Steven Georganas(Greek:Στηβ Γεωργανάς;born 13 June 1959) is an Australian politician and is theAustralian Labor Partymember for theHouse of Representativesseat ofAdelaideinSouth Australiasince the2019 Australian federal election.Previously, he had been the member forHindmarshfrom 2004 to 2013 and again from 2016 to 2019.
Steve Georganas | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theAustralian Parliament forAdelaide | |
| Assumed office 18 May 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Kate Ellis |
| Member of theAustralian Parliament forHindmarsh | |
| In office 2 July 2016 – 18 May 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Matt Williams |
| Succeeded by | Mark Butler |
| In office 9 October 2004 – 7 September 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Chris Gallus |
| Succeeded by | Matt Williams |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 June 1959 Adelaide, South Australia,Australia |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Children | 2 |
| Occupation | Taxi driver, underwriter, policy advisor |
| Website | facebook |
Background
editGeorganas was born inAdelaideof Greek parents. He gained a Business Studies Certificate at aTAFEcollege and worked as a taxi driver, an assembly-line worker in a factory, and an underwriter.[1][2]He worked as a ministerial adviser to South Australian government ministerJay Weatherillfrom 2002 to 2004.
Political career
editElections
editGeorganas was the Labor Party candidate forHindmarshat the1998 federal electionand the2001 federal election,but was unsuccessful on both occasions.
At the2004 federal election,Georganas defeatedLiberalcandidateSimon Birmingham,winning Hindmarsh by 108 votes. He was re-elected with increased majorities at the2007and2010 federal elections.[3]
Georganas was defeated by Liberal candidateMatt Williamsat the2013 federal electionwhen the Australian Labor Party lost government. Georganas was successful at recapturing the seat for Labor at the2016 federal election.[4]
A redistribution ahead of the2019 federal electionsaw the neighbouring seat ofPort Adelaideabolished, with most of its territory being transferred to Hindmarsh. The redistribution made Hindmarsh significantly more secure for Labor, boosting the Labor majority to 8.2 percent. Soon afterward, the Left and Right factions of SA Labor reached a deal that saw Georganas relinquish Hindmarsh to the incumbent MP for Port Adelaide, former federal Labor presidentMark Butler.In return, Georganas was given Labor preselection forAdelaide,after the incumbent MP,Kate Ellis,announced that she was retiring. Adelaide was made safer for Labor at the redistribution, having a nominal majority of 9 percent.[citation needed]
Policy positions
editGeorganas campaigned on noise reduction surrounding theAdelaide Airport,[5]and in 2007 introduced aprivate member's billto create an Aircraft Noise Ombudsman.[6]
He is a prominent advocate for animal welfare and curtailinglive animal exports,speaking at rallies and tabling motions in parliament calling for the practice to be condemned and fines to be imposed for animal cruelty.[7][8][9]He also campaigned for the super-trawlerFVMargiristo be banned from fishing in Australia.[5]
Georganas voted in support ofsame-sex marriage in Australiawhen the issue was debated in parliament in 2013.[10]
He has also campaigned for a "Do Not Knock" register to ban door-to-door salespeople from visiting registered properties,[11]and introduced a private member's bill to create a register in 2012.[12]
Georganas leftLabor Left,the faction that had supported him since the 1990s, in May 2019. Georganas joined several other South Australian MPs, candidates and members who had resigned from the left to joinLabor Unity,includingTony PiccoloMP in 2013 and candidate Jo Chapley in 2018.[13]
Personal life
editGeorganas has lived in the suburb of Mile End, currently in the electorate of Adelaide, his entire life.[5]He has two adult sons.[5]
He is a supporter of theWest Adelaide Football Club,and was a member of the club's board of directors[14]from 2013 to 2016.[15]He is also involved in numerous community organizations, including as president of his localLionsclub, and as a board member of the AdelaideGreekGlendiFestival.[2]
References
edit- ^"Hindmarsh – Australia Votes | Federal Election 2013 (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)".ABC News.Retrieved13 February2016.
- ^ab"Steve Georganas".ALP.org.au.Australian Labor Party. Archived fromthe originalon 1 March 2011.Retrieved24 November2011.
- ^"Hindmarsh – Election 2010".The Tally Room.25 October 2009.Retrieved3 May2016.
- ^Georganas elected unopposed: Neos Kosmos 3 September 2015
- ^abcdNovak, Lauren (10 October 2012)."MP Steve Georganas to be firm but fair in the chair".The Advertiser.Retrieved4 June2019.
- ^"Parliamentary Business: Airport Development and Aviation Noise Ombudsman Bill 2007".Parliament of Australia.
- ^McGreggor, Ken (11 September 2012)."Urgent review of live export supply chain needed, says MP Steve Georganas".Herald Sun.
- ^"Thousands to rally against live exports with signs saying 'Come on Julia, don't be a chicken'".news.au.6 October 2012.
- ^Hockley, Catherine (8 July 2011)."Labor backbenchers revolt over cattle trade resumption".The Advertiser.
- ^"Lower House votes down same-sex marriage bill".ABC News.Retrieved13 February2016.
- ^"MP campaigns for do not knock register".ABC News. 20 March 2012.Retrieved3 May2016.
- ^"Parliamentary Business: Do Not Knock Register Bill 2012".Parliament of Australia.
- ^Richardson, Tom (28 May 2019)."SA factional fallout as Left stalwart defects".InDaily.
- ^"Board Members".westadelaidefc.au.West Adelaide Football Club.Retrieved3 May2016.
- ^"Mr Steve Georganas MP".Senators and Members of theParliament of Australia.Retrieved30 December2024.
External links
edit- Profile: ALP.org.au
- Search or browseHansardforSteve Georganasat OpenAustralia.org