Bob Pearce
Encyclopedia
Robert John Pearce was an Australian politician, and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
from 1977 until 1993 representing the seats of Gosnells
and Armadale
.
to Ronald Malcolm Pearce, a professional fisherman, and Betty Pearce (née Crain). He was educated at Bayswater
Primary School. During a three year stay in Tasmania he attended Hobart High School
for years 8–10, returning to Western Australia and Governor Stirling Senior High School
for years 11 and 12 in 1962–1963, serving as school captain in his final year. He then completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Western Australia
(UWA), and a Diploma of Education at Claremont Teachers' College, graduating in 1969. On 19 January 1969, he married Barbara Joy Collins at St Martin's Church in Kensington
. Pearce then became a secondary school teacher, teaching at Eastern Goldfields Senior High School in Kalgoorlie
(1970–1972); Bentley High School
(1973–1974) and Lynwood Senior High School
(1975–1976), where he became Senior Master in English.
Pearce was active in student politics. At UWA, he was secretary of the Guild of Students and served as vice-president on two occasions. In 1969 he became an honorary Life Associate of the UWA Guild of Students and also served as president of the National Union of Australian University Students (a predecessor to the National Union of Students
) in 1969. He subsequently joined the State School Teachers' Union of Western Australia, and was elected vice-president in 1976, and whilst in Kalgoorlie and Lynwood he served as secretary of local Labor party branches, serving on the party's State Executive in 1973. Whilst in Kalgoorlie and Lynwood he served as secretary of local Labor party branches, as well as being a member of the party's State Executive in 1973.
ahead of the 1977 state election
, beating Nick Clarke, a telecommunications technician, and narrowly won the seat, beating his Liberal rival by 238 votes. He was appointed Deputy Opposition Whip in 1977, and in June 1978, he was commissioned to write a report into improving Labor's prospects at the 1980 election
. He recommended that the party concentrate its energies on "middle class" seats. From 1980, he served as the Shadow Minister for Education and Women's Interests.
With Labor's election victory at the February 1983 election
under leader Brian Burke
, at which Pearce contested and won the new seat of Armadale
, Pearce was promoted to the Ministry, serving as Minister for Education in the Burke ministry. On 20 December 1984 he was also given the Planning portfolio, and on 16 March 1987 the Intergovernmental Relations portfolio. From 12 May 1986 until 25 July 1986, he was also the Minister for Police and Emergency Services after Arthur Tonkin
's departure from the Ministry. At this time he also became Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly, responsible for managing government business, and held that position until his departure from the Ministry.
When Peter Dowding
became premier in February 1988, in a cabinet reshuffle designed to move ministers from portfolios in which they had been controversial, Pearce moved to the Transport portfolio and took on the Parliamentary and Electoral Reform portfolio, overseeing the implementation of the Acts Amendment (Electoral Reform) Act 1987 which had been steered through by former deputy premier Mal Bryce
. Following the February 1989 election
, at which the Environment Minister Barry Hodge lost his seat, Pearce took on the portfolio.
When Carmen Lawrence
became premier in February 1990, Pearce lost all roles except Environment and Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly, but increased in seniority within the Cabinet.
On 20 October 1992, it was announced by the Premier, following the delivery of Part One of the Royal Commission into WA Inc
, that a finding of improper conduct had been made against Pearce and that he would stand down from the Ministry and vacate his parliamentary seat after the next election. He was accused of acting improperly in making information public about the Liberal Party president's fund withdrawals from the Teachers' Credit Society, which failed in 1987. Pearce denied the allegations, but stated that Westminster conventions meant he was required to resign anyway. On 26 October 1992, he was replaced as Environment Minister by Jim McGinty
, and as Leader of the House by Eric Ripper
.
In 1998, he became Executive Director of the Forest Industries Federation of Western Australia and in March 2008, he became director of the National Association of Forest Industries.
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
from 1977 until 1993 representing the seats of Gosnells
Electoral district of Gosnells
Gosnells is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia.The district is based in the south-eastern suburbs of Perth. It includes almost all of the suburb of Gosnells, large parts of the suburbs of Huntingdale and Thornlie and a small part of the...
and Armadale
Electoral district of Armadale
The Electoral district of Armadale is a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. The district is named for the southeastern Perth suburb of Armadale which falls within its borders.-History:...
.
Biography
Pearce was born in PerthPerth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
to Ronald Malcolm Pearce, a professional fisherman, and Betty Pearce (née Crain). He was educated at Bayswater
Bayswater, Western Australia
The City of Bayswater is a Local Government Area in the inner northeastern suburbs of the Western Australian capital city of Perth, about northeast of Perth's central business district. The City covers an area of and has a estimated population of 61,865 as at June 2010.-History:The Bayswater Road...
Primary School. During a three year stay in Tasmania he attended Hobart High School
Hobart College (Tasmania)
Hobart College was, until January 2009, a senior secondary college located at Mount Nelson, in Hobart, Tasmania.In January 2009 it became the Hobart Campus of the Tasmanian Polytechnic and the Tasmanian Academy, formed as part of the Tasmania Tomorrow reforms.The Hobart Campus now offers courses...
for years 8–10, returning to Western Australia and Governor Stirling Senior High School
Governor Stirling Senior High School
Governor Stirling Senior High School is a secondary education facility from years 8 to 12 located in Woodbridge, Western Australia, providing both vocational and tertiary entrance education.- History :...
for years 11 and 12 in 1962–1963, serving as school captain in his final year. He then completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
(UWA), and a Diploma of Education at Claremont Teachers' College, graduating in 1969. On 19 January 1969, he married Barbara Joy Collins at St Martin's Church in Kensington
Kensington, Western Australia
Kensington is an inner southern suburb of Perth. While mostly within the City of South Perth local government area, a small section is within the Town of Victoria Park....
. Pearce then became a secondary school teacher, teaching at Eastern Goldfields Senior High School in Kalgoorlie
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Kalgoorlie, known as Kalgoorlie-Boulder, is a town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, and is located east-northeast of state capital Perth at the end of the Great Eastern Highway...
(1970–1972); Bentley High School
Canning College
Canning College is an adult-education centre located in Bentley, Western Australia.The College offers a range of educational programs for adults both continuing and returning to education....
(1973–1974) and Lynwood Senior High School
Lynwood Senior High School
Lynwood Senior High School is a public co-educational high school in Perth, Western Australia. The school is located on Metcalfe Road in the Perth suburb of Parkwood.-History:The school was established in 1974 and caters for students in Year 8 to 12...
(1975–1976), where he became Senior Master in English.
Pearce was active in student politics. At UWA, he was secretary of the Guild of Students and served as vice-president on two occasions. In 1969 he became an honorary Life Associate of the UWA Guild of Students and also served as president of the National Union of Australian University Students (a predecessor to the National Union of Students
National Union of Students (Australia)
The National Union of Students is the peak representative body for Australian university students. Most student unions in Australian campuses are affiliated to NUS...
) in 1969. He subsequently joined the State School Teachers' Union of Western Australia, and was elected vice-president in 1976, and whilst in Kalgoorlie and Lynwood he served as secretary of local Labor party branches, serving on the party's State Executive in 1973. Whilst in Kalgoorlie and Lynwood he served as secretary of local Labor party branches, as well as being a member of the party's State Executive in 1973.
Political career
He was preselected for the new seat of GosnellsElectoral district of Gosnells
Gosnells is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia.The district is based in the south-eastern suburbs of Perth. It includes almost all of the suburb of Gosnells, large parts of the suburbs of Huntingdale and Thornlie and a small part of the...
ahead of the 1977 state election
Western Australian state election, 1977
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 19 February 1977 to elect all 55 members to the Legislative Assembly and 17 members to the 32-seat Legislative Council...
, beating Nick Clarke, a telecommunications technician, and narrowly won the seat, beating his Liberal rival by 238 votes. He was appointed Deputy Opposition Whip in 1977, and in June 1978, he was commissioned to write a report into improving Labor's prospects at the 1980 election
Western Australian state election, 1980
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 23 February 1980 to elect all 55 members to the Legislative Assembly and 16 members to the 32-seat Legislative Council...
. He recommended that the party concentrate its energies on "middle class" seats. From 1980, he served as the Shadow Minister for Education and Women's Interests.
With Labor's election victory at the February 1983 election
Western Australian state election, 1983
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 19 February 1983 to elect all 57 members to the Legislative Assembly and 18 members to the 34-seat Legislative Council....
under leader Brian Burke
Brian Burke
Brian Thomas Burke was Labor premier of Western Australia from 25 February 1983 until his resignation on 25 February 1988...
, at which Pearce contested and won the new seat of Armadale
Electoral district of Armadale
The Electoral district of Armadale is a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. The district is named for the southeastern Perth suburb of Armadale which falls within its borders.-History:...
, Pearce was promoted to the Ministry, serving as Minister for Education in the Burke ministry. On 20 December 1984 he was also given the Planning portfolio, and on 16 March 1987 the Intergovernmental Relations portfolio. From 12 May 1986 until 25 July 1986, he was also the Minister for Police and Emergency Services after Arthur Tonkin
Arthur Tonkin
Arthur Edward Joseph Tonkin was an Australian national representative rugby union player who featured in the 1947-48 Wallaby tour of the British Isles.-Early life:...
's departure from the Ministry. At this time he also became Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly, responsible for managing government business, and held that position until his departure from the Ministry.
When Peter Dowding
Peter Dowding
Peter McCallum Dowding SC was the 24th Premier of Western Australia, serving from 25 February 1988 until his resignation on 12 February 1990 after an internal party dispute....
became premier in February 1988, in a cabinet reshuffle designed to move ministers from portfolios in which they had been controversial, Pearce moved to the Transport portfolio and took on the Parliamentary and Electoral Reform portfolio, overseeing the implementation of the Acts Amendment (Electoral Reform) Act 1987 which had been steered through by former deputy premier Mal Bryce
Mal Bryce
Malcolm John "Mal" Bryce AO was the Labor member for Ascot in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1971 to 1988. He was Deputy Premier to Brian Burke from 1983 to 1988.-References:...
. Following the February 1989 election
Western Australian state election, 1989
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 4 February 1989 to elect all 57 members to the Legislative Assembly and all 34 members to the Legislative Council...
, at which the Environment Minister Barry Hodge lost his seat, Pearce took on the portfolio.
When Carmen Lawrence
Carmen Lawrence
Carmen Mary Lawrence is a retired Australian politician; a former Premier of Western Australia and the first woman to become Premier of a State of the Commonwealth of Australia....
became premier in February 1990, Pearce lost all roles except Environment and Leader of the House in the Legislative Assembly, but increased in seniority within the Cabinet.
On 20 October 1992, it was announced by the Premier, following the delivery of Part One of the Royal Commission into WA Inc
WA Inc
WA Inc was a political scandal in Western Australia. In the 1980s, the state government, which was led for much of the period by premier Brian Burke, engaged in business dealings with several prominent businessmen, including Alan Bond, Laurie Connell and Warren Anderson...
, that a finding of improper conduct had been made against Pearce and that he would stand down from the Ministry and vacate his parliamentary seat after the next election. He was accused of acting improperly in making information public about the Liberal Party president's fund withdrawals from the Teachers' Credit Society, which failed in 1987. Pearce denied the allegations, but stated that Westminster conventions meant he was required to resign anyway. On 26 October 1992, he was replaced as Environment Minister by Jim McGinty
Jim McGinty
James Andrew McGinty is an Australian politician. He was a Labor member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1990 to 2009, representing the district of Fremantle. He was Labor Party leader and Leader of the Opposition from 1994 to 1996...
, and as Leader of the House by Eric Ripper
Eric Ripper
Eric Stephen Ripper is the Leader of the Opposition and leader of the Labor Party in Western Australia.He grew up on a wheat/sheep farm near Nyabing. Ripper later attended Churchlands Senior High School and the University of Western Australia, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts and a...
.
In 1998, he became Executive Director of the Forest Industries Federation of Western Australia and in March 2008, he became director of the National Association of Forest Industries.