Peter Garrett

Peter Garrett AM (b. 1953), musician, environmental and social activist, and former politician, is the lead singer of the band Midnight Oil, which originated in Sydney's northern beaches in the mid-1970s. Garrett joined the band following studies in politics and law at university. From the start, the Oils' songs aggressively addressed social concerns such as the environment, uranium mining and Aboriginal rights. In 1987 they released their eighth album, Diesel and Dust, which sold more than two million copies worldwide. It included the hit 'Beds are Burning', performed provocatively by the band at the close of the 2000 Olympics in black overalls printed with the word 'sorry'. Garrett, Martin Rotsey, Rob Hirst, Jim Moginie and Bones Hillman effectively disbanded in December 2002. Garrett had become president of the Australian Conservation Foundation in 1989, and continued in the position until 1993; he was president again from 1998 to 2004. Garrett entered Federal Parliament in 2004 as Labor member for Kingsford Smith. Following Labor's victory in the 2007 election he served as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, where he was instrumental in the campaign against 'scientific whaling' in the Antarctic. He became Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth in 2010. After resigning from politics in 2013, he released his memoir, Big Blue Sky, in 2015, and a solo album, A Version of Now, the following year. Midnight Oil's successful 'Great Circle' world tour of 2017 comprised more than 70 shows across fourteen countries. In 2019, Garrett received an Honorary Doctorate from the Australian National University.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2002