Barry Simon (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Barry Douglas Simon was an Australia
n politician. Born in Melbourne
, he attended the University of Melbourne
before becoming a teacher and barrister. He was a member of Berwick City Council
, and served as its mayor. In 1975, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives
as the Liberal
member for McMillan
, defeating Arthur Hewson, a member of the Liberals' Coalition
partner the Country Party
. He was defeated in 1980 by the Labor Party
, largely due to the Democratic Labor Party
's decision to direct its preferences to Labor in view of Simon's liberal views on abortion
. Simon was also targeted by Right to Life
organisations, and this was also credited as a factor in his defeat. Simon died in 2004.
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. Born 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...
, he attended the University of Melbourne
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...
before becoming a teacher and barrister. He was a member of Berwick City Council
City of Berwick
The City of Berwick was a Local Government Area located about southeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1973 until 1994.-History:...
, and served as its mayor. In 1975, he was elected to 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....
as the Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member for McMillan
Division of McMillan
The Division of McMillan is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It is located in the western part of the Gippsland region, which extends for the length of Victoria's eastern Bass Strait coastline. It includes the outer south-eastern Melbourne suburb of Pakenham, and also...
, defeating Arthur Hewson, a member of the Liberals' Coalition
Coalition (Australia)
The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922...
partner the Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
. He was defeated in 1980 by the 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...
, largely due to the Democratic Labor Party
Democratic Labor Party (historical)
The Democratic Labor Party was an Australian political party that existed from 1955 until 1978.-History:The DLP was formed as a result of a split in the Australian Labor Party that began in 1954. The split was between the party's national leadership, under the then party leader Dr H.V...
's decision to direct its preferences to Labor in view of Simon's liberal views on abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
. Simon was also targeted by Right to Life
Right to life
Right to life is a phrase that describes the belief that a human being has an essential right to live, particularly that a human being has the right not to be killed by another human being...
organisations, and this was also credited as a factor in his defeat. Simon died in 2004.