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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-03-08 Daily Xml
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Ministerial Statement

SEAMAN, MR G.F.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education) (15:11): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: South Australia lost one of its closest remaining links to the Playford era with the death on 22 February of Mr Gilbert Frederick Seaman. He was 98. Mr Seaman was government economist and assistant to the under treasurer, Sir Fred Drew, from 1946 until 1960. A fine intellect, Mr Seaman provided the analytical underpinning for the drive and determination of Sir Thomas Playford during the latter's nation building administration.

In 1935, one year before Keynes published his famous work The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money, Mr Seaman became the first person to graduate from the recently formed economics faculty at the University of Adelaide. While a firm believer in the efficacy of markets, Mr Seaman, like Keynes, never scrupled to intervene when he thought those markets to be tardy or lacking in vision, and was an enthusiastic supporter of the efforts of his political mentor to supply the infrastructure necessary for the development of the state.

He succeeded Sir Fred Drew as under treasurer in 1960 and remained in that position until his retirement in 1972. He served under five administrations: those of Sir Thomas Playford, Frank Walsh, Don Dunstan, Steele Hall, and then Don Dunstan again. He remained, until the end, a fervent admirer and staunch supporter of Sir Thomas and his approach to government. One of his greatest achievements was the seamless transition to the quite different administration of Frank Walsh.

After 27 years of conservative rule, the incoming government in 1965 held doubts about the extent to which it would be able to rely on the Public Service to carry out its policies. Mr Seaman immediately set about putting those doubts to rest. In the best Westminster tradition, he helped premier Walsh shape a budget which was responsible and which gave effect to the promised expenditure programs of the new government by developing revenue raising measures to match increases in expenditure that were needed.

Following the discovery and development of the gas fields in the state's north, he worked tirelessly to put in place the financing arrangements for the Moomba to Adelaide natural gas pipeline. Premier Walsh came to rely heavily on the advice of his under treasurer and a mutual respect developed between the two men, culminating in the decision to recommend Mr Seaman for the award of Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, an award duly conferred in June 1967.

After his retirement in 1972, the Dunstan government and its successors retained him as chairman of the old State Bank before its merger with The Savings Bank of South Australia. In that role he managed, with great attention to detail, a program of home lending to low income earners and small businesses, particularly producer cooperatives, largely with funds appropriated by parliament for the purpose. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in June 1981.

Given the influence which he wielded, it is surprising that he is not better known. He was indifferent to public recognition but did not, it seems, lack self-confidence. I understand that he was aghast at the suggestion by Premier Dunstan that he should establish an economic intelligence unit in the Premier's department. He reportedly asked ' Why Premier? What would you like to know?'

He was loyal to his staff and attracted loyalty in return. Under him and his successors, Ted Carey and Ron Barnes, I am told, Treasury was a great place to work. Mr Seaman was a regular and enthusiastic supporter of South Australian cricket and took great delight in the successes of the Sturt Football Club sides of the late 1960s.

The state has lost a great servant. I pass on my thoughts to Mr Seaman's family.

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