Walter Jona
Encyclopedia
Walter Jona was a former Liberal Party of Australia
member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
.
before studying medicine
at the University of Melbourne
in 1944. After spending 1945 in the Royal Australian Air Force
, Jona returned to his medical course, but found his passion for politics after taking some politics units. This lead Jona to joining the Melbourne University Liberal Club and becoming active within the Liberal Party in his local area.
Jona was also active in many other groups including the Melbourne Apex Club, Melbourne Junior Chamber of Commerce and in 1958 he became President of the Victorian Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen.
, Peter Garrisson, the Liberal member for Jona's local seat of Hawthorn
was disendorsed because he was charged under the Companies Act. Jona won a hotly contested preselection against ten other candidates, and went on to win the seat despite challenges from Garrisson and from Labor
(at the time, the seat of Hawthorn included parts of working class Richmond, making it less secure for the Liberals than today).
Jona served as the Chairman of a Select Committee on Road Safety between 1967 and 1973. This committee recommended the mandatory wearing of seatbelts in 1971, which was a world first.
From 1973 to 1976 Jona served as Parliamentary Secretary
to cabinet
before being promoted by Premier Rupert Hamer
to be Victoria's first Ethnic Affairs Minister. From 1979 until the Liberals' defeat at the 1982 election, Jona served as Minister for Community Welfare Services. He also served as shadow Education Minister until his retirement in 1985.
Like many Liberal Party politicians from Victoria, Jona's political views were considered to be small-l liberal. After retirement, Jona criticized the government of Joh Bjelke-Petersen
for its "contempt of parliament" and "exercising [of] absolute power" as well as criticizing the current federal Coalition
government for its increasingly centralist style of government. .
Until his death in 2007, he remained active in community life, having served as chairman for the Victorian Union for Progressive Judaism and as a patron of the Hawthorn Football Club
.
Lady (Anna) Cowen, wife of Sir Zelman Cowen
, a former Governor-General of Australia
, is his cousin.
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
.
Early life and career
Jona went to school at the Scotch College, MelbourneScotch College, Melbourne
Scotch College, Melbourne is an independent, Presbyterian, day and boarding school for boys, located in Hawthorn, an inner-eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
before studying medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
in 1944. After spending 1945 in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
, Jona returned to his medical course, but found his passion for politics after taking some politics units. This lead Jona to joining the Melbourne University Liberal Club and becoming active within the Liberal Party in his local area.
Jona was also active in many other groups including the Melbourne Apex Club, Melbourne Junior Chamber of Commerce and in 1958 he became President of the Victorian Association of Jewish Ex-Servicemen.
Political career
In the lead up to the 1964 state electionVictorian state election, 1964
Elections were held in the Australian state of Victoria on 27 June 1964 to elect the 66 members of the state's Legislative Assembly and 17 members of the 34-member Legislative Council...
, Peter Garrisson, the Liberal member for Jona's local seat of Hawthorn
Electoral district of Hawthorn
The Electoral district of Hawthorn is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. It was first proclaimed in 1889 and has usually been a safe seat for the Liberal Party and its predecessors....
was disendorsed because he was charged under the Companies Act. Jona won a hotly contested preselection against ten other candidates, and went on to win the seat despite challenges from Garrisson and from Labor
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...
(at the time, the seat of Hawthorn included parts of working class Richmond, making it less secure for the Liberals than today).
Jona served as the Chairman of a Select Committee on Road Safety between 1967 and 1973. This committee recommended the mandatory wearing of seatbelts in 1971, which was a world first.
From 1973 to 1976 Jona served as Parliamentary Secretary
Parliamentary Secretary
A Parliamentary Secretary is a member of a Parliament in the Westminster system who assists a more senior minister with his or her duties.In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to...
to cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
before being promoted by Premier Rupert Hamer
Rupert Hamer
Sir Rupert James Hamer, AC, KCMG, ED , generally known until he was knighted in 1982 as Dick Hamer, Australian Liberal Party politician, was the 39th Premier of Victoria, serving from 1972 to 1981.-Early years:...
to be Victoria's first Ethnic Affairs Minister. From 1979 until the Liberals' defeat at the 1982 election, Jona served as Minister for Community Welfare Services. He also served as shadow Education Minister until his retirement in 1985.
Like many Liberal Party politicians from Victoria, Jona's political views were considered to be small-l liberal. After retirement, Jona criticized the government of Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Joh Bjelke-Petersen
Sir Johannes "Joh" Bjelke-Petersen, KCMG , was an Australian politician. He was the longest-serving and longest-lived Premier of Queensland, holding office from 1968 to 1987, a period that saw considerable economic development in the state...
for its "contempt of parliament" and "exercising [of] absolute power" as well as criticizing the current federal Coalition
Coalition (Australia)
The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922...
government for its increasingly centralist style of government. .
Until his death in 2007, he remained active in community life, having served as chairman for the Victorian Union for Progressive Judaism and as a patron of the Hawthorn Football Club
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
.
Lady (Anna) Cowen, wife of Sir Zelman Cowen
Zelman Cowen
Sir Zelman Cowen, was the 19th Governor-General of Australia. He is currently the oldest living former Governor-General of Australia.-Early life:...
, a former Governor-General of Australia
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
, is his cousin.