Bill Haigh
Encyclopedia
William Henry "Bill" Haigh (born 28 May 1924) is a former Australia
n politician. He was the Labor
member for Maroubra
in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1968 to 1983. He served as Minister Assisting the Premier from 1976 until 1978, as Minister for Services from 1977 to 1978, and as Minister for Corrective Services from 1978 to 1981.
Haigh was born in Liverpool
, England
, to boot repairer Christopher Haigh and Catherine Runcie Deegan. His family migrated to Australia and he was educated at Malabar
and Randwick
. He was then apprenticed as a fitter and turner, and joined the Amalgamated Engineering Union aged 16. He married Edith Frances Jones on 9 June 1945, with whom he would have four children. Haigh worked at Bunnerong Power Station from 1949 until 1959, and joined the Australian Labor Party
in 1949. He was elected to Randwick Municipal Council
in 1956, serving until 1968 (as Mayor from 1962).
In 1968, following the retirement of former Premier Bob Heffron, Haigh was selected as the Labor candidate for Heffron's seat of Maroubra
. His first win was a narrow one, but at subsequent elections he was untroubled. In 1976 he was appointed to the ministry as Minister Assisting the Premier; the Services portfolio was added in 1977. In 1978 he became Minister for Corrective Services. Dropped from the ministry after the 1981 state election
, he resigned from parliament in 1983; the by-election for his seat was won by future Premier Bob Carr
.
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 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 Maroubra
Electoral district of Maroubra
Maroubra is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is currently represented by Michael Daley of the Australian Labor Party,...
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 1968 to 1983. He served as Minister Assisting the Premier from 1976 until 1978, as Minister for Services from 1977 to 1978, and as Minister for Corrective Services from 1978 to 1981.
Haigh was born in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, to boot repairer Christopher Haigh and Catherine Runcie Deegan. His family migrated to Australia and he was educated at Malabar
Malabar, New South Wales
Malabar is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Malabar is located 12 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Randwick.-Location:...
and Randwick
Randwick, New South Wales
Randwick is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Randwick is located 6 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Randwick...
. He was then apprenticed as a fitter and turner, and joined the Amalgamated Engineering Union aged 16. He married Edith Frances Jones on 9 June 1945, with whom he would have four children. Haigh worked at Bunnerong Power Station from 1949 until 1959, and joined 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 1949. He was elected to Randwick Municipal Council
City of Randwick
The City of Randwick is a Local Government Area in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. One of Sydney's largest parks, Centennial Park, lies within the city boundary of Randwick. Other major landmarks in Randwick include the world-famous Randwick Racecourse,...
in 1956, serving until 1968 (as Mayor from 1962).
In 1968, following the retirement of former Premier Bob Heffron, Haigh was selected as the Labor candidate for Heffron's seat of Maroubra
Electoral district of Maroubra
Maroubra is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is currently represented by Michael Daley of the Australian Labor Party,...
. His first win was a narrow one, but at subsequent elections he was untroubled. In 1976 he was appointed to the ministry as Minister Assisting the Premier; the Services portfolio was added in 1977. In 1978 he became Minister for Corrective Services. Dropped from the ministry after the 1981 state 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...
, he resigned from parliament in 1983; the by-election for his seat was won by future Premier Bob Carr
Bob Carr
Robert John "Bob" Carr , Australian statesman, was Premier of New South Wales from 4 April 1995 to 3 August 2005. He holds the record for the longest continuous service as premier of NSW...
.