Alan Hulme

The Honourable Sir Alan Hulme KBE
Member of the Australian Parliament for Petrie
In office 10 December 1949 – 9 December 1961
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Reginald O'Brien
In office 30 November 1963 – 2 November 1972
Preceded by	Reginald O'Brien
Succeeded by	Marshall Cooke
Personal details
Born	(1907-02-14)14 February 1907 Mosman, New South Wales
Died	Nambour
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Occupation	Accountant

Sir Alan Shallcross Hulme KBE (14 February 1907 – 9 October 1989) was an Australian politician, accountant and cattle breeder. He was born in the Sydney suburb of Mosman and moved to Queensland before World War II, where he practised as an accountant. He was a founding member of the Queensland People's Party and was its president in 1949, when it merged with the Liberal Party.

Hulme won the House of Representatives seat of Petrie at its creation at the 1949 election for the Liberal Party. He was Minister for Supply from 1958 to his defeat in the 1961 election by Reginald O'Brien. He won Petrie back at the 1963 election and became Postmaster-General until his retirement at the 1972 election. He was also Vice-President of the Executive Council from 1966 to 1972. As Postmaster-General, he was responsible for the introduction of an Australian-owned satellite system in 1970, Aussat, which was later privatised as Optus. In 1972 he was involved in the decision to impose health warnings on cigarette advertising. He was also responsible for the controversial decision to build Black Mountain Tower in Canberra. In 1972 he announced that colour television would be introduced in Australia from 1 March 1975, by which time he had retired from politics and his party was out of office.

Hulme was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in January 1971. He died in 1989, survived by two sons and a daughter.

Notes

Political offices
Preceded by Athol Townley	Minister for Supply 1958–1961	Succeeded by Allen Fairhall
Preceded by Charles Davidson	Postmaster-General 1963–1972	Succeeded by Lionel Bowen
Preceded by William McMahon	Vice-President of the Executive Council 1966–1972	Succeeded by Don Willesee
Parliament of Australia
New division	Member for Petrie 1949–1961	Succeeded by Reginald O'Brien
Preceded by Reginald O'Brien	Member for Petrie 1963–1972	Succeeded by Marshall Cooke