Michael Leighton (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Michael Andrew Leighton is a former Australia
n politician.
Born in Melbourne
, Victoria
, he attended Monash University
1972–76 and subsequently began practicing as a psychiatric nurse. Having joined the Australian Labor Party
in 1976, he became a trade union official in 1981, and in 1980 became a Heidelberg City Council
, serving until 1982. In 1988, he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
as the Labor member for Preston
. He held various positions in the shadow ministry from 1992–96, but was not included on the front bench when Labor won office in 1999. Leighton retired in 2006.
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.
Born in Melbourne
Melbourne
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...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, he attended 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....
1972–76 and subsequently began practicing as a psychiatric nurse. Having 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 1976, he became a trade union official in 1981, and in 1980 became a Heidelberg City Council
City of Heidelberg
The City of Heidelberg was a Local Government Area located about northeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1840 until 1994.-History:...
, serving until 1982. In 1988, he was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
as the Labor member for Preston
Electoral district of Preston
The Electoral district of Preston is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. It is currently based around the northern Melbourne suburbs of Preston and Reservoir. It has always been a safe Labor Party seat....
. He held various positions in the shadow ministry from 1992–96, but was not included on the front bench when Labor won office in 1999. Leighton retired in 2006.