Les Johnson
Encyclopedia
The Honourable Leslie Royston "Les" Johnson AM
(born 22 November 1924) is a former Australian politician, minister and High Commissioner.
In his mid-twenties, Les Johnson was elected as a Councillor for Sutherland Shire, New South Wales, where he served for five years.
Johnson was elected for the Australian Labor Party
as the first member for the House of Representatives
seat of Hughes
at the 1955 election
and held it until his defeat at the 1966 election
. He regained Hughes at the 1969 election
. He was re-elected on ten subsequent occasions, effectively serving in the National Parliament for 25 years.
During his Parliamentary career, Les Johnson was a member of Parliamentary Delegations to Papua New Guinea (1956), Japan (1958), ten Pacific Island countries (1977), USSR, Hungary and Romania (1978) and Peru, Venezuela, Chile and Brazil (1980). He was an Australian delegate to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conferences in Canada (1966) and Malaysia (1977). He visited allied forces in Vietnam (1966). He was an Australian delegate to the Delhi International COnference on Bangladesh (1971) and subsequently undertook an extensive study tour of India as a special guest of the Indian Government.
Les Johnson led Australian Parliamentary Delegations to Iran, Pakistan and India (1974) and participated in a Labor Party delegation to China (1979). He represented the ALP as an observer at political conferences held in Bulgaria and Yugoslavia (1982).
He was an adviser to, and member of, the Australian Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly (1982).
Following Labor's win at the December 1972 election
, he was appointed to the Whitlam ministry
as Minister for Housing
. In October 1973, he was appointed to the additional portfolio of Works
. In November the two portfolios were combined and he was appointed Minister for Housing and Construction. In June 1975 he was appointed Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
. He lost this position as a result of the dismissal of the Whitlam Government in November 1975. He subsequently became the Chief Opposition Whip for seven years. Labor returned to government at the March 1983 election
, but he did not stand for a place in the ministry. However, under the Hawke Government, he was appointed Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Chairman of Committees. He also served as Acting Speaker of the House of Representatives. He resigned from Parliament in December 1983 and, shortly after, was appointed Australian High Commissioner
to New Zealand
. His position as High Commissioner was cut short following the serious illness of his daughter, Sally Anne Penman, who was diagnosed with breast cancer, and subsequently died in February 1988. However, he served as Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand from 1984–1987.
Les Johnson married Gladys (Peg) Jones, a nursing sister, formerly from Tenterfield, NSW, in 1947, and she died in 2002. They had three children, Grant, Sally (deceased) and Jenny. In 2003 Les Johnson married Marion Sharkey, and they now live at Shoal Bay, NSW.
Johnson was made a Member of the Order of Australia
(AM) in June 1990.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 22 November 1924) is a former Australian politician, minister and High Commissioner.
In his mid-twenties, Les Johnson was elected as a Councillor for Sutherland Shire, New South Wales, where he served for five years.
Johnson was elected for 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...
as the first member for the House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
seat of Hughes
Division of Hughes
The Division of Hughes is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1955 and is named for Billy Hughes, who was Prime Minister of Australia 1915-23...
at the 1955 election
Australian federal election, 1955
Federal elections were held in Australia on 10 December 1955. All 122 seats in the House of Representatives, and 30 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Prime Minister of Australia Robert Menzies with coalition partner the Country Party...
and held it until his defeat at the 1966 election
Australian federal election, 1966
Federal elections were held in Australia on 26 November 1966. All 124 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Prime Minister of Australia Harold Holt with coalition partner the Country Party led by John McEwen defeated the...
. He regained Hughes at the 1969 election
Australian federal election, 1969
Federal elections were held in Australia on 25 October 1969. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Prime Minister of Australia John Gorton with coalition partner the Country Party led by John McEwen defeated the Australian...
. He was re-elected on ten subsequent occasions, effectively serving in the National Parliament for 25 years.
During his Parliamentary career, Les Johnson was a member of Parliamentary Delegations to Papua New Guinea (1956), Japan (1958), ten Pacific Island countries (1977), USSR, Hungary and Romania (1978) and Peru, Venezuela, Chile and Brazil (1980). He was an Australian delegate to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conferences in Canada (1966) and Malaysia (1977). He visited allied forces in Vietnam (1966). He was an Australian delegate to the Delhi International COnference on Bangladesh (1971) and subsequently undertook an extensive study tour of India as a special guest of the Indian Government.
Les Johnson led Australian Parliamentary Delegations to Iran, Pakistan and India (1974) and participated in a Labor Party delegation to China (1979). He represented the ALP as an observer at political conferences held in Bulgaria and Yugoslavia (1982).
He was an adviser to, and member of, the Australian Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly (1982).
Following Labor's win at the December 1972 election
Australian federal election, 1972
Federal elections were held in Australia on 2 December 1972. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives were up for election. The Liberal Party of Australia had been in power since 1949, under Prime Minister of Australia William McMahon since March 1971 with coalition partner the Country Party...
, he was appointed to the Whitlam ministry
Second Whitlam Ministry
The Second Whitlam Ministry was the forty-ninth Australian Commonwealth ministry, and ran from 19 December 1972 to 12 June 1974.Australian Labor Party*Hon Gough Whitlam, QC MP: Prime Minister. Minister for Foreign Affairs...
as Minister for Housing
Minister for Housing (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness is Mark Arbib, who was appointed on 14 September 2010, following the Labor Party's win at the 2010 election...
. In October 1973, he was appointed to the additional portfolio of Works
Minister for Housing (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness is Mark Arbib, who was appointed on 14 September 2010, following the Labor Party's win at the 2010 election...
. In November the two portfolios were combined and he was appointed Minister for Housing and Construction. In June 1975 he was appointed Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Family, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs has been Jenny Macklin since December 2007.-Portfolio:...
. He lost this position as a result of the dismissal of the Whitlam Government in November 1975. He subsequently became the Chief Opposition Whip for seven years. Labor returned to government at the March 1983 election
Australian federal election, 1983
Federal elections were held in Australia on 5 March 1983. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 64 seats in the Senate, were up for election, following a double dissolution...
, but he did not stand for a place in the ministry. However, under the Hawke Government, he was appointed Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Chairman of Committees. He also served as Acting Speaker of the House of Representatives. He resigned from Parliament in December 1983 and, shortly after, was appointed Australian High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. His position as High Commissioner was cut short following the serious illness of his daughter, Sally Anne Penman, who was diagnosed with breast cancer, and subsequently died in February 1988. However, he served as Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand from 1984–1987.
Les Johnson married Gladys (Peg) Jones, a nursing sister, formerly from Tenterfield, NSW, in 1947, and she died in 2002. They had three children, Grant, Sally (deceased) and Jenny. In 2003 Les Johnson married Marion Sharkey, and they now live at Shoal Bay, NSW.
Johnson was made a Member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AM) in June 1990.