Martin Ferguson
Encyclopedia
Martin John Ferguson AM
(born 12 December 1953), Australian politician, has been an Australian Labor Party
member of the Australian House of Representatives
since March 1996, representing the Division of Batman
, Victoria. He was born in Sydney, the son of Jack Ferguson
, who was Deputy Premier of New South Wales
from 1976 to 1984. He is the brother of Laurie Ferguson
, also a federal MP.
Ferguson was educated at St Patrick's College, Strathfield
and then the University of Sydney. He was successively research officer, Assistant General Secretary and General Secretary of the Miscellaneous Workers' Union, a member of the executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
(ACTU) 1984–90. He was Vice-President of the ACTU 1985–90 and President of the ACTU 1990–96. He was a member of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation 1990–96. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia
in 1996.
Ferguson won preselection
unopposed for the seat of Batman in 1995 after a deal negotiated between the right-wing Labor Unity faction in Victoria and the ALP National Executive. At the local level the majority Greek membership, largely resulting from heavy branch stacking
, was likely to support a candidate other than Ferguson, but no local candidate was likely to receive support from the fifty per cent vote in the preselection panel elected by the Victorian ALP State Conference. Both opposing candidates, Jenny Mikakos
and Theo Theophanous
, then members of competing Left factions, were forced to withdraw from a local preselection plebiscite in favour of Ferguson as a result of these negotiations.
Ferguson was elected to the Opposition Shadow Ministry in March 1996 and was Shadow Minister for Regional and Urban Development and Shadow Minister for Transport and Infrastructure 2001–04. He was then Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Resources and Tourism from October 2004, being moved back to Shadow Minister for Transport, Roads and Tourism from December 2006.
On 29 November 2007 after Labor had won the Federal Election, Labor held a caucus meeting at which he was promoted to Minister for Resources and Energy
and Minister for Tourism
and was sworn in on 3 December.
Friends of the Earth
have strongly opposed Ferguson's advocacy for expanding the export of uranium beyond the existing Three mine policy
which Ferguson sought to overturn at the ALP's national conference in April 2007 http://s7digital.com/signature/sig-stories.php?id=540. The lobby group Northern Anti Nuclear Alliance has distributed 60,000 leaflets critical of his policy in his electorate of Batman. He also supported – in scientific terms – the proposal of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke
for Australia to become the world's storage facility for nuclear waste although he said that it was politically not possible http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200509/s1472382.htm.
He told ABC Radio that it was wrong to ban uranium export to the People's Republic of China: "The Labor Party adopts the view that we're open for investment. It's about economic growth and jobs in Australia. Is China to be treated any different to South Korea, Japan, France, United States? I don't think so. We don't have one rule for China in terms of overseas investment and economic growth and jobs and another rule for Japan."
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"...
(born 12 December 1953), Australian politician, has been an 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...
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....
since March 1996, representing the Division of Batman
Division of Batman
The Division of Batman is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1906 , and is named after John Batman, one of the founders of the city of Melbourne. When it was created it covered the inner suburbs of Carlton and Fitzroy, but successive boundary changes have...
, Victoria. He was born in Sydney, the son of Jack Ferguson
Jack Ferguson
Laurie John Ferguson was an Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.-Early life:...
, who was Deputy Premier of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
from 1976 to 1984. He is the brother of Laurie Ferguson
Laurie Ferguson
Laurie Donald Thomas Ferguson , Australian politician, has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since March 1990, representing Reid until 2010 and Werriwa thereafter, both in New South Wales. He was born in Sydney, New South Wales, and grew up in the...
, also a federal MP.
Ferguson was educated at St Patrick's College, Strathfield
St Patrick's College, Strathfield
St Patrick's College is an independent, Roman Catholic, day school for boys, located in Strathfield in the inner west of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
and then the University of Sydney. He was successively research officer, Assistant General Secretary and General Secretary of the Miscellaneous Workers' Union, a member of the executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
Australian Council of Trade Unions
The Australian Council of Trade Unions is the largest peak body representing workers in Australia. It is a national trade union centre of 46 affiliated unions.-History:The ACTU was formed in 1927 as the "Australian Council of Trade Unions"...
(ACTU) 1984–90. He was Vice-President of the ACTU 1985–90 and President of the ACTU 1990–96. He was a member of the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation 1990–96. He was appointed a Member 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"...
in 1996.
Ferguson won preselection
Preselection
Preselection is the process by which a candidate is selected, usually by a political party, to contest an election for political office. It is also referred to as candidate selection. It is a fundamental function of political parties...
unopposed for the seat of Batman in 1995 after a deal negotiated between the right-wing Labor Unity faction in Victoria and the ALP National Executive. At the local level the majority Greek membership, largely resulting from heavy branch stacking
Branch stacking
Branch stacking is the act of recruiting members for a branch of a political party for the principal purpose of influencing the outcome of internal preselections of candidates for public office...
, was likely to support a candidate other than Ferguson, but no local candidate was likely to receive support from the fifty per cent vote in the preselection panel elected by the Victorian ALP State Conference. Both opposing candidates, Jenny Mikakos
Jenny Mikakos
Jenny Mikakos is an Australian politician for the Australian Labor Party. She is currently the Victorian Parliamentary Secretary for Planning, and a Member of the Legislative Council for Northern Metropolitan Region....
and Theo Theophanous
Theo Theophanous
Theo Charles Theophanous is a former Australian politician who served in the Victorian Legislative Council representing the Northern Metropolitan Region. He is the brother of former federal politician Andrew Theophanous...
, then members of competing Left factions, were forced to withdraw from a local preselection plebiscite in favour of Ferguson as a result of these negotiations.
Ferguson was elected to the Opposition Shadow Ministry in March 1996 and was Shadow Minister for Regional and Urban Development and Shadow Minister for Transport and Infrastructure 2001–04. He was then Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Resources and Tourism from October 2004, being moved back to Shadow Minister for Transport, Roads and Tourism from December 2006.
On 29 November 2007 after Labor had won the Federal Election, Labor held a caucus meeting at which he was promoted to Minister for Resources and Energy
Minister for Resources and Energy (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Resources and Energy is Martin Ferguson, appointed on 3 December 2007. The Minister administers his portfolios through the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism.-List of Ministers for Resources:...
and Minister for Tourism
Minister for Tourism (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Tourism is Martin Ferguson, appointed on 3 December 2007. The Minister administers his portfolio through the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism.-List of Ministers for Tourism:...
and was sworn in on 3 December.
Uranium debate
In 2005, Ferguson addressed an Australian Uranium Conference and said "We as a community have to be part of the ever-complex question of how we clean up the world's climate. And part of that debate is going to be nuclear power."Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth
Friends of the Earth International is an international network of environmental organizations in 76 countries.FOEI is assisted by a small secretariat which provides support for the network and its agreed major campaigns...
have strongly opposed Ferguson's advocacy for expanding the export of uranium beyond the existing Three mine policy
Three mine policy
The three mine policy, introduced in 1984 and abandoned in 1996, was a policy of the government of Australia to limit the number of uranium mines in the country to three.-History:...
which Ferguson sought to overturn at the ALP's national conference in April 2007 http://s7digital.com/signature/sig-stories.php?id=540. The lobby group Northern Anti Nuclear Alliance has distributed 60,000 leaflets critical of his policy in his electorate of Batman. He also supported – in scientific terms – the proposal of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
for Australia to become the world's storage facility for nuclear waste although he said that it was politically not possible http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200509/s1472382.htm.
He told ABC Radio that it was wrong to ban uranium export to the People's Republic of China: "The Labor Party adopts the view that we're open for investment. It's about economic growth and jobs in Australia. Is China to be treated any different to South Korea, Japan, France, United States? I don't think so. We don't have one rule for China in terms of overseas investment and economic growth and jobs and another rule for Japan."