Terry Sheahan
Encyclopedia
Terence William "Terry" Sheahan, AO
(born 18 August 1947) is an Australia
n judge and former politician. He was the Labor
member for Burrinjuck in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1973 to 1988, and held various ministerial portfolios (including Attorney-General of New South Wales) between 1980 and 1988, and currently sits as a judge on the New South Wales Land and Environment Court.
Terry Sheahan was the only son of Bill Sheahan, who was also a member of the Legislative Assembly (1941–73). He attended school in Lewisham
before studying at the University of Sydney
, receiving a Bachelor of Arts
and a Bachelor of Law in 1969. He worked as a solicitor from 1967 and was called to the bar in 1982. He had joined the Willoughby
branch of the Australian Labor Party
in January 1964 and went on to be a member of the Yass
, Cootamundra
and Gladesville
branches. On 26 May 1973, he married Mary Christine Ridley, with whom he had eight children.
In 1973, Bill Sheahan retired and Terry was elected to his seat of Burrinjuck. He was secretary of the Parliamentary Labor Party from 1976 until his elevation to the ministry in 1980 as Housing and Cooperative Services Minister. In 1983 he became Energy and Finance Minister, moving to Planning and Environment in 1984. Later in 1984 he became Attorney-General, a post he held until 1987, when he became Transport Minister. Sheahan was defeated in Burrinjuck by Liberal
candidate Alby Schultz
when Labor lost office in 1988.
In 1989, Sheahan became President of the New South Wales Labor Party, serving until 1997, when he resigned to accept an appointment as a Judge of the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales, a post he continues to hold. He divorced his wife Mary in 2003, and on 19 August 2007 married Dr Jennifer Lynette Hardy.
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 18 August 1947) is an 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 judge and former politician. He was the 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 for Burrinjuck in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
from 1973 to 1988, and held various ministerial portfolios (including Attorney-General of New South Wales) between 1980 and 1988, and currently sits as a judge on the New South Wales Land and Environment Court.
Terry Sheahan was the only son of Bill Sheahan, who was also a member of the Legislative Assembly (1941–73). He attended school in Lewisham
Lewisham, New South Wales
Lewisham is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Lewisham is located 8 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Marrickville Council. The postcode is 2049...
before studying at 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...
, receiving a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and a Bachelor of Law in 1969. He worked as a solicitor from 1967 and was called to the bar in 1982. He had joined the Willoughby
Willoughby, New South Wales
Willoughby is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Willoughby is located 8 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Willoughby....
branch of 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 January 1964 and went on to be a member of the Yass
Yass, New South Wales
Yass is a town in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Yass Valley Shire. The name appears to have been derived from an Aboriginal word, "Yarrh" , said to mean 'running water'....
, Cootamundra
Cootamundra, New South Wales
Cootamundra is a town and Local Government Area in the South West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia and within the Riverina. At the 2006 census, Cootamundra had a population of 5,566. It is located on the Olympic Highway at the point where it crosses the Muttama Creek, between Junee and...
and Gladesville
Gladesville, New South Wales
Gladesville is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Gladesville is located 9 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of the City of Ryde and the Municipality of Hunter's Hill and is part of the Northern Suburbs area.Gladesville prides...
branches. On 26 May 1973, he married Mary Christine Ridley, with whom he had eight children.
In 1973, Bill Sheahan retired and Terry was elected to his seat of Burrinjuck. He was secretary of the Parliamentary Labor Party from 1976 until his elevation to the ministry in 1980 as Housing and Cooperative Services Minister. In 1983 he became Energy and Finance Minister, moving to Planning and Environment in 1984. Later in 1984 he became Attorney-General, a post he held until 1987, when he became Transport Minister. Sheahan was defeated in Burrinjuck by Liberal
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...
candidate Alby Schultz
Alby Schultz
Albert John "Alby" Schultz , Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives since October 1998, representing Hume, New South Wales. He was born in Melbourne, Victoria, and was a meat processing worker before entering politics...
when Labor lost office in 1988.
In 1989, Sheahan became President of the New South Wales Labor Party, serving until 1997, when he resigned to accept an appointment as a Judge of the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales, a post he continues to hold. He divorced his wife Mary in 2003, and on 19 August 2007 married Dr Jennifer Lynette Hardy.