Glen Broomhill

Glen Raymond Broomhill (20 January 1933 – 26 December 2007) was an Australian politician who represented the South Australian House of Assembly seats of West Torrens from 1965 to 1970 and Henley Beach from 1970 to 1979 for the Labor Party.^[1] Broomhill's most enduring influence was as the architect of South Australia's container-deposit legislation, which focused heavily on environmental awareness.^[2]

Glen Raymond Broomhill was born in Adelaide on 20 January 1933. Broomhill was educated at Richmond Primary School and Goodwood Boys Technical School. Broomhill also played Colts football for Glenelg Football Club.^[3]

Broomhill started his career as a Dental Technician when he was 16 During this time he was closely involved with the Australian Labor Party. Broomhill also became involved in the trade union movement, and in 1956 he was elected as an organiser of the South Australian branch of the Federal Miscellaneous Workers Union.

In 1965, Broomhill won a seat in parliament representing the Electorate district of West Torrens. Broomhill was largely supported by his uncle, the former senator and Labor Party stalwart, Jim Toohey. He also received backing from the federal member for Hindmarsh, Clyde Cameron.

In his maiden speech he criticised legislation that meant citizens under the age of 30 were ineligible to take up a seat in the Legislative Council.

The year after his election, Broomhill was appointed as government whip, holding this position until 1970. Alongside Don Dunstan, the ministry included Des Corcoran, Len King, Hugh Hudson and Geoff Virgo, amongst others. Broomhill was initially appointed minister for labour and industry. He would later be appointed minister for conservation and minister assisting the premier.

Over a five-year ministerial career, Broomhill held a range of portfolios, including fisheries, planning and development, community welfare and tourism. In 1973, he became the state's first minister for recreation and sport. During his tenure as a minister, Broomhill introduced a series of initiatives, including the establishment of the Coast Protection Board, and a large increase in the areas of national parks and river wetlands. He oversaw the establishment of a quarry levy and measures to improve the appearance of the Adelaide Hills face zone.

Broomhill was also involved in legislation surrounding population growth. He was a passionate supporter of the proposed development at Monarto, in addition to being the architect of that project. The Monarto scheme was later discontinued.

Broomhill's major legacy was the introduction of the container deposit legislation completed in 1975 that saw cans and bottles reduced drastically as a source of litter across the state. This legislation significantly increased the recovery rate of beverage containers in this state, where around 80 per cent of glass bottles are recovered compared with around 36 per cent nationally, and reduced annual greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. The scheme is estimated to produce embodied water savings of up to 5 megalitres per year.

Broomhill announced his retirement from politics at the 1979 election, having stood down from the ministry in 1975 because of his wife's failing health.

Broomhill would go on to serve on the board of Multiple Sclerosis South Australia and the Northern Territory, the board of ETSA, and as deputy chairman of the power line environment committee.

Broomhill died in 2007.