John Akister
Encyclopedia
John Edward Akister is a former Australia
n politician. He was the Labor
member for Monaro
in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1976 to 1988, and served as a minister from 1984 to 1988.
Akister was born in Brighton
in England
, and was educated at Staveley Public School, Windermere Grammar School in Westmoreland
, and Salford Technical College. Having trained as an electrical fitter, he worked for the metropolitan Vickers
company from 1957 to 1959, when he began national service
as a private in the 1st Battalion of the Lancashire Regiment. He returned to Vickers in 1961, becoming a draughtsman at A.E.I. Pty Ltd in 1963. He married Brenda Ann Pye on 18 December 1965 in Sydney
and moved to Australia as senior draughtsman with the Snowy Mountains Authority in 1966. He joined the Australian Labor Party
in 1969 and served as secretary of the Cooma
branch from 1970 to 1976.
In 1976, Akister was selected as the Labor candidate for the marginal Liberal
seat of Monaro
in the New South Wales Parliament. Sitting MP Steve Mauger
had resigned before the election, leaving the seat vacant, and Akister was narrowly elected in a three-cornered contest with the Liberal and Country
parties. In 1984, he became Minister for Corrective Services, as well as holding junior ministries on Rural Matters and assisting the Agriculture Minister. In 1986 he was given additional responsibility as Assistant Minister for Transport. However, in 1988 the Unsworth
Government was defeated at the polls, and Akister was one of the members who lost his seat (to National Party candidate Peter Cochran
). He became a businessman after leaving politics.
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
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 Monaro
Electoral district of Monaro
Monaro is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by John Barilaro of the National Party of Australia....
in 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...
from 1976 to 1988, and served as a minister from 1984 to 1988.
Akister was born in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and was educated at Staveley Public School, Windermere Grammar School in Westmoreland
Westmoreland
Westmoreland is a historic county in England. It may also refer to:-Places:Australia*Westmoreland County, New South WalesCanada*Westmorland County, New BrunswickJamaica*Westmoreland, Jamaica, a parishNew Zealand...
, and Salford Technical College. Having trained as an electrical fitter, he worked for the metropolitan Vickers
Vickers
Vickers was a famous name in British engineering that existed through many companies from 1828 until 1999.-Early history:Vickers was formed in Sheffield as a steel foundry by the miller Edward Vickers and his father-in-law George Naylor in 1828. Naylor was a partner in the foundry Naylor &...
company from 1957 to 1959, when he began national service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
as a private in the 1st Battalion of the Lancashire Regiment. He returned to Vickers in 1961, becoming a draughtsman at A.E.I. Pty Ltd in 1963. He married Brenda Ann Pye on 18 December 1965 in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
and moved to Australia as senior draughtsman with the Snowy Mountains Authority in 1966. He joined the 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...
in 1969 and served as secretary of the Cooma
Cooma, New South Wales
-Education: is Cooma's only public high school, it serves the town and seven of the neighbouring rural towns and villages such as Berridale, Jindabyne, Nimmitabel, Bredbo and Dalgety....
branch from 1970 to 1976.
In 1976, Akister was selected as the Labor candidate for the marginal 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...
seat of Monaro
Electoral district of Monaro
Monaro is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by John Barilaro of the National Party of Australia....
in the New South Wales Parliament. Sitting MP Steve Mauger
Steve Mauger
Stephen George "Steve" Mauger was an Australian politician. He was the Liberal member for Monaro in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1965 to 1976, and was Minister for Youth, Ethnic and Community Affairs from 1975 to 1976.Mauger was born in Williamstown in Victoria to Albert Stephen...
had resigned before the election, leaving the seat vacant, and Akister was narrowly elected in a three-cornered contest with the Liberal and Country
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...
parties. In 1984, he became Minister for Corrective Services, as well as holding junior ministries on Rural Matters and assisting the Agriculture Minister. In 1986 he was given additional responsibility as Assistant Minister for Transport. However, in 1988 the Unsworth
Barrie Unsworth
Barrie John Unsworth was an Australian politician, representing the Australian Labor Party in the Parliament of New South Wales from 1978 to 1991. He served as the 36th Premier from July 1986 to March 1988.-Early years:...
Government was defeated at the polls, and Akister was one of the members who lost his seat (to National Party candidate Peter Cochran
Peter Cochran (politician)
Peter Lachlan Cochran is a former Australian politician. He was the National Party member for Monaro in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1988 to 1998....
). He became a businessman after leaving politics.