John Pandazopoulos
Encyclopedia
John Pandazopoulos is a Victorian politician. He is a Member of the Legislative Assembly
, representing the electorate of Dandenong
for the Australian Labor Party
. During the Bracks Government
, he was a member of Cabinet, serving as Minister for Major Projects, Employment, Tourism, Gaming and Racing. He was also Minister assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs.
He is married with two children.
in 1963. He grew up in the outer suburb of Doveton, where he attended Doveton High School. He gained admission to Monash University
in 1982, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts
. While at university, he was active in student politics, serving as Secretary of the Monash Student Association
as well as having an active role in NUGAS. One of his contemporaries in student politics was John Lenders
, who is now Treasurer
of Victoria.
Upon graduating, Pandazopoulos began work as an organiser with the Finance Sector Union
. He was elected to the City of Berwick Council in 1987, and was Mayor from 1990-1991.
was elected in 1999, Pandazopoulos became a member of the Victorian Cabinet as Minister for Major Projects, as well as Minister for Gaming and Minister assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs. He was dropped from Cabinet after the 2006 Victorian election, and has since served as Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
Legislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
, representing the electorate of Dandenong
Electoral district of Dandenong
The Electoral district of Dandenong is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. It was first proclaimed in 1904 when the district of Dandenong and Berwick was abolished....
for 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...
. During the Bracks Government
Steve Bracks
Stephen Philip Bracks AC is a former Australian politician and the 44th Premier of Victoria. He first won the electoral district of Williamstown in 1994 for the Australian Labor Party, and was party leader and Premier from 1999 to 2007....
, he was a member of Cabinet, serving as Minister for Major Projects, Employment, Tourism, Gaming and Racing. He was also Minister assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs.
He is married with two children.
Early life
Pandazopoulos was born in MelbourneMelbourne
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...
in 1963. He grew up in the outer suburb of Doveton, where he attended Doveton High School. He gained admission to 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....
in 1982, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
. While at university, he was active in student politics, serving as Secretary of the Monash Student Association
Monash Student Association
The Monash Student Association Inc is located at the Clayton campus of Monash University in the Campus Centre building. The MSA is made up of elected student representatives who represent all Clayton campus students on general issues such as education, fees and student welfare, and also specific...
as well as having an active role in NUGAS. One of his contemporaries in student politics was John Lenders
John Lenders
John Lenders is an Australian Labor Party politician representing the Southern Metropolitan Region in the Victorian Legislative Council. He was most notably the Minister for Education in the Bracks Government and Treasurer of Victoria in the Brumby Government....
, who is now Treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
of Victoria.
Upon graduating, Pandazopoulos began work as an organiser with the Finance Sector Union
Finance Sector Union
The Finance Sector Union of Australia is an Australian white collar trade union formed from the amalgamation of various smaller unions drawn from the banking, insurance, trustee, broking, and general finance industries.-Origins:...
. He was elected to the City of Berwick Council in 1987, and was Mayor from 1990-1991.
Political career
At age 29, Pandazopoulos was elected to the Victorian Parliament as Member for Dandenong. While the Labor Party was in Opposition from 1992-1999, he was appointed to a number of key roles, such as Shadow Minister for Freedom of Information and Tourism. When the Bracks GovernmentSteve Bracks
Stephen Philip Bracks AC is a former Australian politician and the 44th Premier of Victoria. He first won the electoral district of Williamstown in 1994 for the Australian Labor Party, and was party leader and Premier from 1999 to 2007....
was elected in 1999, Pandazopoulos became a member of the Victorian Cabinet as Minister for Major Projects, as well as Minister for Gaming and Minister assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs. He was dropped from Cabinet after the 2006 Victorian election, and has since served as Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee.