Kevin Stewart
Encyclopedia
Kevin Stewart AO
(20 September 1928 – 22 August 2006), a former Australia
n politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
representing Canterbury
between 1962 and 1985 for the Australian Labor Party
. During his period in office, Stewart held a range of ministerial portfolios.
His brother, Frank Stewart
, was a member of the Australian House of Representatives
representing Lang
and later Grayndler
between 1953 and 1979, also for Labor. Frank Stewart was a Federal government minister.
. His father, Patrick Francis Stewart was a public servant. His elder brother, Frank Stewart, became a member for the Federal electorate of Lang and an Australian government minister. Kevin Stewart was educated at Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham
and De La Salle College, Marrickville
. He joined the Labor party at age 17 and was employed by the New South Wales Government Railways
from 1944 till his election to parliament. He was an official in the Australasian Transport Officers' Association
.
the sitting member for Canterbury
in Labor pre-selection and was subsequently elected as the member at the 1962 general election
. He retained this seat until he was obliged to resign from parliament in 1985 after being appointed New South Wales Agent-General in London.
With the election of the Wran
government in 1976, Stewart became the Minister for Health
. He retained this position until 1981. His term of office was marked by an attempt to redistribute health resources away from the inner city of Sydney and to areas of New South Wales with rapidly growing populations, particularly the western suburbs of Sydney
. He subsequently served as Minister for Youth and Community Services (1981–1983), Minister for Mineral Resources (1983–1984) and Minister for Local Government
(1984–1985). He was Agent-General from 1986 until 1988.
He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia
and died in Sydney in August 2006.
Following an incident where Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs football club was stripped of all points in the National Rugby League
competition for breach of the salary cap, Kevin Stewart was appointed Chairman of the Board in 2002 in an attempt to restore the Clubs' reputation.
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"...
(20 September 1928 – 22 August 2006), 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, was a 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...
representing Canterbury
Electoral district of Canterbury
Canterbury is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Linda Burney of the Australian Labor Party.-History:...
between 1962 and 1985 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 his period in office, Stewart held a range of ministerial portfolios.
His brother, Frank Stewart
Frank Stewart
Francis Eugene "Frank" Stewart , a former Australian politician and rugby league footballer, was a member of the Australian House of Representatives representing Lang between 1953 and 1977 and subsequently Grayndler between 1977 and 1979 for the Australian Labor Party. During his term in...
, was a member of the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
representing Lang
Division of Lang
The Division of Lang was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It was located in the southern suburbs of Sydney, and was named after Rev. John Dunmore Lang, a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and advocate of Australian independence...
and later Grayndler
Division of Grayndler
The Division of Grayndler is an Australian Electoral Division in inner Metropolitan Sydney, New South Wales. It is one of Australia's smallest electorates, located in the inner-southern Sydney metropolitan area, including parts of the inner-west...
between 1953 and 1979, also for Labor. Frank Stewart was a Federal government minister.
Early career and background
Stewart was born in Belmore, New South WalesBelmore, New South Wales
Belmore is a suburb, of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Belmore is located 15 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Canterbury.-History:...
. His father, Patrick Francis Stewart was a public servant. His elder brother, Frank Stewart, became a member for the Federal electorate of Lang and an Australian government minister. Kevin Stewart was educated at Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham
Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham
Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham , is a Roman Catholic, day school for boys, located in Lewisham, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
and De La Salle College, Marrickville
Casimir Catholic College
Casimir Catholic College is a co-educational Roman Catholic high school in the Sydney suburb of Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia.-History:...
. He joined the Labor party at age 17 and was employed by the New South Wales Government Railways
New South Wales Government Railways
The New South Wales Government Railways was the government department that operated the New South Wales Government's railways until the establishment of the Public Transport Commission in 1972. Although later known officially as the Department of Railways, New South Wales, it was still generally...
from 1944 till his election to parliament. He was an official in the Australasian Transport Officers' Association
Australian Services Union
The Australian Municipal, Administrative, Clerical and Services Union, which operates under the trading name of the Australian Services Union or ASU, is a trade union that represents members in a variety of industries.-Union history:...
.
Political career
Stewart defeated Arthur TongeArthur Tonge
Arthut Tonge was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 1926 and 1932 and from 1935 to 1962...
the sitting member for Canterbury
Electoral district of Canterbury
Canterbury is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Linda Burney of the Australian Labor Party.-History:...
in Labor pre-selection and was subsequently elected as the member at the 1962 general election
New South Wales state election, 1962
The 1962 New South Wales state election was held on 3 March 1962. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1961 redistribution...
. He retained this seat until he was obliged to resign from parliament in 1985 after being appointed New South Wales Agent-General in London.
With the election of the Wran
Neville Wran
Neville Kenneth Wran, AC, CNZM, QC was the Premier of New South Wales from 1976 until 1986. He was National President of the Australian Labor Party from 1980 to 1986 and Chairman of both the Lionel Murphy Foundation and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation from 1986...
government in 1976, Stewart became the Minister for Health
New South Wales Department of Health
The New South Wales Department of Health, a department of the New South Wales Government, is responsibile for monitoring the performance of the public health system in New South Wales, particularly through public hospitals...
. He retained this position until 1981. His term of office was marked by an attempt to redistribute health resources away from the inner city of Sydney and to areas of New South Wales with rapidly growing populations, particularly the western suburbs of Sydney
Greater Western Sydney
Greater Western Sydney is a term used to describe the western region of the metropolitan area of Sydney, Australia. The University of Western Sydney defines Greater Western Sydney as comprising 14 local government areas...
. He subsequently served as Minister for Youth and Community Services (1981–1983), Minister for Mineral Resources (1983–1984) and Minister for Local Government
New South Wales Department of Local Government
The New South Wales Division of Local Government, an agency of the Department of Premier and Cabinet in the Government of New South Wales, is responsible for administering legislation in relation to local government areas in New South Wales....
(1984–1985). He was Agent-General from 1986 until 1988.
He was appointed an Officer of 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"...
and died in Sydney in August 2006.
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs (Rugby League)
Patrick Francis Stewart, the father of both Kevin and Frank Stewart, was the founding president of the Canterbury Bankstown Leagues Club. The Stewart family have been long term supporters of the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs. In recognition of this support, the grandstand at Belmore Sports Ground (the former home ground of the Club) is named the "Stewart Stand” after Patrick, Frank, and Kevin Stewart.Following an incident where Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs football club was stripped of all points in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
competition for breach of the salary cap, Kevin Stewart was appointed Chairman of the Board in 2002 in an attempt to restore the Clubs' reputation.