Peter McMahon (politician)
Encyclopedia
Peter McMahon AM
(born 16 July 1931) is a former Australia
n politician. He was a Labor
member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
from 1973 to 1981.
McMahon was born in Wagga Wagga
to Otho Thomas McMahon and Ida Bramsdore. He was educated at Ladysmith
Public School (1936–1939), Mosman
Public School (1940–1942) and North Sydney Technical High School (1943–1947), leaving at the age of sixteen. He joined the Citizen Military Forces in 1949 and became a sergeant in the 7th Field Regiment. In 1954, he joined the Australian Labor Party
, and visited Britain
and Europe
in 1961 under a scholarship from the Imperial Relations Trust. He became active in the union movement and internal Labor politics.
In 1973, McMahon was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council
, where he served until 1981. In 1982 he was made a member of the Order of Australia
for services to trade union
ism and the community. He was Deputy President of the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales from 1982 to 1992, and conducted an inquiry into workers' compensation in the State Rail Authority in 1985.
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 16 July 1931) is 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. He was a 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 of the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
from 1973 to 1981.
McMahon was born in Wagga Wagga
Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Wagga Wagga is a city in New South Wales, Australia. Straddling the Murrumbidgee River, and with an urban population of 46,735 people, Wagga Wagga is the state's largest inland city, as well as an important agricultural, military, and transport hub of Australia...
to Otho Thomas McMahon and Ida Bramsdore. He was educated at Ladysmith
Ladysmith, New South Wales
Ladysmith is a village approximately 19 km east of Wagga Wagga in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Ladysmith had a population of 205 people....
Public School (1936–1939), Mosman
Mosman, New South Wales
Mosman is a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Mosman is located 8 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Mosman.-Localities:In February...
Public School (1940–1942) and North Sydney Technical High School (1943–1947), leaving at the age of sixteen. He joined the Citizen Military Forces in 1949 and became a sergeant in the 7th Field Regiment. In 1954, 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...
, and visited Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in 1961 under a scholarship from the Imperial Relations Trust. He became active in the union movement and internal Labor politics.
In 1973, McMahon was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
, where he served until 1981. In 1982 he was made 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"...
for services to trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
ism and the community. He was Deputy President of the Industrial Relations Commission of New South Wales from 1982 to 1992, and conducted an inquiry into workers' compensation in the State Rail Authority in 1985.