John Faulkner

New South Wales Senator

About John

John Faulkner was born in Leeton in south-western New South Wales on 12 April 1954, but has lived most of his life in Sydney. He was educated in the public school system and at Macquarie University. He was a member of the Macquarie University Council (1984-1992).

He joined the Labor Party as a teenager and has held various positions, including: member of NSW Administrative Committee (1978‑1989), Assistant General Secretary of NSW branch of the ALP (1980-1989); delegate to NSW Annual Conference (since 1975); delegate to National Conference (since 1982); member of ALP National Executive (since 1989).

For four years, John Faulkner worked as a specialist teacher of children with severe disabilities and then worked as a research officer for the NSW Minister for Sport and Recreation.

On 4 April 1989, John Faulkner entered the Australian Senate following the retirement of Senator Arthur Gietzelt. He was elected for further six-year terms in 1993, 1998 and 2004.

After the election in March 1993, Senator Faulkner became a member of the second Keating Ministry as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Minister for Defence Science & Personnel, and Manager of Government Business in the Senate (March 1993-March 1996). On 28 February 1994, he was also appointed Minister for Sport and Territories.

On 25 March 1994, Senator Faulkner moved into Cabinet as Minister for Environment, Sport and Territories.

After the 1996 Federal election, he became Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, and Shadow Minister for Social Security (March 1996-March 1997). He was then appointed Shadow Minister for Public Administration and Government Services (March 1997 to present). Senator Faulkner was also given shadow responsibility for Territories (October 1997-October 1998).

After the 1998 Federal election, Senator Faulkner remained Leader of the Opposition in the Senate with portfolio responsibilities of Shadow Minister for Public Administration and Government Services; and Shadow Minister for Olympic Coordination and the Centenary of Federation.

He remained as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate after the 2001 Federal Election. In the 2001-2004 Parliamentary Term he held at different times the portfolio responsibilities of Shadow Special Minister of State, Shadow Minister for Public Administration and Accountability, and Shadow Minister for Home Affairs.

After the 2004 election Senator Faulkner did not nominate for another term as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate.

John was appointed Special Minister of State, Cabinet Secretary, and Vice President of the Executive Council upon the election of the Rudd Labor Government in 2007. In June 2009, he was appointed Minister for Defence while continuing as Vice President of the Executive Council.

John Faulkner is the Duty Senator for Bennelong, Berowra and North Sydney

Contact John

Parliament House
PO Box 6022
Canberra
ACT
2600
02 6277 7800
02 6273 4118
Email John

Electorate Office
Suite 1
1 Park Avenue
Drummoyne
NSW
2047
(02) 9719 8100
(02) 9719 8078

Electorate Profile

Bennelong

State:

NSW

Name Derivation:

Named after the Aboriginal man whom Governor Phillip befriended in 1789.

Area and Location Description:

Bennelong covers an area of approximately 58 sq km from Roselea and Melrose Park in the west, bounded by the Parramatta River in the south and Victoria Road, Pittwater Road and the Lane Cove River in the east, with the Lane Cove River, Devlins Creek and the Hills Motorway providing the northern boundary. Suburbs include Denistone, Epping, East Ryde, Eastwood, Macquarie Park, Marsfield, Meadowbank, Melrose Park, Putney, North Ryde, Ryde, West Ryde and parts of Carlingford, Ermington and Gladesville.

Products/Industries of the Area:

Light manufacturing, commercial and retail businesses.

First Proclaimed/Election:

1949

Demographic Rating:

Inner Metropolitan

Members:

Alexander, J (LP) 2010-
McKew, M (ALP) 2007-2010
Howard, J (LP) 1974-2007
Cramer, J O (LP) 1949-1974

Berowra

State:

NSW

Name Derivation:

Named after the area in which it is located.

Area and Location Description:

Berowra covers an area of approximately 782 sq km from Brooklyn and the Hawkesbury River in the north, to Pennant Hills and Beecroft in the south west, the Pacific Highway and the Sydney to Newcastle Freeway, Cockle and Cowan Creeks in the east, Hawkesbury River, Cattai Creek, Boundary Road, McGuires Road and Citadel Creek in the west. Suburbs include Arcadia, Berowra, Brooklyn, Cheltenham, Cherrybrook, Cowan, Dangar Island, Galston, Glenorie, Maroota, Middle Dural, Mount Kuring-gai, Normanhurst, Pennant Hills, Sackville North, Thornleigh, Westleigh and parts of Asquith, Beecroft, Carlingford, Castle Hill, Cattai, Dural, Hornsby, Lower Portland, Maraylya, Mount Colah, Wahroonga, Waitara, West Pennant Hills and Wisemans Ferry.

Products/Industries of the Area:

Fishing and oyster farming from the Hawkesbury River area. Retail, service and various small industries including hobby farming, citrus fruit orchards, poultry farming, horticulture, and tourism.

First Proclaimed/Election:

1968/1969

Demographic Rating:

Outer Metropolitan

Members:

Ruddock, P (LP) 1993-
Edwards, H A (LP) 1972-1993
Hughes, T E F (LP) 1969-1972

North Sydney

State:

NSW

Name Derivation:

Named after the area in which it is located.

Area and Location Description:

North Sydney covers an area of approximately 48 sq km from Sydney Harbour in the south to Fullers Road, Ashley St and Boundary St in the north and from Middle Harbour, Cammeray and Kirribilli in the east to Victoria Road, Pittwater Road and Lane Cove River in the west. Suburbs include Artarmon, Castle Cove, Cammeray, Castlecrag, Crows Nest, Greenwich, Henley, Hunters Hill, Huntleys Point, Kirribilli, Lane Cove, Lane Cove North, Lane Cove West, Lavender Bay, Linley Point, Longueville, McMahons Point, Milsons Point, Naremburn, North Willoughby, Northbridge, North Sydney, Northwood, Riverview, St Leonards, Waverton, Willoughby, Willoughby East, Wollstonecraft, Woolwich and parts of Chatswood, Chatswood West, Cremorne, Gladesville and Neutral Bay.

Products/Industries of the Area:

North Sydney is the third largest business centre in Australia. It contains communications, property and business services, and wholesale and retail industries.