Paul Whelan (politician)

Paul Francis Patrick Whelan (12 December 1943 – 30 October 2019)[1] was an Australian politician, who served as the New South Wales Minister for Police between 1995 and 2001.

Paul Whelan
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for Ashfield
In office
1 May 1976 – 5 March 1999
Preceded byDavid Hunter
Succeeded byAbolished
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for Strathfield
In office
27 March 1999 – 28 February 2003
Preceded byBruce MacCarthy
Succeeded byVirginia Judge
ConstituencyStrathfield
New South Wales
Minister for Police
In office
4 April 1995 – 21 November 2001
PremierBob Carr
Preceded byGarry West
Succeeded byMichael Costa
Personal details
Born
Paul Francis Patrick Whelan

(1943-12-12)12 December 1943
Ashbury, New South Wales
Died30 October 2019(2019-10-30) (aged 75)
NationalityAustralian
Political partyLabor Party
ProfessionLawyer

Early years and background

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Whelan was born and raised in Ashbury, a suburb of Sydney, Australia to Mary Bridget and John Joseph Whelan. He was the youngest of their seven children. He was educated at St Francis Xavier Primary School, Ashbury, De La Salle College, Ashfield, and the University of Sydney, where he received an LL.B. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1968 and barrister in 1988. He married Colleen Mary Healey in 1968 and had two daughters, two sons and eight grandchildren. He was an alderman on the Ashfield Municipal Council from 1970 to 1976 and Mayor from 1971 to 1976.[2]

Political career

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Whelan represented Ashfield from May 1976 to March 1999 and Strathfield from March 1999 to February 2003 for the Labor Party. He was Minister for Consumer Affairs and Minister for Roads from October 1981 to February 1983 and then Minister for Water Resources and Minister for Forests until April 1984 during the Wran government. He was also Minister for Aboriginal Affairs from February to April 1984. He was Minister for Police from April 1995 to November 2001 during the Carr government.[2] Whelan retired from politics in 2003. Virginia Judge succeeded in replacing him in his seat.

References

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  1. ^ Smith, Alexandra (30 October 2019). "NSW's longest serving police minister Paul Whelan dies". The Age. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  2. ^ a b "The Hon. Paul Francis Patrick Whelan (1943- )". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 May 2019.

 

New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Ashfield
1976–1999
District abolished
Preceded by Member for Strathfield
1999–2003
Succeeded by