Gavin Jennings
Encyclopedia
Gavin Jennings is an Australian politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party
member of the Victorian Legislative Council
since 1999, representing Melbourne Province and then the South Eastern Metropolitan Region. Until December 2010 he was the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council and the state Minister for Environment and Climate Change and Minister for Innovation. Jennings is a leading member of the party's Socialist Left faction.http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/friends-and-enemies-in-alps-factional-labyrinth/2006/03/10/1141701695912.html.
Jennings studied at Beaufort High School and Monash University
, attaining degrees in arts and social work. He worked at various times as a factory worker, actuarial clerk, actor, social worker and policy analyst. He was employed as an adviser to Cain government minister Kay Setches between 1988 and 1990, and then to Premiers John Cain
and Joan Kirner
between 1990 and 1992. After the defeat of the Kirner government at the 1992 state election, Jennings began working as an industrial officer, working for the Public Transport Union, Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union
and Electrical Trades Union
at various times until his election to parliament.
Jennings won preselection for the safe Labor Legislative Council seat of Melbourne Province in advance of the 1999 state election, and was thus easily elected. He was immediately appointed as Cabinet Secretary and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council. He was promoted to the ministry after the 2002 state election, serving as Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. He was shifted from the aged care to the community services portfolio after the 2006 state election
. He received a significant promotion in the wake of John Brumby
's accession to the premiership in August 2007, receiving the portfolios of the environment and climate change, and innovation.
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 Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
since 1999, representing Melbourne Province and then the South Eastern Metropolitan Region. Until December 2010 he was the Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council and the state Minister for Environment and Climate Change and Minister for Innovation. Jennings is a leading member of the party's Socialist Left faction.http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/friends-and-enemies-in-alps-factional-labyrinth/2006/03/10/1141701695912.html.
Jennings studied at Beaufort High School and 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....
, attaining degrees in arts and social work. He worked at various times as a factory worker, actuarial clerk, actor, social worker and policy analyst. He was employed as an adviser to Cain government minister Kay Setches between 1988 and 1990, and then to Premiers John Cain
John Cain II
John Cain , Australian Labor Party politician, was the 41st Premier of Victoria, holding office from 1982 to 1990.-Biography:...
and Joan Kirner
Joan Kirner
Joan Elizabeth Kirner AM , Australian politician, was the 42nd Premier of Victoria, the first woman to hold the position, which she held for two years prior to a landslide election defeat.-Biography:...
between 1990 and 1992. After the defeat of the Kirner government at the 1992 state election, Jennings began working as an industrial officer, working for the Public Transport Union, Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union
Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union
United Voice, formerly known as the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union is a large Australian trade union, with around 130,000 members...
and Electrical Trades Union
Electrical Trades Union of Australia
The Electrical Trades Union of Australia is a trade union in Australia which has a history stretching back over 100 years. In its modern form the ETU is a division of the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union , although it is possibly the most well known of the three divisions...
at various times until his election to parliament.
Jennings won preselection for the safe Labor Legislative Council seat of Melbourne Province in advance of the 1999 state election, and was thus easily elected. He was immediately appointed as Cabinet Secretary and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council. He was promoted to the ministry after the 2002 state election, serving as Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. He was shifted from the aged care to the community services portfolio after the 2006 state election
Victorian state election, 2006
An election for the 56th Parliament of Victoria took place on Saturday, 25 November 2006. Just over 3 million Victorians registered to vote elected 88 members to the Legislative Assembly and, for the first time, 40 members to the Legislative Council under a proportional representation system...
. He received a significant promotion in the wake of John Brumby
John Brumby
John Mansfield Brumby , is an Australian Labor Party politician who was Premier of Victoria from 2007 to 2010. He became Premier after the resignation of Steve Bracks. He also served as the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. He contested his first election...
's accession to the premiership in August 2007, receiving the portfolios of the environment and climate change, and innovation.