Robert McClelland (Australian politician)

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The Honourable Justice
Robert McClelland
RobertMcClelland.jpg
Vice President of the Executive Council
In office
13 September 2010 – 5 March 2012
Prime Minister Julia Gillard
Preceded by John Faulkner
Succeeded by Tony Burke
Attorney General of Australia
In office
3 December 2007 – 14 December 2011
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
Julia Gillard
Preceded by Philip Ruddock
Succeeded by Nicola Roxon
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Barton
In office
2 March 1996 – 5 August 2013
Preceded by Gary Punch
Succeeded by Nickolas Varvaris
Personal details
Born Robert Bruce McClelland
(1958-01-26) 26 January 1958 (age 66)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Political party Labor Party
Alma mater University of New South Wales
University of Sydney
Website Official website

Robert Bruce McClelland (born 26 January 1958 in Sydney) is a current judge on the Family Court of Australia, and a former Australian politician. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives from March 1996 until September 2013 representing the Division of Barton. Between 2007 and 2011, McClelland was the Attorney-General of Australia.

Early life and education

McClelland is the son of Doug McClelland, a former Senator for New South Wales between 1962 and 1987, and a minister in the Whitlam government and President of the Senate, serving between 1983 and 1987.

McClelland was educated at Blakehurst High School before studying at the University of New South Wales, where he gained bachelor's degrees in arts and law, and the University of Sydney where he gained a master's degree in law.

Career

Early career

He was an Associate to the Justice Phillip Evatt of the Federal Court of Australia 1981–82 before becoming a solicitor and ultimately partner with law firm Turner Freeman.[1]

Political career

Two years after his election to parliament, McClelland became a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry. He was Shadow Attorney-General 1998–2003, Shadow Minister for Workplace Relations 2001–03, Shadow Minister for Homeland Security 2003–05, Shadow Minister for Defence 2004–06 and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs 2006–07. In November 2007, Robert McClelland was appointed as the Attorney-General.[2] As part of a cabinet reshuffle in December 2011 he was moved to oversee the portfolio of emergency management and housing.[3] In a further cabinet reshuffle in February 2012 following Kevin Rudd's leadership challenge, McClelland returned to the backbench.

After McClelland indicated on 8 October 2007 his party's disapproval of death sentences for all south Asian countries, his leader Kevin Rudd criticized the speech as "insensitive" because it was made on the eve of the anniversary of the Bali bombings.[4][5] McClelland apologized,[6] but critics called the positions inconsistent[7] and prevented Rudd from appointing McClelland as Foreign Minister when the ALP won the 2007 election. This fact was reflected by Rudd refusing to endorse him for the position in the lead-up to the 2007 election campaign. [8]

In the 2007 Federal election, McClelland was re-elected to the seat of Barton with a 4.53% swing toward the Labor Party.[9] In the 2010 Federal election, McClelland was re-elected to the seat of Barton, but suffered an 8.08% swing against the Labor Party.

In February 2008, McClelland stated that it was unacceptable that the ACT government, which is proposing to allow same-sex couples to enter into unions, would give the right to hold public ceremonies to celebrate their unions.[10] McClelland was criticised by Greens Senator Bob Brown, who said it was displaying the ugly face of Labor conservatism.[11]

On 29 January 2013, McClelland announced he would not be contesting the 2013 election.[12]

Judicial career

On 28 May 2015, McClelland was appointed to the Family Court of Australia by Attorney-General George Brandis QC. He is based in the Court's Sydney registry and his appointment commenced on 16 June 2015.[13]

See also

References

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External links

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Barton
1996–2013		 Succeeded by
Nickolas Varvaris
Political offices
Preceded by Attorney General of Australia
2007–2011		 Succeeded by
Nicola Roxon
Preceded by Vice President of the Executive Council
2010–2012		 Succeeded by
Tony Burke
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  8. ↑ http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/rudds-metoo-policy-mess/2007/10/09/1191695909938.html
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  12. ↑ ABC News, 29 January 2013
  13. ↑ Senator the Honourable George Brandis QC, 28 May 2015
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