Laurie Kelly (politician)
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Borthwick "Laurie" Kelly (born 5 November 1928) is a former Australia
n politician. He was the Labor
member for Corrimal
in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1968 to 1988, and served as Speaker
from 1976 to 1988.
Kelly was born in Thirroul
, the son of Laurie Kelly Sr.
, who was a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1947 to 1955. He was educated at Thirroul Primary School and Wollongong
High School, and after leaving school worked as an accountant. He joined the Australian Labor Party
in 1948. On 23 October 1954 he married Rhonda Ali, with whom he would have two children.
In 1968, Kelly was selected as the Labor candidate for the seat of Corrimal
, largely a successor to his father's old seat of Bulli
. Elected easily, he never had difficulty in winning re-election. He was appointed Speaker in 1976, serving until 1988, when his seat of Corrimal was abolished. Kelly challenged sitting Independent
MP Frank Arkell for his seat of Wollongong
, but was defeated.
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 Corrimal
Electoral district of Corrimal
Corrimal was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian State of New South Wales from 1968 to 1988, named after the suburb of Corrimal. It was replaced by Keira. Its only member was Laurie Kelly, representing the Australian Labor Party....
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 1968 to 1988, and served as Speaker
Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly is the presiding officer of the Legislative Assembly, New South Wales's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is Shelley Hancock, who was elected on 3 May 2011...
from 1976 to 1988.
Kelly was born in Thirroul
Thirroul, New South Wales
Thirroul is a northern seaside suburb of the city of Wollongong, Australia, with the name supposedly Aboriginal for "Valley of Cabbage Tree Palms". Situated between Austinmer and Bulli, it is approximately 13 kilometres north of Wollongong, and 69 km south of Sydney...
, the son of Laurie Kelly Sr.
Laurie Kelly Sr.
Lawrence Bothwick Kelly Sr. was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1947 until his death. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party ....
, who was a member of the Legislative Assembly from 1947 to 1955. He was educated at Thirroul Primary School and Wollongong
Wollongong, New South Wales
Wollongong is a seaside city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 82 kilometres south of Sydney...
High School, and after leaving school worked as an accountant. 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 1948. On 23 October 1954 he married Rhonda Ali, with whom he would have two children.
In 1968, Kelly was selected as the Labor candidate for the seat of Corrimal
Electoral district of Corrimal
Corrimal was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian State of New South Wales from 1968 to 1988, named after the suburb of Corrimal. It was replaced by Keira. Its only member was Laurie Kelly, representing the Australian Labor Party....
, largely a successor to his father's old seat of Bulli
Electoral district of Bulli
Bulli was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales in the Bulli area. It was originally created in 1930, replacing Wollongong. In 1971 it was abolished and was divided between the new electoral district of Heathcote and Corrimal. In 1991,...
. Elected easily, he never had difficulty in winning re-election. He was appointed Speaker in 1976, serving until 1988, when his seat of Corrimal was abolished. Kelly challenged sitting Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
MP Frank Arkell for his seat of Wollongong
Electoral district of Wollongong
Wollongong is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Noreen Hay of the Australian Labor Party.-History:...
, but was defeated.