWARD
27 yrs. Trained mechanical engineer. Bob would be known to all readers of freeEnterprise as its former editor. A libertarian, Bob was started on the road to political activism through the now-defunct Alliance for Individual Rights, in which he grew to play a leading part.

Extremely well-read and fluent in libertarian knowledge, Bob had a significant and major role in the foundation of the Workers Party. Along with Mark Tier, he has been responsible for most of the ideological material that has come from the Party, and at present works full-time and without pay in the Head Office in Sydney.

If John Singleton provided the “brawn” to get the Party going, Bob provided the “brains”. He is the best speaker the Party possesses on matters of philosophic application of policies, and on general ideology. His position in the Party is that of Governing Director. How much power he holds is hard to assess.

Bob in the Workers Party, with his non-aggressive manner, can be likened to a round peg trying to fit into a square hole.

DUNCAN YUILLE
Early 50’s. A sometimes practising G.P. he is a former secretary of the controversial General Practitioners Society. Currently he is running his own company, Libertarian Review, which he and Mark Tier founded in 1974 to promote libertarianism. Duncan is responsible for providing the first comprehensive libertarian book service in Australia. His position in the Workers Party is that of Governing Director. Very active in the early days of the Party, then surrounded by personality disputes, it seems that Duncan Yuille has now decided to take a more secondary role, in terms of power wielded. He is a committed libertarian.

JOHN WHITING
54 yrs. Dr Whiting is a practising G.P. and a former executive of the G.P.’s Society in South Australia. He is the author of two books, Be In It, Mate and Wake Up, Mate. A Rand devotee, Dr. Whiting founded the Movement for Limited Government in South Australia.

Dr. Whiting is meticulous about philosophical detail, and was responsible for setting up and organising the South Australian section of the W.P. His position is President of the Party. Apparently at the time of the inception of the W.P. it was felt by the Governing Directors that Dr Whiting had the most public appeal. Because he is located in South Australia, John Whiting’s power is thus concentrated in his home state, and he does not appear to wield much power elsewhere. He comes across as a very sincere person.

MARK TIER
28 yrs. economist, B.Ec from A.N.U., Publisher and editor of a prestigious and expensive bi-weekly newsletter, Mark Tier’s Economy Report. He has written extensively for publications such as Quadrant, The Bulletin, The Stock Exchange Journal, Politics, The Australian, Reason and The Inflation Survival Letter.

In 1974, with Duncan Yuille, Mark formed Libertarian Review, a company aimed at promoting libertarianism in Australia. Their partnership broke up, and Mark then moved on to provide an investment advisory service.

Mark was involved with the W.P. right from its early days, and played a significant part in the formation of the W.P. platform. At present he is leant on more than any one else on matters of policy, and was responsible for compiling single-handedly the Economic Policy Statement for the last election. He acts as a policy consultant for branches of the Party in other states. He is a committed libertarian.

BILL BRANSON
37 yrs. Company director of a firm which installs laundry facilities into high-rise buildings. Amalgamated Leasing Pty. Ltd. He has been appointed campaign co-ordinator for the coming State elections. A former member of the Mosman branch of the Party. Bill is at present completely re-organising the Party, organising new branches, t[???] recently elected State Assembly, finalising constitutional details, etc. He is extremely energetic, and is going to wield a lot of power in the future.

An American by birth, Bill Branson is very big at delegation of responsibility and work. He is also very political.

MIKE STANTON
32. A Tasmanian G.P. who refuses to accept Public Servants as patients. During the last election Mike headed the Senate ticket in Tasmania. He has been responsible for getting the Party off the ground in Tas., and is also responsible for all the libertarian stickers, labels, buttons, etc., around the place. A man of great moral courage, Mike is a committed libertarian of the best type.

CHRISTINE MAHER
30’s. Past experience in publicity and public relations. Christine works three days a week at the Party H.Q. on a voluntary basis, organising the forthcoming election campaign, looking after publicity and developing media contacts for the Party and the Party spokespeople. She is a Rand fan.

KEN DAY
31 yrs. A very successful building contractor in the Northern Territory. Ken started off 7 years ago with $40 in his pocket. He is responsible for the Party in the N.T., and is a libertarian.

VIV FORBES
37 yrs. A business analyst and geologist with Mt. Isa Mines, Viv Forbes got the Party going in Queensland. He is a quiet, retiring man, devoid of ego problems, who has quietly devoted large amounts of time, energy and his own money to the Queensland branch of the W.P. His official position is that of provisional Secretary of the Party in Qld. He is a libertarian.

WILLARD HUNT
48 yrs. Canadian with Australian citizenship. Company Director of Mutual Home Loans. Recently elected to the N.S.W. State Assembly, he was responsible for organising the Wagga campaign. Because of his business experience the Government Directors consult him on matters of administration and organisation.

FACES TO WATCH …

DAVID HART
18 yrs. David not only is the youngest libertarian member of the W.P., he is also one of the most well-read, knowledgeable and intelligent libertarians in Australia. He has an impressive command of libertarian philosophy, and will be intimately involved in the informal education group at present being set up in N.S.W.

PAUL BARNARD
40. Victorian and New South Wales Sales Manager for Donlan Development. He is an extremely successful salesman, and looks the part. His is an ordinary Director of the W.P. who recently seemed to have a great deal of influence. He joined the Party when his wife, Anita Barnard, got the job of secretary to the Party. Paul Barnard has openly admitted that he agrees with only 50% of the Party platform. For example, he does not believe that taxation is theft. At present he seems interested in the Conservative Party, a minor party that manages to effectively avoid any media attention. Paul Barnard was responsible for organising the Sebel Town House dinner with Lang Hancock and assorted stars on Number 96 as the main attractions.

ROGER COURT
35 yrs. In practice ten years as a barrister (previously solicitor) and now specialising in criminal law. Roger Court was former President of The Paddington Society, one of N.S.W. best known resident action groups. He was campaing director for Phillip in the last elections. His importance to the Party lies in the fact that he was the draftsman of the proposed and controversial new W.P. Branch Constitution. He is currently working on a constitution for the Party N.S.W. State division. He was a member of the Council of the N.S.W. Bar Association in 1973-75, and is one of the ten members who have recently been elected to the N.S.W. State Assembly.

ANDY KICHNO
32 yrs. IBM computer sales representative. Was W.P. candidate in Lowe. Kichno is very heavily involved in organisation and administration in the Party. At present he is co-ordinating all policy and development teams. He is not a libertarian.

SINCLAIR HILL
40’s. Wealthy grazier. After two days of hard sell by John Singleton, Sinclair Hill, not knowing much about the platform and philosophy behind the W.P. agreed to stand as head of the W.P. Senate ticket in N.S.W. Whilst he certainly stuck his neck out more than most during the election, he certainly put his foot in his mouth a few times. This was through no fault of his own, but simply because he was totally unprepared for his role as leading limelight of the W.P. during the election. Sinclair Hill doesn’t really believe in too much of the platform, e.g., in areas of civil liberties in particular, such as drug use, but he may become radicalised. Lets hope so before the next elections, anyway.