George Campbell (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
George Campbell was an Australian Labor Party
member of the Australian Senate
from 1997 to 2008, representing the state of New South Wales
. He was born in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
, and was a trade union official before entering politics. Victorian State Secretary of the Federal Shipwrights' Union 1970-76, National President of the union 1974, Federal Secretary of the union 1974-76, Assistant National Secretary of the Amalgamated Metal Workers' Union 1976-88 and National Secretary 1988-96. He was a member of the executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
1987-97 and ACTU Senior Vice-President 1993-97.
Campbell was a member of the ALP National Executive 1986-2004 and Junior Vice-President of the ALP 1994-2000. He is a prominent member of the Socialist Left faction of the ALP, and was a leading critic of the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement.
Campbell was Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Industry, Innovation, Science and Research 2001-04. From the 2004 election, he served as the Opposition Senate Whip.
In April 2007, facing near-certain defeat in a preselection challenge by former protege Doug Cameron
, he announced that he would retire at the end of his term in the Senate.
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 Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
from 1997 to 2008, representing the state of 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 Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, and was a trade union official before entering politics. Victorian State Secretary of the Federal Shipwrights' Union 1970-76, National President of the union 1974, Federal Secretary of the union 1974-76, Assistant National Secretary of the Amalgamated Metal Workers' Union 1976-88 and National Secretary 1988-96. He was a member of the executive of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
Australian Council of Trade Unions
The Australian Council of Trade Unions is the largest peak body representing workers in Australia. It is a national trade union centre of 46 affiliated unions.-History:The ACTU was formed in 1927 as the "Australian Council of Trade Unions"...
1987-97 and ACTU Senior Vice-President 1993-97.
Campbell was a member of the ALP National Executive 1986-2004 and Junior Vice-President of the ALP 1994-2000. He is a prominent member of the Socialist Left faction of the ALP, and was a leading critic of the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement.
Campbell was Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Industry, Innovation, Science and Research 2001-04. From the 2004 election, he served as the Opposition Senate Whip.
In April 2007, facing near-certain defeat in a preselection challenge by former protege Doug Cameron
Doug Cameron (politician)
Douglas Niven Cameron is an Australian politician and trade unionist. He has been a Labor member of the Australian Senate since July 2008, representing the state of New South Wales....
, he announced that he would retire at the end of his term in the Senate.