Alistair Harkness
Dr Alistair Harkness (born 7 August 1974, Melbourne, Victoria) is an Australian politician, and was a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for the Australian Labor Party.
Early life
Dr Harkness grew up in Frankston, Victoria where he attended Frankston Heights Primary School. After completing high school at Mentone Grammar School, he was accepted to study at Monash University. In 1996, he graduated with a Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Arts, and received first class honours the following year. He went on to complete a PhD in political science, which he was awarded in 2005.[1] His research on Victorian state politics and policy has been widely published.[2]
Prior to entering Parliament, his career included working for former Premier Steve Bracks in his first term as Premier; as a lecturing associate at Monash University teaching in Australian politics, policy making and police studies; and on the galvanizing and paint lines at BHP Westernport. He supported himself prior to these roles in a variety of occupations, including as a sales assistant at Big W (Karingal).
Harkness married his wife, Tawny, in 2006, with whom he has one daughter.[3]
Political career
Harkness was elected as the Member for Frankston in the 2002 Victorian State Elections. At just 28 years old, this made him the youngest member in the Victorian Parliament. During his first term, he was a member of the Parliamentary Roads Safety Committee. He was re-elected at the 2006 election and served on the Parliamentary Education Committee. In office, Harkness listed his key areas of interest as road safety, education and the environment. He was defeated in the 2010 Victorian election, obtaining 47.93% of the vote after the distribution of preferences.[4]
Post Politics
Returning to academia in 2011, Harkness is presently teaching and researching in Criminal Justice in the School of Applied Media and Social Sciences at Monash University.[5] Part of his research at Monash has focussed on the role and appointment process for police commissioners. In this regard, he has been a vocal critic of the Baillieu Government's conduct in relation to Victoria Police Commissioner Simon Overland.[6]
References
- ^ http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/handbook/searchresult.cfm?menuid=1&memberId=1580
- ^ http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/handbook/searchresult.cfm?menuid=1&memberId=1580
- ^ http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,20691074-5008560,00.html
- ^ http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/state2010resultFrankstonDistrict.html
- ^ http://arts.monash.edu.au/samss/staff/alistair-harkness.php
- ^ http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/overlands-legacy-should-be-independence-for-police-chiefs-20111101-1mtrp.html
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