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Robert McClelland (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Robert Bruce McClelland (born 26 January 1958) is the Attorney-General of Australia
. He has been an Australian Labor Party
member of the
Australian House of Representatives
since March 1996, representing the Division of Barton
, New South Wales
. He was born in Sydney, the son of Doug McClelland, who was a Senator for New South Wales 1962–87, a minister in the Whitlam
government and President of the Senate
1983–87.
McClelland was educated at Blakehurst High School before studying at the University of New South Wales
, where he gained bachelors degrees in arts and law, and the University of Sydney
where he gained a masters degree in law. He was an Associate to the Justice Phillip Evatt of the Federal Court of Australia
1981–82 before becoming a solicitor and ultimately partner with law firm Turner Freeman.
Two years after his election to parliament, McClelland became a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry. He was Shadow Attorney-General 1998–2003, Shadow Minister for Workplace Relations 2001–03, Shadow Minister for Homeland Security 2003–05, Shadow Minister for Defence 2004–06 and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs 2006–07. In November 2007, Robert McClelland was appointed as the Attorney-General and currently holds that job.
After McClelland indicated on 8 October 2007 his party's disapproval of death sentences for all south Asian countries, his leader Kevin Rudd
criticized the speech as "insensitive" because it was made on the eve of the anniversary of the Bali bombings. McClelland apologized, but critics called the positions inconsistent.
In the 2007 Federal election, McClelland was re-elected to the seat of Barton with a 4.53% swing toward the Labor Party.
In February 2008, McClelland stated that it was unacceptable that the ACT
government, which is proposing to allow same-sex couples to enter into unions
, would give the right to hold public ceremonies to celebrate their unions. McClelland was criticised by Greens
Senator Bob Brown
, who said it was displaying the ugly face of Labor
conservatism.
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Attorney-General of Australia
The Attorney-General of Australia is the first law officer of the Crown, chief law officer of the Commonwealth of Australia and a minister of the Crown. The Attorney-General is usually a member of the Federal Cabinet, but there is no constitutional requirement that this be the case since the...
. He 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 Barton
Division of Barton
The Division of Barton is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1922 and is named for Sir Edmund Barton, the first Prime Minister of Australia...
, 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...
. He was born in Sydney, the son of Doug McClelland, who was a Senator for New South Wales 1962–87, a minister in the Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
government and President of the Senate
President of the Australian Senate
The President of the Australian Senate is the presiding officer of the Australian Senate, the upper house of the Parliament of Australia. The presiding officer of the lower house is the Speaker of the House of Representatives....
1983–87.
McClelland was educated at Blakehurst High School before studying at the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, where he gained bachelors degrees in arts and law, and the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
where he gained a masters degree in law. He was an Associate to the Justice Phillip Evatt of the Federal Court of Australia
Federal Court of Australia
The Federal Court of Australia is an Australian superior court of record which has jurisdiction to deal with most civil disputes governed by federal law , along with some summary criminal matters. Cases are heard at first instance by single Judges...
1981–82 before becoming a solicitor and ultimately partner with law firm Turner Freeman.
Two years after his election to parliament, McClelland became a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry. He was Shadow Attorney-General 1998–2003, Shadow Minister for Workplace Relations 2001–03, Shadow Minister for Homeland Security 2003–05, Shadow Minister for Defence 2004–06 and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs 2006–07. In November 2007, Robert McClelland was appointed as the Attorney-General and currently holds that job.
After McClelland indicated on 8 October 2007 his party's disapproval of death sentences for all south Asian countries, his leader Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
criticized the speech as "insensitive" because it was made on the eve of the anniversary of the Bali bombings. McClelland apologized, but critics called the positions inconsistent.
In the 2007 Federal election, McClelland was re-elected to the seat of Barton with a 4.53% swing toward the Labor Party.
In February 2008, McClelland stated that it was unacceptable that the ACT
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
government, which is proposing to allow same-sex couples to enter into unions
Civil union
A civil union, also referred to as a civil partnership, is a legally recognized form of partnership similar to marriage. Beginning with Denmark in 1989, civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in many developed countries in order to provide same-sex couples rights,...
, would give the right to hold public ceremonies to celebrate their unions. McClelland was criticised by Greens
Australian Greens
The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which...
Senator Bob Brown
Bob Brown
Robert James Brown is an Australian senator, the inaugural Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Greens and was the first openly gay member of the Parliament of Australia...
, who said it was displaying the ugly face of 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...
conservatism.
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