'''Robert Francis Ray''' (born 8_April 1947), Australian politician, has been an Australian_Labor_Party member of the Senate since July 1981, representing the state of Victoria. He was born in Melbourne, Victoria, and was educated at Monash_University, Melbourne, where he graduated in arts and education. He worked as a teacher in government schools and as a taxi-driver before entering politics. A leading member of the right-wing faction of the ALP, Ray entered the Senate at the 1980 elections after defeating a left-wing Senator, Jean_Melzer, in a party ballot. This caused great bitterness in the Socialist_Left faction, which has disliked Ray ever since. In the Hawke Labor government Ray was Minister for Home Affairs 1987-88, Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs, with a seat in the Cabinet, 1988-90 and Minister for Defence 1990-96. In this portfolio he strongly supported Hawke's decision to send Australian forces to support the United_Nations in the Gulf_War, despite bitter opposition from the left. After the defeat of the Keating government in 1996, Ray did not seek election to the Opposition Shadow Ministry, but remained a powerful figure in the Labor Party, acting as a key factional supporter of Opposition Leader Kim_Beazley 1996-2001. His influence diminished when Mark_Latham became Leader in 2003. He is expected to retire at the 2007 election. {{start box}} {{succession box | title=Australian Minister for Defence | before=Kim_Beazley | after=Ian_McLachlan | years=1990–1996}} {{end box}} {{Australian Senators}} Ray, Robert Ray, Robert Ray, Robert Ray, Robert Ray, Robert Ray, Robert