Peter Cox (politician)
Encyclopedia
Peter Francis Cox, AO
(4 December 1925 – 6 October 2008) was an Australian politician.
, and educated at Marist Brothers College in the Sydney suburb of Lidcombe
. His father, Edwin, was a plumber with the NSW railways. Ben Chifley
, the future prime minister, helped the Cox family. After leaving school, Peter became a public servant, working for the Department of Motor Transport in 1942. From 1943 until 1945 he was a member of the Second Australian Imperial Force
and served in the Borneo campaign
.
. He won preselection for the New South Wales state seat of Auburn at 39 and entered the Legislative Assembly
at the 1965 election
, when Labor, then led by Jack Renshaw
, lost power.
Cox became the opposition transport spokesman in 1968 and was noted for his catchphrases. Once Labor was returned to office in May 1976, the new Premier Neville Wran
appointed Cox Minister for Transport; as a result, Cox ranked third in terms of cabinet seniority.
In a cabinet reshuffle in 1984, Cox heard from the media that he had been demoted to 13th in the cabinet, as Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy. Peter Cox, was however, not discouraged by this and went on to successfully manage this portfolio and also Public Works He did not contest the 1988 election
.
He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia
(AO) in 1988 "in recognition of service to the NSW parliament". Among his other honours was that of a papal knighthood. He was survived by wife, Olive, and five children.
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"...
(4 December 1925 – 6 October 2008) was an Australian politician.
Early life
Cox was born in Bathurst, New South WalesBathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
, and educated at Marist Brothers College in the Sydney suburb of Lidcombe
Lidcombe, New South Wales
Lidcombe is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales Australia. Lidcombe is located 14 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Auburn Council....
. His father, Edwin, was a plumber with the NSW railways. Ben Chifley
Ben Chifley
Joseph Benedict Chifley , Australian politician, was the 16th Prime Minister of Australia. He took over the Australian Labor Party leadership and Prime Ministership after the death of John Curtin in 1945, and went on to retain government at the 1946 election, before being defeated at the 1949...
, the future prime minister, helped the Cox family. After leaving school, Peter became a public servant, working for the Department of Motor Transport in 1942. From 1943 until 1945 he was a member of the Second Australian Imperial Force
Second Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
and served in the Borneo campaign
Borneo campaign (1945)
The Borneo Campaign of 1945 was the last major Allied campaign in the South West Pacific Area, during World War II. In a series of amphibious assaults between 1 May and 21 July, the Australian I Corps, under General Leslie Morshead, attacked Japanese forces occupying the island. Allied naval and...
.
Political career
In 1949 Cox joined the Australian Labor PartyAustralian 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...
. He won preselection for the New South Wales state seat of Auburn at 39 and entered the 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...
at the 1965 election
New South Wales state election, 1965
The 1965 New South Wales state election was held on 1 May 1965. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting and was held on boundaries created at a 1961 redistribution...
, when Labor, then led by Jack Renshaw
Jack Renshaw
John Brophy "Jack" Renshaw AC was an Australian politician. He was Labor Premier of New South Wales from 30 April 1964 to 13 May 1965.-Early life:...
, lost power.
Cox became the opposition transport spokesman in 1968 and was noted for his catchphrases. Once Labor was returned to office in May 1976, the new Premier Neville Wran
Neville Wran
Neville Kenneth Wran, AC, CNZM, QC was the Premier of New South Wales from 1976 until 1986. He was National President of the Australian Labor Party from 1980 to 1986 and Chairman of both the Lionel Murphy Foundation and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation from 1986...
appointed Cox Minister for Transport; as a result, Cox ranked third in terms of cabinet seniority.
In a cabinet reshuffle in 1984, Cox heard from the media that he had been demoted to 13th in the cabinet, as Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy. Peter Cox, was however, not discouraged by this and went on to successfully manage this portfolio and also Public Works He did not contest the 1988 election
New South Wales state election, 1988
Elections to the 49th Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday 19 March 1988. All seats in the Legislative Assembly and half the seats in the Legislative Council were up for election...
.
He was made an Officer 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"...
(AO) in 1988 "in recognition of service to the NSW parliament". Among his other honours was that of a papal knighthood. He was survived by wife, Olive, and five children.