     ralph willis ao (born 14 april 1938), australian politician, was treasurer for the final years of the keating labor government. ==career== willis was born in melbourne to stan and doris willis and educated at footscray central school, university high school and melbourne university, gaining a bachelor of commerce degree. he subsequently worked as a research officer and industrial advocate for the australian council of trade unions (actu). he and his wife carol willis (nÃ©e dawson) have three children, sandra, fiona and evan. in 1972, the year that the whitlam labor government was elected, willis was elected as a labor member of the house of representatives for the extremely safe labor seat of gellibrand in melbourne's western suburbs. he was elected to the opposition front bench after labor's defeat in 1975, and was shadow minister for industrial relations, economic affairs and treasury from 1976 to 1983. in january 1983, however, he was dropped from the position as shadow treasurer by labor leader bill hayden, who decided that paul keating would be likely to put increased pressure on the government in the area of economic policy.bill hayden (1996), hayden: an autobiography, angus & robertson, sydney. as a former actu official, willis was regarded as a protegee of the new labor leader, bob hawke (a former actu president), who became prime minister in march 1983. hawke, however, kept keating in the treasury portfolio and willis beca
1938_births Australian_Labor_Party_politicians Living_people Members_of_the_Australian_House_of_Representatives Members_of_the_Cabinet_of_Australia Officers_of_the_Order_of_Australia People_educated_at_University_High_School_(Melbourne) Recipients_of_the_Centenary_Medal Treasurers_of_Australia