Syd Negus
Australian politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sydney Ambrose Negus (12 March 1912 – 1 August 1986) was an Australian politician who was an independent senator for Western Australia from 1971 until 1974.[1] He was previously a carpenter and building contractor.[2]
affiliationsProgressive Conservative (1980)
Syd Negus | |
|---|---|
| Senator for Western Australia | |
| In office 1 July 1971 – 18 May 1974 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 March 1912 |
| Died | 1 August 1986 (aged 74) |
| Party | Independent |
| Other political affiliations | Progressive Conservative (1980) |
| Occupation | carpenter, contractor |
Negus was elected largely on an anti-inheritance tax platform, following the death of his brother, Oscar Negus a judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, which led to Syd Negus' realisation of the impost of the tax on widows.[3] His campaign established a groundswell of public support and Queensland was the first state to abolish inheritance taxes in 1977; the Commonwealth of Australia and other states followed soon after by abolishing their respective inheritance and gift taxes.[2]
Negus was defeated in the 1974 election.[4] He later contested the 1975 Bass by-election as an independent[5] and, at the 1980 federal election, was a candidate for the far-right, anti-immigration Progressive Conservative Party.[6]
Negus was president of the West Australian Sporting Car Club and competed in the Australian Grand Prix on several occasions.[4]