Bob Harrison (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert Joseph Wilson "Bob" Harrison AO
(born 19 September 1934) is a former Australia
n politician. He was the Labor Party
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for the seat of Kiama
from 1986 to 1999.
Harrison was born in Goulburn
and attended local state schools. He was employed at the Pacific Supertex Chenille Factory in Goulburn before moving to Port Kembla
in 1953 to work for AIS Steelworks. In 1955 he became a waterside worker, and also became active in the labour movement
, particularly the Maritime Union of Australia
. He was married on 20 October 1961 in Hobart
, Tasmania
, to Angela, with whom he has two daughters. In 1971 he was elected to Shellharbour Municipal Council
and would remain on the council until 1991. He served as mayor 1974–75 and 1977–91.
In 1986, the Labor
member for the local state seat of Kiama
, Bill Knott, resigned on medical grounds and Harrison was preselected as the Labor candidate for the by-election. He won easily, and held the seat without serious challenge until his retirement in 1999.
Harrison was awarded the Order of Australia
in 2005.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 19 September 1934) is a former Australia
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 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...
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
for the seat of Kiama
Electoral district of Kiama
Kiama is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Gareth Ward of the Liberal Party of Australia. This electorate is named after the Municipality of Kiama in the Illawarra, which is at the centre...
from 1986 to 1999.
Harrison was born in Goulburn
Goulburn, New South Wales
Goulburn is a provincial city in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Goulburn Mulwaree Council Local Government Area. It is located south-west of Sydney on the Hume Highway and above sea-level. On Census night 2006, Goulburn had a population of 20,127 people...
and attended local state schools. He was employed at the Pacific Supertex Chenille Factory in Goulburn before moving to Port Kembla
Port Kembla, New South Wales
Port Kembla is a suburb of Wollongong 8 km south of the CBD and part of the Illawarra region of New South Wales. The suburb comprises a seaport, industrial complex , a small harbour foreshore nature reserve, and a small commercial sector. It is situated on the tip of Red Point, first sighted...
in 1953 to work for AIS Steelworks. In 1955 he became a waterside worker, and also became active in the labour movement
Labour movement
The term labour movement or labor movement is a broad term for the development of a collective organization of working people, to campaign in their own interest for better treatment from their employers and governments, in particular through the implementation of specific laws governing labour...
, particularly the Maritime Union of Australia
Maritime Union of Australia
The Maritime Union of Australia covers waterside workers, seafarers, port workers, professional divers, and office workers associated with Australian ports. As of 2011 the union has about 13,000 members. It is an affiliate of the International Transport Workers' Federation and represents the...
. He was married on 20 October 1961 in Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, to Angela, with whom he has two daughters. In 1971 he was elected to Shellharbour Municipal Council
City of Shellharbour
City of Shellharbour is a Local Government Area located in the Illawarra region, on the east coast of Australia, about 100 km south of Sydney...
and would remain on the council until 1991. He served as mayor 1974–75 and 1977–91.
In 1986, the Labor
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 for the local state seat of Kiama
Electoral district of Kiama
Kiama is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Gareth Ward of the Liberal Party of Australia. This electorate is named after the Municipality of Kiama in the Illawarra, which is at the centre...
, Bill Knott, resigned on medical grounds and Harrison was preselected as the Labor candidate for the by-election. He won easily, and held the seat without serious challenge until his retirement in 1999.
Harrison was awarded the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in 2005.