Glenn Sterle
Encyclopedia
Glenn Sterle is an Australia
n politician. A former trade union organiser, he has been an Australian Labor Party
member of the Australian Senate
since 2005, representing the state of Western Australia
.
Sterle was born in Melbourne
, but was raised in the Perth
suburb of Langford
. He attended Thornlie Senior High School
, but dropped out at the age of 17 to work as a furniture removalist. Three years later, he founded his own business operating road trains throughout northern Western Australia
and the Northern Territory
. He spent fourteen years working as an owner-operator before giving up his business to take on a position as an organiser with the Transport Workers Union
in 1991. As well as working as an organiser, Sterle served on his local branch committee, and was ultimately elected to the union's federal council in 1998, remaining in all three positions until his election to the Senate in 2004. His time with the union included a brief stint as acting state secretary in 1998 and an integral role in a major airline strike in the state in 2000. It was also during this period that Sterle received the Centenary Medal
, in 2003, for services to training in the transport industry.
Sterle's involvement with the union prompted him to join the Australian Labor Party
in 1991, and in 1999, he was elected as a delegate to the party's state conference. He served as the ALP's transport policy convener in 2000, and was a delegate to the party's national conference in 2002 and 2004. He subsequently decided to make a bid to enter parliament, and in the lead-up to the 2004 federal election, challenged the preselection of veteran Senator and former Cabinet minister Peter Cook
. Cook was determined to remain in parliament, but withdrew from the ballot of their shared Centre Faction when it became clear that Sterle had achieved enough support to win. As a result, Sterle gained the second position on the party's Senate ticket and was easily elected to parliament.
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. A former trade union organiser, he has been an 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...
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,...
since 2005, representing the state of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
Sterle was born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, but was raised in the Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
suburb of Langford
Langford, Western Australia
Langford is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Gosnells. Its postcode is 6147.Langford is a working-class residential suburb located approximately 11 km from Perth's central business district. Recently the suburb has been upgraded and redeveloped, especially since...
. He attended Thornlie Senior High School
Thornlie Senior High School
Thornlie Senior High School is an Public high school in Western Australia. The school is located on Ovens Road in the suburb of Thornlie.The school was established in 1971 and caters for students from Year 8 to Year 12...
, but dropped out at the age of 17 to work as a furniture removalist. Three years later, he founded his own business operating road trains throughout northern Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
and the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
. He spent fourteen years working as an owner-operator before giving up his business to take on a position as an organiser with the Transport Workers Union
Transport Workers Union of Australia
The Transport Workers Union of Australia is a trade union with over 80,000 members throughout Australia. It has 5 main branches in Australia* Australian Capital Territory/New South Wales* Queensland* Victoria/Tasmania...
in 1991. As well as working as an organiser, Sterle served on his local branch committee, and was ultimately elected to the union's federal council in 1998, remaining in all three positions until his election to the Senate in 2004. His time with the union included a brief stint as acting state secretary in 1998 and an integral role in a major airline strike in the state in 2000. It was also during this period that Sterle received the Centenary Medal
Centenary Medal
The Centenary Medal is an award created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the Centenary of Federation of Australia and to honour people who have made a contribution to Australian society or government...
, in 2003, for services to training in the transport industry.
Sterle's involvement with the union prompted him to join 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 1991, and in 1999, he was elected as a delegate to the party's state conference. He served as the ALP's transport policy convener in 2000, and was a delegate to the party's national conference in 2002 and 2004. He subsequently decided to make a bid to enter parliament, and in the lead-up to the 2004 federal election, challenged the preselection of veteran Senator and former Cabinet minister Peter Cook
Peter Cook (Australian politician)
Peter Francis Salmon Cook was an Australian politician. He served as a Labor member of the Senate from 1983 to 2005, representing the state of Western Australia....
. Cook was determined to remain in parliament, but withdrew from the ballot of their shared Centre Faction when it became clear that Sterle had achieved enough support to win. As a result, Sterle gained the second position on the party's Senate ticket and was easily elected to parliament.