Biography
- Parliamentary service
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- Elected to the House of Representatives for O'Connor, Western Australia, 1980. Re-elected 1983, 1984, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007. Defeated at general elections 2010.
- Parliamentary appointments
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- Member of the Advisory Council for Inter-Government Relations from 1979 to 1980.
- Ministerial appointments
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- Minister for Forestry and Conservation from 21.10.1998 to 26.11.2001.
- Minister Assisting the Prime Minister from 21.10.1998 to 26.11.2001.
- Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government from 25.1.2002 to 7.10.2003.
- Committee service
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- House of Representatives Standing: Aboriginal Affairs served from 4.12.1980 to 4.2.1983; Road Safety served from 4.12.1980 to 4.2.1983; Expenditure served from 11.5.1983 to 2.6.1986; Members' Interests served from 11.10.1984 to 26.10.1984; Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry served from 2.12.2003 to 17.10.2007; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 1.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Privileges and Members' Interests served as Deputy Chair from 11.3.2008 to 19.7.2010
- Joint Standing: Treaties served from 18.6.1996 to 24.9.1997
- Joint Statutory: Public Works served from 2.9.1997 to 3.9.1997; Public Works served as Chair from 4.9.1997 to 31.8.1998
- Conferences, delegations and visits
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- Attended study tour in Taiwan, July 1983.
- Delegate to the 29th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference, Nairobi from October to November 1983.
- Attended official meetings in Mexico and Central America from July to August 1984.
- Attended study tour in the USSR, September 1988.
- Attended a study tour in Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong, February 1992.
- Attended official meetings in Colombia from September to October 1992.
- Delegate to the 38th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference, Bahamas, October 1992.
- Attended study tour in Singapore, July 1993.
- Delegate to ANZAC commemorations, Gallipoli, April 1995.
- Attended study tour in Hong Kong, May 1995.
- Attended study tour in South Africa, January 1997.
- Attended official meetings in the USA and Venezuela, July 1997.
- Attended official meetings in Finland, the Netherlands, Canada and USA from July to August 1999.
- Attended official meetings in Oman and Malaysia, January 2000.
- Attended official meetings in Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway from April to May 2006.
- Attended official meetings in New Zealand, November 2009.
- Parliamentary party positions
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- Liberal Party of Australia. Served: 18.10.1980 to 21.08.2010
- Shadow Minister for Small Business and Administrative Services from 14.12.1984 to 1.5.1987.
- Shadow Minister for Housing and Small Business from 1.5.1987 to 14.8.1987.
- Shadow Minister for Health from 14.8.1987 to 16.9.1988.
- Shadow Cabinet Minister from 14.8.1987 to 28.10.1989.
- Shadow Minister for Employment and Training from 16.9.1988 to 12.5.1989.
- Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House from 16.9.1988 to 12.5.1989.
- Shadow Minister for Housing and Small Business from 12.5.1989 to 28.10.1989.
- Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House from 7.4.1993 to 26.5.1994.
- Shadow Minister for Small Business from 7.4.1993 to 26.5.1994.
- Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Defence Science and Personnel from 26.5.1994 to 11.3.1996.
- Personal
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- Born: 10.7.1935, Perth, Australia
- Gender: Male
- Marital Status: Married
- Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament
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- Local Government service
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- Councillor, Town of Carnarvon, 1964.
- Mayor, Town of Carnarvon from 1964 to 1965.
- Shire President, Shire of Carnarvon from 1965 to 1969.
- Member, Executive Committee of Country Shire Councils' Association from 1969 to 1976.
- Deputy President, Shire of Carnarvon from 1970 to 1971.
- Councillor, Shire of Carnarvon from 1971 to 1973.
- Deputy President, Shire of Carnarvon from 1973 to 1977.
- Deputy President, Executive Committee of Country Shire Councils' Association from 1976 to 1978.
- Member, WA Local Government Grants Commission from 1976 to 1980.
- Councillor, Shire of Carnarvon from 1977 to 1979.
- President, Executive Committee of Country Shire Councils' Association from 1978 to 1980.
- Deputy President, Shire of Carnarvon from 1979 to 1980.
- Councillor, Shire of Carnarvon from 1979 to 1980.
- Electorate
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- Name: O'Connor
- Location: south-east Western Australia; it includes Albany, Bridgetown, Denmark, Esperance, Kalgoorlie, Kojonup, Laverton, Leonora, Manjimup, Mount Barker, Ravensthorpe, Southern Cross, Wagin and Warburton.
- Area: 908,954 Sq km
- Electors enrolled: 92,875 (at 21.8.2010)
- Industries: grain, sheep, cattle, tree farming, fishing and aquaculture, vineyards and winemaking, gold, talc and mineral sands mining, farmstays and tourism.
- Includes: O'Connor includes the Western Australian Legislative Assembly electorates of Albany and Eyre, and parts of Blackwood-Stirling, Central Wheatbelt, Kalgoorlie, Pilbara and Wagin.
- Honours
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- Awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia, 26.1.2024.
- Publications
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- Ironbar: a memoir, Ironbar Publishing, 2022.