Robert McClelland (Australian politician)
The Honourable Justice Robert McClelland | |
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![]() McClelland in 2011 | |
Judge of the Family Court of Australia | |
Assumed office 16 June 2015 | |
Nominated by | Tony Abbott |
Preceded by | Stuart Fowler |
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 – 7 September 2013 | |
Preceded by | Gary Punch |
Succeeded by | Nickolas Varvaris |
Personal details | |
Born |
Robert Bruce McClelland 26 January 1958 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
Political party | Labor |
Relations | Alfred McClelland (grandfather) |
Father | Doug McClelland |
Alma mater |
University of New South Wales University of Sydney |
Website | Official website |
Robert Bruce McClelland (born 26 January 1958) is an Australian judge and former politician who has served on the Family Court of Australia since 2015. He was previously Attorney-General of Australia from 2007 to 2011, and a member of the House of Representatives from 1996 to 2013, representing the Labor Party.
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. His grandfather was Alfred McClelland, a state Labor MP from 1920 to 1932.
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.[1]
Career
Prior to entering politics, McClelland was an Associate to 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, 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 Labor won the 2007 election.
As Attorney General McClelland introduced the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Torture Prohibition and Death Penalty Abolition) Act 2010.[8][9]
In the 2007 federal election, McClelland was re-elected to the seat of Barton with a 4.53% swing toward the Labor Party.[10] 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 proposed to allow same-sex couples to enter into civil unions, would give the right to hold public ceremonies to celebrate their unions.[11] McClelland was criticised by Greens Senator Bob Brown, who said it was displaying the ugly face of Labor conservatism.[12] In September 2008 McClelland introduced the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws—General Law Reform) Bill 2008 which gave same sex couples equal rights in respect to social security, taxation and superannuation laws.[13]
McClelland has said those protesting against Australian Christian Lobby would not have recognised that the ACL had supported amendments to 84 pieces of Commonwealth legislation that removed discrimination against same-sex couples.[14]
McClelland remarked that on Polygamy in Australia "There is absolutely no way that the government will be recognising polygamist relationships. They are unlawful and they will remain as such. Under Australian law, marriage is defined as the union of a man and a woman to the exclusion of all others. Polygamous marriage necessarily offends this definition."[15]
McClelland was responsible for implementing the recommendations of the Victorian Bushfire Royal Commission including the implementation of a National Emergency Warning System.[16]
As Attorney General, McClelland undertook an extensive review of the International Arbitration Act. That review formed the basis of amendments to the Act that were introduced in 2010.[17] The Amendments gave arbitral tribunals a wider degree of flexibility in controlling arbitral proceedings and included inserting an object to emphasise the importance of international arbitration in facilitating international trade and commerce. Provisions were also introduced to require Courts applying the Act and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration Law to have regard to the fact that arbitration is an ‘efficient, impartial, enforceable and timely’ method of dispute resolution.
McClelland also introduced amendments to federal family law, including by giving the federal family law courts jurisdiction over the financial affairs of de facto spouses.[18]
On 29 January 2013, McClelland announced that he would not contest the 2013 federal election.[19]
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.[20]
See also
References
- 1 2 "The Hon Robert McClelland MP, Member for Barton (NSW)". Attorney-General for Australia. Government of Australia. Archived from the original on 18 July 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
- ↑ "The Hon Robert McClelland MP, Member for Barton (NSW)". Australian Parliament House. Archived from the original on 28 July 2008. Retrieved 21 July 2008.
- ↑ "Gillard says cabinet reshuffle 'difficult'". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 December 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
- ↑ "No mercy for terrorists: Rudd". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 October 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
- ↑ "PM slams Rudd over death penalty". The Age. Australia. 9 October 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
- ↑ "McClelland apologises to victims of Bali". news.com.au. 11 October 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
- ↑ "Australia under fire for 'inconsistent' death penalty stance". ABC News. Australia. 9 October 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
- ↑ Crimes Legislation Amendment (Torture Prohibition and Death Penalty Abolition) Act 2010 (Cth).
- ↑ "Explanatory memorandum: Crimes Legislation Amendment (Torture Prohibition and Death Penalty Abolition) Bill 2009". Federal Register of Legislation. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ↑ "Australian Electoral Commission summary of Barton, Federal Election 2007". Australian Electoral Commission. 19 December 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
- ↑ Maley, Paul (7 February 2008). "Gay unions are OK ... just don't do it in public". The Australian. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
- ↑ "ACT civil partnerships issue will cause government rift: Brown". ABC News. Australia. 7 February 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
- ↑ http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansardr%2F2008-09-04%2F0017%22
- ↑ Nasty debate 'un-Australian': McClelland, Brisbane Times, 6 October 2012, retrieved 23 October 2016
- ↑ No recognition for polygamous marriage
- ↑ http://www.smh.com.au//breaking-news-national/national-emergency-system-gets-thumbs-up-20110901-1jmvh.html
- ↑ http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;orderBy=date-eFirst;page=0;query=Content%3Amcclelland%20Title%3A%22arbitration%20%22;rec=3;resCount=Default
- ↑ http://www.westlaw.com.au/maf/wlau/app/document
- ↑ ABC News, 29 January 2013
- ↑ Senator the Honourable George Brandis QC, 28 May 2015
External links
Parliament of Australia | ||
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Preceded by Gary Punch |
Member of Parliament for Barton 1996–2013 |
Succeeded by Nickolas Varvaris |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by Philip Ruddock |
Attorney General of Australia 2007–2011 |
Succeeded by Nicola Roxon |
Preceded by John Faulkner |
Vice President of the Executive Council 2010–2012 |
Succeeded by Tony Burke |