Robert Clark (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert William Clark is a politician representing the Liberal Party of Australia
in the state of Victoria
.
He is currently the Member for Box Hill
in the Victorian Legislative Assembly
and Attorney-General of Victoria
.
, obtaining his B.Com (Hons) in 1980, an LLB in 1982 and a BA in 1986.
Serving also as the Treasurer of the Melbourne University Students' Representative Council (1976–77), Clark was responsible for legal proceedings brought against the University concerning the collection of the Student Service Fee. The action protested the right of the University Council to award such funds to the SRC, and the subsequent right of the SRC to allocate said funds to the Australian Union of Students
.
In what was labelled the 'Kaye Judgement', the court ruled that the Student Service Fee was not a fee for services provided but was rather in the nature of a levy of a tax or charge. It was further ruled that the University of Melbourne was a "public authority exercising legislative powers", in that the University was unduly exercising a power in the absence of legislative approval from Parliament. Clark’s instrumental role in these actions resulted in significant changes to the law relating to student unionism in Victoria.
in 1976. He was an Executive Member of the Victorian Young Liberal Movement in 1986 and Vice-Chairman of the Deakin Electorate Committee from 1986 to 1988. He has also been a member of the Party's Constitutional Committee since 1987.
seat of Balwyn. However, following the division of electorate boundaries in 1991, the traditionally safe Liberal seat of Balwyn ceased to exist – forcing Clark to seek re-election in the newly marginal and composite seat of Box Hill
. This contest for re-election was successful for Clark, who subsequently assumed the role of Parliamentary Secretary to the Victorian Treasurer, Alan Stockdale
, in 1992.
From 1992 to 1999 he also convened the Parliamentary Coalition's Treasury and Finance Committee. He was a member of the Coalition's Attorney-General's Committee 1992-1999, Education Committee 1992-1996, Tertiary Education Committee 1996-1999 and Multimedia Committee 1996-1999.
Following the 1996 Victorian state election, Clark was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Multimedia, a position he held until the Coalition lost Government in October 1999.
From October 1999 until September 2001, Clark was Shadow Minister for Planning (including Major Projects) and Shadow Minister for WorkCover, from September 2001 to August 2002 was Shadow Treasurer, Shadow Minister for Finance and Shadow Minister for WorkCover and from August 2002 to November 2002 was Shadow Minister for Finance, Shadow Assistant Treasurer, Shadow Minister for WorkCover and Shadow Minister for Gaming. In November 2002, Clark assumed the post of Shadow Treasurer and held the position until December 2006.
In the 2006 Victorian State Election, Robert Clark again secured the electoral seat of Box Hill
for the Liberal Party, despite a slight swing (1.1%) to the ALP in the 2002 election. Clark managed 49.49% of the primary vote and 55.22% of the two candidate preferred vote in the 2006 election, up from 46.79% of the primary vote and 51.09% of the two candidate preferred vote in 2002.
Following the failure of the Liberal Party
to form government in 2006, Clark has been appointed as Shadow Attorney General, Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Shadow Minister for Information and Communication Technology and Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources.
Clark was appointed Attorney-General of Victoria
on 2 December 2010 after the Coalition's
win at the 2010 State election. Since when he has tried to impose fascist laws on the state of Victoria by attempting to take away the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities, imposing minimum sentencing and reducing the Separation of Powers between the executive and the judiciary of Victoria.
He is an Honorary Patron of the Box Hill Rugby Union Football Club.
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
in the state of 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 is currently the Member for Box Hill
Electoral district of Box Hill
The Electoral district of Box Hill is an eastern metropolitan electorate approximately 12 kilometres east of Melbourne, Australia in Victoria's Legislative Assembly....
in 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:...
and Attorney-General of Victoria
Attorney-General of Victoria (Australia)
The Attorney-General of Victoria is a ministry of the Government of Victoria with responsibility for the state's courts and tribunals. The Attorney General is a senior minister in the state government and the First Law Officer of the State....
.
Early life
Having attended both St. Albans High School and University High School during his formative years, Clark undertook his tertiary education at the University of MelbourneUniversity of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, obtaining his B.Com (Hons) in 1980, an LLB in 1982 and a BA in 1986.
Student activism
Whilst at university, Clark became active in both the Melbourne University Liberal Club and the Australian Liberal Students’ Federation, serving as the President (1979–81) and Vice-President (1981–82) of these organisations respectively.Serving also as the Treasurer of the Melbourne University Students' Representative Council (1976–77), Clark was responsible for legal proceedings brought against the University concerning the collection of the Student Service Fee. The action protested the right of the University Council to award such funds to the SRC, and the subsequent right of the SRC to allocate said funds to the Australian Union of Students
Australian Union of Students
The Australian Union of Students was formed in December 1970 as the successor to the National Union of Australian University Students as a representative body and lobby group for Australian University and College of Advanced Education students. It collapsed in 1984 and was succeeded by the...
.
In what was labelled the 'Kaye Judgement', the court ruled that the Student Service Fee was not a fee for services provided but was rather in the nature of a levy of a tax or charge. It was further ruled that the University of Melbourne was a "public authority exercising legislative powers", in that the University was unduly exercising a power in the absence of legislative approval from Parliament. Clark’s instrumental role in these actions resulted in significant changes to the law relating to student unionism in Victoria.
Entry into politics
Clark joined the Liberal PartyLiberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
in 1976. He was an Executive Member of the Victorian Young Liberal Movement in 1986 and Vice-Chairman of the Deakin Electorate Committee from 1986 to 1988. He has also been a member of the Party's Constitutional Committee since 1987.
Member of Victorian State Parliament
In 1988, after almost five years serving as a solicitor practicing in commercial, financial and labour law, Clark was elected to the Victorian Legislative AssemblyVictorian 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:...
seat of Balwyn. However, following the division of electorate boundaries in 1991, the traditionally safe Liberal seat of Balwyn ceased to exist – forcing Clark to seek re-election in the newly marginal and composite seat of Box Hill
Electoral district of Box Hill
The Electoral district of Box Hill is an eastern metropolitan electorate approximately 12 kilometres east of Melbourne, Australia in Victoria's Legislative Assembly....
. This contest for re-election was successful for Clark, who subsequently assumed the role of Parliamentary Secretary to the Victorian Treasurer, Alan Stockdale
Alan Stockdale
Alan Robert Stockdale is the current president of the Liberal Party and a former Victorian state Deputy Liberal leader. He was Treasurer of Victoria in the government of Jeff Kennett from 1992 to 1999....
, in 1992.
From 1992 to 1999 he also convened the Parliamentary Coalition's Treasury and Finance Committee. He was a member of the Coalition's Attorney-General's Committee 1992-1999, Education Committee 1992-1996, Tertiary Education Committee 1996-1999 and Multimedia Committee 1996-1999.
Following the 1996 Victorian state election, Clark was appointed as Parliamentary Secretary, Treasury and Multimedia, a position he held until the Coalition lost Government in October 1999.
From October 1999 until September 2001, Clark was Shadow Minister for Planning (including Major Projects) and Shadow Minister for WorkCover, from September 2001 to August 2002 was Shadow Treasurer, Shadow Minister for Finance and Shadow Minister for WorkCover and from August 2002 to November 2002 was Shadow Minister for Finance, Shadow Assistant Treasurer, Shadow Minister for WorkCover and Shadow Minister for Gaming. In November 2002, Clark assumed the post of Shadow Treasurer and held the position until December 2006.
In the 2006 Victorian State Election, Robert Clark again secured the electoral seat of Box Hill
Electoral district of Box Hill
The Electoral district of Box Hill is an eastern metropolitan electorate approximately 12 kilometres east of Melbourne, Australia in Victoria's Legislative Assembly....
for the Liberal Party, despite a slight swing (1.1%) to the ALP in the 2002 election. Clark managed 49.49% of the primary vote and 55.22% of the two candidate preferred vote in the 2006 election, up from 46.79% of the primary vote and 51.09% of the two candidate preferred vote in 2002.
Following the failure of the Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
to form government in 2006, Clark has been appointed as Shadow Attorney General, Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Shadow Minister for Information and Communication Technology and Shadow Minister for Energy and Resources.
Clark was appointed Attorney-General of Victoria
Department of Justice (Victoria)
The Department of Justice is one of ten departments of the Government of the State of Victoria, Australia.The main purpose of the department is to assist the government achieve its vision of a safe and just Victoria...
on 2 December 2010 after the Coalition's
Coalition (Australia)
The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922...
win at the 2010 State election. Since when he has tried to impose fascist laws on the state of Victoria by attempting to take away the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities, imposing minimum sentencing and reducing the Separation of Powers between the executive and the judiciary of Victoria.
He is an Honorary Patron of the Box Hill Rugby Union Football Club.