Martin Pakula
Encyclopedia
Martin Philip Pakula is an Australia
n politician, and a member of the Victorian Legislative Council
. He was Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Public Transport in the Labor Government of Premier John Brumby
.
and Uzbekistan
in the USSR. He attended Ormond Primary School and then Haileybury College. Following this, he was accepted to study economics
and law
at Monash University
. During his time at Monash he became a leading member of Victorian Young Labor, joining the Australian Labor Party
in 1987. He completed his Bachelor of Economics in 1989 and an Honours Degree in Law in 1991. In his final year, he won the Industrial Relations Law prize.
. He went on to become State Secretary and National Vice President.
In 2005, Pakula unsuccessfully challenged Simon Crean
in the ALP preselection for the seat of Hotham
. Instead, Pakula was third spot in the ALP ticket for Western Metropolitan Region and was elected in 2006 Victorian State Election. After his election, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Ports under Tim Pallas
.
After the resignation of Minister Theo Theophanous
in December 2008, Pakula was appointed Minister for Industry and Trade and Industrial Relations. In January 2010, he replaced Lynne Kosky
as Minister for Public Transport following her resignation.
.
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, and a member of the Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
. He was Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Public Transport in the Labor Government of Premier John Brumby
John Brumby
John Mansfield Brumby , is an Australian Labor Party politician who was Premier of Victoria from 2007 to 2010. He became Premier after the resignation of Steve Bracks. He also served as the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. He contested his first election...
.
Early life
Pakula was born in Melbourne in 1969, the son of immigrants from PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
in the USSR. He attended Ormond Primary School and then Haileybury College. Following this, he was accepted to study economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
and law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
. During his time at Monash he became a leading member of Victorian Young Labor, joining 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 1987. He completed his Bachelor of Economics in 1989 and an Honours Degree in Law in 1991. In his final year, he won the Industrial Relations Law prize.
Professional career
After graduating from university, Pakula began work at Macpherson and Kelley Solicitors. In 1993, he became an Industrial Officer at the National Union of WorkersNational Union of Workers
The National Union of Workers is a large Australian trade union formed in 1989.-History:The National Union of Workers of Australia was formed by a progressive amalgamation of unions from 1989 onwards in a time when all Australian unions were merging, with varying degrees of success...
. He went on to become State Secretary and National Vice President.
In 2005, Pakula unsuccessfully challenged Simon Crean
Simon Crean
Simon Findlay Crean is an Australian politician, and the current Minister for the Arts and Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government in the Australian Federal Government. He was leader of the Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition at the Federal level,...
in the ALP preselection for the seat of Hotham
Division of Hotham
The Division of Hotham is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1969 and is named for Sir Charles Hotham, Governor of Victoria 1854-55. It is located in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Hotham covers an area of approximately 72 square kilometres from...
. Instead, Pakula was third spot in the ALP ticket for Western Metropolitan Region and was elected in 2006 Victorian State Election. After his election, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Ports under Tim Pallas
Tim Pallas
Timothy Hugh Pallas is an Australian politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since 2006, representing the electorate of Tarneit...
.
After the resignation of Minister Theo Theophanous
Theo Theophanous
Theo Charles Theophanous is a former Australian politician who served in the Victorian Legislative Council representing the Northern Metropolitan Region. He is the brother of former federal politician Andrew Theophanous...
in December 2008, Pakula was appointed Minister for Industry and Trade and Industrial Relations. In January 2010, he replaced Lynne Kosky
Lynne Kosky
Lynne Janice Kosky is a former Australian politician and senior minister in the Parliament of Victoria. She represented the electoral district of Altona in the Victorian Legislative Assembly for the Australian Labor Party from 1996 to 2010...
as Minister for Public Transport following her resignation.
Personal life
Pakula is married with two children and is a supporter of the Carlton Football ClubCarlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
.
External links
- Parliamentary profile
- http://tex.parliament.vic.gov.au/bin/texhtmlt?form=VicHansard.dumpall&startpage=95&origquery=true+and+(+data+contains+'PAKULA'+)+and+(+members+contains+'PAKULA'+)&query=true+and+(+data+contains+'PAKULA'+)+and+(+members+contains+'PAKULA'+)&db=hansard91&dodraft=0&speech=55299&mem_selected=PAKULA&activity=Governors+Speech&title=Address-in-reply&date1=20&date2=December&date3=2006Martin Pakula in Victorian Hansard]