Andrew Theophanous
Encyclopedia
Andrew Charles Theophanous (born 24 March 1946) is a former Australia
n politician. He was an Australian Labor Party
member of the Australian House of Representatives
from 1980 to 2000, and an independent member from 2000 to 2001. He was later jailed for bribery and fraud offences relating to visa applications and other immigration matters.
, Cyprus
on 24 March 1946. He migrated to Australia at the age of eight, with his mother, brother Theo Theophanous
and sister; his father had arrived three years earlier. He grew up in Broadmeadows
in Melbourne
, entered Monash University
and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours. He gained a B.Litt. from Oxford University
and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Melbourne University
. In 1980, his first book "Australian Democracy in Crisis: a radical approach to Australian politics" was published by Oxford University Press. He became a Lecturer in Politics, Melbourne State College and later in Social Theory at Melbourne University. He also lectured at the University of Nevada
, USA, and as Senior Teaching Fellow at Monash University
.
electorate of Burke in 1980
. He switched to the new safe Labor electorate of Calwell
in 1984. Theophanous was heavily interested in immigration matters, and from 1989 to 1993, was Chairman of the Joint Standing Committee on Migration. In this capacity, Theophanous' committee produced a number of reports on immigration policy.
In 1993, Theophanous was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Community Services and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health. In December, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Human Services. In March 1994, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Paul Keating
, who had enjoyed his support in two caucus leadership ballots, which made him unusual in the Left grouping, who mostly supported Bob Hawke
.
Theophanous also wrote two more books: "Understanding Social Justice: an Australian perspective" (1994) ; and "Understanding Multiculturalism and Australian Identity" (1995). Both books were officially launched by Prime Minister Keating and were used in a number of academic courses.
Theophanous resigned from the Labor Party on 18 April 2000. His brother, Theo
, condemned the resignation, calling it "an action taken by him with which I strongly disagree. I do not believe his actions are an appropriate response". At this time, Andrew Theophanous announced that he would serve out his term as an independent. During this period as an independent, he initiated a number of parliamentary motions on immigration, refugees, multicultural affairs and human rights. He recontested the seat as an independent candidate at the 2001 election. He polled 9.6% of the vote, with the support of the Unity Party, but the seat was won by the new Labor candidate and former staffer, Maria Vamvakinou
.
Theophanous was jailed in 2002, having been sentenced to six years in prison, but only served two years and his Barrister Stephen Sherrifs S.C. successfully appealed one of the charges for which he had been convicted (that of conspiracy to defraud).
Horseshoe Bend Ward Councillor. Theophanous' brother Theo Theophanous
is a former state Labor politician.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. He was an Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
member of the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
from 1980 to 2000, and an independent member from 2000 to 2001. He was later jailed for bribery and fraud offences relating to visa applications and other immigration matters.
Early life
Theophanous was born in PaphosPaphos
Paphos , sometimes referred to as Pafos, is a coastal city in the southwest of Cyprus and the capital of Paphos District. In antiquity, two locations were called Paphos: Old Paphos and New Paphos. The currently inhabited city is New Paphos. It lies on the Mediterranean coast, about west of the...
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
on 24 March 1946. He migrated to Australia at the age of eight, with his mother, brother Theo Theophanous
Theo Theophanous
Theo Charles Theophanous is a former Australian politician who served in the Victorian Legislative Council representing the Northern Metropolitan Region. He is the brother of former federal politician Andrew Theophanous...
and sister; his father had arrived three years earlier. He grew up in Broadmeadows
Broadmeadows, Victoria
Broadmeadows is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 16 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hume...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, entered Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours. He gained a B.Litt. from Oxford University
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Melbourne University
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
. In 1980, his first book "Australian Democracy in Crisis: a radical approach to Australian politics" was published by Oxford University Press. He became a Lecturer in Politics, Melbourne State College and later in Social Theory at Melbourne University. He also lectured at the University of Nevada
University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA...
, USA, and as Senior Teaching Fellow at Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
.
Political career
Supported by the Socialist Left faction, Dr Theophanous was first elected as the Labor member for the MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
electorate of Burke in 1980
Australian federal election, 1980
Federal elections were held in Australia on 18 October 1980. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives, and 34 of the 64 seats in the Senate, were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Malcolm Fraser with coalition partner the National Country Party led by Doug...
. He switched to the new safe Labor electorate of Calwell
Division of Calwell
The Division of Calwell is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1984 and is named for Arthur Calwell, who was Minister for Immigration 1945-49 and Leader of the Australian Labor Party 1960-67...
in 1984. Theophanous was heavily interested in immigration matters, and from 1989 to 1993, was Chairman of the Joint Standing Committee on Migration. In this capacity, Theophanous' committee produced a number of reports on immigration policy.
In 1993, Theophanous was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Community Services and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health. In December, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Human Services. In March 1994, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Paul Keating
Paul Keating
Paul John Keating was the 24th Prime Minister of Australia, serving from 1991 to 1996. Keating was elected as the federal Labor member for Blaxland in 1969 and came to prominence as the reformist treasurer of the Hawke Labor government, which came to power at the 1983 election...
, who had enjoyed his support in two caucus leadership ballots, which made him unusual in the Left grouping, who mostly supported Bob Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
.
Theophanous also wrote two more books: "Understanding Social Justice: an Australian perspective" (1994) ; and "Understanding Multiculturalism and Australian Identity" (1995). Both books were officially launched by Prime Minister Keating and were used in a number of academic courses.
Resignation
During 1998 Theophanous came under suspicion for being involved in migration fraud, and in July 1998 the National Crime Authority launched an investigation, codenamed Operation Legume. He was charged with defrauding the Commonwealth by making false representations in relation to an immigration matter, taking an unlawful inducement and soliciting an unlawful inducement.Theophanous resigned from the Labor Party on 18 April 2000. His brother, Theo
Theo Theophanous
Theo Charles Theophanous is a former Australian politician who served in the Victorian Legislative Council representing the Northern Metropolitan Region. He is the brother of former federal politician Andrew Theophanous...
, condemned the resignation, calling it "an action taken by him with which I strongly disagree. I do not believe his actions are an appropriate response". At this time, Andrew Theophanous announced that he would serve out his term as an independent. During this period as an independent, he initiated a number of parliamentary motions on immigration, refugees, multicultural affairs and human rights. He recontested the seat as an independent candidate at the 2001 election. He polled 9.6% of the vote, with the support of the Unity Party, but the seat was won by the new Labor candidate and former staffer, Maria Vamvakinou
Maria Vamvakinou
Maria Vamvakinou , is an Australian politician. She has been member of the Australian House of Representatives since November 2001, representing the Division of Calwell, Victoria for the Australian Labor Party...
.
Theophanous was jailed in 2002, having been sentenced to six years in prison, but only served two years and his Barrister Stephen Sherrifs S.C. successfully appealed one of the charges for which he had been convicted (that of conspiracy to defraud).
Family
Theophanous is married to Dr. Kathryn Eriksson, an archaeologist. In November 2005, she was elected as a BrimbankCity of Brimbank
The City of Brimbank is a Local Government Area located within the metropolitan area of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It comprises the western suburbs between 10 and 20 km west and northwest from the Melbourne city centre.It has an area of 123 km²...
Horseshoe Bend Ward Councillor. Theophanous' brother Theo Theophanous
Theo Theophanous
Theo Charles Theophanous is a former Australian politician who served in the Victorian Legislative Council representing the Northern Metropolitan Region. He is the brother of former federal politician Andrew Theophanous...
is a former state Labor politician.
Further reading
- Theophanous, Andrew C. (1980), Australian democracy in crisis : a radical approach to Australian politics, Oxford University Press, Melbourne. ISBN 0195542789
- Lajovic, Misha and Theophanous, Andrew (1984), 'The major political parties and ethnic affairs,' in James JuppJames JuppJames Jupp AM is a British-Australian political scientist and author. He is Director of the Centre for Immigration and Multicultural Studies in the Research School of Social Sciences at the Australian National University and an Adjunct Professor of the RMIT University in Melbourne...
(ed.), Ethnic Politics in Australia, George Allen and Unwin, North Sydney, New South Wales. ISBN 0-86861-334-7 - Theophanous, Andrew C. (1994)(1993), Understanding Social Justice. An Australian Perspective, Second Expanded Edition, Elikia Books, Carlton South, Victoria. ISBN 1-875335-03-X
- Theophanous, Andrew C. (1995), Understanding multiculturalism and Australian identity, Elikia Books, Melbourne. ISBN 1875335048