Tony McRae
Encyclopedia
Anthony "Tony" David McRae (born 7 April 1957) in Tumut
, New South Wales
is an Australia
n politician. He was an ALP
member in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
from 2001 to 2008, representing the electorate of Riverton
.
Tony McRae was Western Australia's first Minister for Climate Change (2006-07) and co-authored the State's 2007 Climate Change Action Policy. He was also Minister for Multicultural Affairs and actively opposed the Australian Nationalist Movement fire bombings of Chinese restaurants in 2004. He was an Acting Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (2001-05), Chairperson of the Economics and Industry Standing Committee and a delegate/leader of missions to China, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Middle East, France, Belgium and the UK on climate change, education, resources development, tourism and agriculture trade.
Mr McRae was called to a Corruption and Crime Commission hearing on 22 February 2007 in the middle of the CCC's investigation of lobbyists Brian Burke and Julian Grill. Although the CCC Parliamentary Inspector found that McRae had 'neither requested nor received any benefit' from Grill, the CCC persisted with an opinion that McRae's single phone conversation with Grill constituted serious misconduct. McRae maintains the CCC selectively released damning evidence and withheld material supportive of his innocence - a methodology exposed in a number of other investigations conducted by the CCC during the 'Burke and Grill frenzy' and the core reason for the CCC's falling credibility in legal and political circles.
Mr McRae lost his seat of Riverton by 64 votes (after a swing against him of 2.1%) at the 2008 election
where the Australian Labor Party
had a State-wide swing against it of more than 6.5%.
Before entering Parliament in 2001 Mr McRae was Director, Research and Information at the National Native Title tribunal (1995-2000), a green-house gas reduction consultant (1993-95) and senior policy adviser to Minister and Premier Peter Dowding (1985-1991). Following his departure from Parliament, Mr McRae returned to consultancy work in skills development, climate change, business development and governance.
Tumut, New South Wales
Tumut is a town in the Riverina region of New South Wales, Australia, situated on the banks of the Tumut River. Tumut is at the foothills of the Snowy Mountains and is referred to as the gateway to the Snowy Mountains Scheme...
, 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...
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 politician. He was an ALP
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 in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
from 2001 to 2008, representing the electorate of Riverton
Electoral district of Riverton
The Electoral district of Riverton is a Legislative Assembly electorate in the state of Western Australia. Riverton is named for the southern Perth suburb of Riverton which falls within its borders.-History:...
.
Tony McRae was Western Australia's first Minister for Climate Change (2006-07) and co-authored the State's 2007 Climate Change Action Policy. He was also Minister for Multicultural Affairs and actively opposed the Australian Nationalist Movement fire bombings of Chinese restaurants in 2004. He was an Acting Speaker of the Legislative Assembly (2001-05), Chairperson of the Economics and Industry Standing Committee and a delegate/leader of missions to China, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, Middle East, France, Belgium and the UK on climate change, education, resources development, tourism and agriculture trade.
Mr McRae was called to a Corruption and Crime Commission hearing on 22 February 2007 in the middle of the CCC's investigation of lobbyists Brian Burke and Julian Grill. Although the CCC Parliamentary Inspector found that McRae had 'neither requested nor received any benefit' from Grill, the CCC persisted with an opinion that McRae's single phone conversation with Grill constituted serious misconduct. McRae maintains the CCC selectively released damning evidence and withheld material supportive of his innocence - a methodology exposed in a number of other investigations conducted by the CCC during the 'Burke and Grill frenzy' and the core reason for the CCC's falling credibility in legal and political circles.
Mr McRae lost his seat of Riverton by 64 votes (after a swing against him of 2.1%) at the 2008 election
Western Australian state election, 2008
A general election was held in the state of Western Australia on Saturday 6 September 2008 to elect 59 members to the Legislative Assembly and 36 members to the Legislative Council...
where 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...
had a State-wide swing against it of more than 6.5%.
Before entering Parliament in 2001 Mr McRae was Director, Research and Information at the National Native Title tribunal (1995-2000), a green-house gas reduction consultant (1993-95) and senior policy adviser to Minister and Premier Peter Dowding (1985-1991). Following his departure from Parliament, Mr McRae returned to consultancy work in skills development, climate change, business development and governance.