Chris Bourke
Chris Bourke | |
|---|---|
| Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 1 June 2011 – 15 October 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Jon Stanhope |
| Constituency | Ginninderra |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Alma mater | Melbourne University |
| Profession | Dentist |
| Website | chrisbourke |
Christopher John "Chris" Bourke is an Australian politician, a Labor member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Ginninderra from 2011 to 2016. He was the first Indigenous Australian elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly.[1] He filled the casual vacancy created by the resignation of former Chief Minister Jon Stanhope.[2] His election was the result of a countback of ballots cast for Stanhope in the 2008 Australian Capital Territory election.[3] Following his election Mr Bourke was made Minister of Education, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Industrial Relations, and Minister for Corrections.[4]
Bourke grew up in country Australia.[5] He graduated from Melbourne University in 1982, where he was the first Indigenous Australian to complete a dentistry degree.[6] He undertook graduate studies at Adelaide University and Sydney University.[5] Prior to being elected in 2011, Bourke worked as a dentist, performing locum dentistry work in remote areas of Australia after a period of private practice in Canberra. He is President of the Indigenous Dentists' Association of Australia.[7]
Bourke was defeated at the 2016 election.
References
- ^ "Bourke to be first indigenous MLA". Canberra Times. 30 May 2011.
- ^ "Dr Chris Bourke officially declared elected to fill the casual vacancy". ACT Electoral Commission. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
- ^ "Casual vacancy countback result: Mr Chris Bourke to be elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly". ACT Electoral Commission. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
- ^ [1]
- ^ a b "Dr Christopher Bourke". Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
- ^ "Congratulations Chris Bourke". Regional Development Australia, ACT. 1 June 2011.
- ^ "Indigenous Dentists' Association of Australia". Retrieved 2 June 2011.
External links
