Tom Webster (politician)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Stephen Webster, is a former Labor Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
, representing the electorate of Wakehurst
from 1978 to 1984.
Born in 1950, Webster was educated at Rozelle Public School and Drummoyne Boys' High School
(closed in 1990). After High school he attended Sydney Technical College
and became a property valuer for the Valuer-General's Department. He was admitted as a Fellow of the Australian Property Institute
(FAPI).
Webster joined the Grafton Branch of the Australian Labor Party
in 1971 and joined the Dee Why branch in 1976, becoming President from 1977-1978. He was pre-selected as Labor Party candidate for the NSW State seat of Wakehurst in 1978. The 1978 election
saw a huge swing towards the Labor Party in NSW and was known as the 'Wranslide', in reference to the state leader, Neville Wran
. Webster was elected on 7 October 1978, becoming the first Labor member of what was a traditionally safe Liberal seat, replacing retiring Liberal Member Allan Viney
.
During his six years in Parliament, he served on a number of committees including the Public Accounts Committee. He was later appointed as senior policy adviser to the State Premier. He retained his seat at the 1981 election
but lost his seat at the 1984 election
.
Webster was then elected as a Councillor for A-Ward on Warringah Shire Council
in 1991 and later served as Deputy-Mayor. He served on the Council until 1999
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...
, representing the electorate of Wakehurst
Electoral district of Wakehurst
Wakehurst is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Brad Hazzard of the Liberal Party of Australia.-Members for Wakehurst:-Election results:...
from 1978 to 1984.
Born in 1950, Webster was educated at Rozelle Public School and Drummoyne Boys' High School
Drummoyne Boys' High School
Drummoyne Boys' High School is a former high school in the inner western Sydney suburb of Drummoyne, New South Wales, Australia. It was a boys high school operated by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training with students from years 7 to 12. The school was established in 1940...
(closed in 1990). After High school he attended Sydney Technical College
Sydney Technical College
The Sydney Technical College was a name used by Australia's oldest technical education institution.It began as the Sydney Mechanics' Institute in 1843...
and became a property valuer for the Valuer-General's Department. He was admitted as a Fellow of the Australian Property Institute
Australian Property Institute
The Australian Property Institute is a professional industry body representing residential, commercial and plant and machinery valuers, analysts, fund managers and property lawyers....
(FAPI).
Webster joined the Grafton 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 1971 and joined the Dee Why branch in 1976, becoming President from 1977-1978. He was pre-selected as Labor Party candidate for the NSW State seat of Wakehurst in 1978. The 1978 election
New South Wales state election, 1978
A general election was held in the state of New South Wales, Australia, on Saturday 7 October 1978. The result was the "Wranslide": a landslide victory for the Australian Labor Party under Neville Wran....
saw a huge swing towards the Labor Party in NSW and was known as the 'Wranslide', in reference to the state leader, Neville Wran
Neville Wran
Neville Kenneth Wran, AC, CNZM, QC was the Premier of New South Wales from 1976 until 1986. He was National President of the Australian Labor Party from 1980 to 1986 and Chairman of both the Lionel Murphy Foundation and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation from 1986...
. Webster was elected on 7 October 1978, becoming the first Labor member of what was a traditionally safe Liberal seat, replacing retiring Liberal Member Allan Viney
Allan Viney
Arthur Edward Allanby Viney, OAM was an Australian politician and Liberal Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. Viney represented the electorate of Wakehurst ....
.
During his six years in Parliament, he served on a number of committees including the Public Accounts Committee. He was later appointed as senior policy adviser to the State Premier. He retained his seat at the 1981 election
New South Wales state election, 1981
Elections were held in the state of New South Wales, Australia, on Saturday 19 September 1981. The result was a second "Wranslide": a landslide victory for the Australian Labor Party under Neville Wran, in which the government increased its already sizeable majority.The Liberals suffered the double...
but lost his seat at the 1984 election
New South Wales state election, 1984
Elections were held in the state of New South Wales, Australia, on Saturday 24 March 1984. The Labor government led by Neville Wran won a fourth term in office, although with a reduced margin and a 7% swing against it....
.
Webster was then elected as a Councillor for A-Ward on Warringah Shire Council
Warringah Council
Warringah is a local council area in the Northern Beaches region of Sydney, Australia. Warringah Council overlaps with a number of suburbs from the Manly Council area to the south and the Pittwater Council area to the north...
in 1991 and later served as Deputy-Mayor. He served on the Council until 1999