Biography for McKIERNAN, Jim

Senator for Western Australia 1984-2002

Australian Labor Party

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Parliamentary Service

Elected to the Senate for Western Australia 1984 (term began 1.12.1984), 1987, 1990 and 1996. Retired prior to general elections 2001 (term expired 30.6.2002).

Parliamentary Positions

Temporary Chair of Committees from 18.8.93 to 30.6.02.

Committee Service

Senate Standing: Publications from 26.2.85 (Chair from 21.10.87 to 29.4.96) to 30.6.02; House from 11.9.85 to 5.6.87; Scrutiny of Bills from 25.2.87 to 5.6.87; Selection of Bills from 18.12.89 to 20.2.91; Privileges from 1.7.93 to 29.4.96; Senators' Interests from 24.3.94 to 29.4.96.

Senate Legislative and General Purpose Standing: Education and the Arts from 11.9.85 to 18.2.87; Industry and Trade from 11.9.85 to 5.6.87; Industry, Science and Technology from 24.9.87 to 8.5.90; Environment, Recreation and the Arts from 6.3.91 to 18.5.93; Rural and Regional Affairs from 18.5.93 to 18.10.93 and from 28.10.93 to 10.10.94; Legal and Constitutional Affairs from 1.7.93 to 18.10.93 and from 28.10.93 to 10.10.94; Legal and Constitutional: References and Legislation Committees from 10.10.94 (Chair, References Committee from 9.5.96) to 30.6.02.

Participating member, Economics: References Committee from 23.5.96 to 30.6.02; Participating member, Environment, Recreation, Communications and the Arts: References Committee from 28.6.96 to 9.11.98; Participating member, Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport: Legislation Committee from 24.6.98 to 30.6.02 and References Committee from 26.11.98 to 30.6.02; Participating member, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: Legislation and References Committees from 14.2.02 to 30.6.02.

Senate Estimates: E from 16.4.85 to 22.8.85 and from 24.3.87 to 5.6.87; F from 22.8.85 to 24.3.87 and from 11.4.91 to 10.10.94; A from 29.9.88 to 9.3.89 and from 4.10.89 to 20.10.89; C from 21.9.90 to 10.10.90; D from 23.2.94 to 10.10.94; B on 18.3.94.

Senate Select: Matters Arising from Pay Television Tendering Processes from 27.5.93 to 16.12.93.

Joint Statutory: Public Accounts from 7.10.87 to 19.2.90; Corporations and Securities from 10.2.94 to 17.3.94.

Joint Standing: Australian Capital Territory from 28.2.85 to 12.3.86; Migration Regulations (formerly Joint Select) from 14.6.89 to 18.5.93; Migration from 18.5.93 (Chair from 26.5.93 to 29.1.96) to 30.6.02; Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade from 6.12.00 to 6.2.01.

Joint Select: Certain Aspects of the Operation and Interpretation of the Family Law Act from 17.4.91 (Chair from 18.4.91) to 18.5.93; Certain Family Law Issues from 18.5.93 to 17.3.94.

Conferences, Delegations and Visits

Member, Parliamentary Delegation to UK and Ireland, April 1988.

Member, Parliamentary Delegation to the European Parliamentary Institutions and Ireland, August-September 1991.

Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, October-November 1993.

CPA visit to London, April-May 1995.

Deputy Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to OECD (Paris), Kenya, Ethiopia and Eritrea, June-July 1996.

Bilateral visit to Republic of Korea and Malaysia, July 1998.

Deputy Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to the 101st IPU Conference, Brussels, Belgium and bilateral visit to Norway, April 1999; Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to the 102nd IPU Conference, Berlin, Germany and bilateral visit to Italy, October 1999; Deputy Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to the 103rd IPU Conference, Amman, Jordan and bilateral visit to Tanzania, April-May 2000; Deputy Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to the 104th IPU Conference, Jakarta, Indonesia, and bilateral visit to Vietnam, October 2000; Deputy Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to the 105th IPU Conference, Havana, Cuba, and bilateral visit to Mexico, March-April 2001; Deputy Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to the 106th IPU Conference, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, September 2001; Deputy Leader, Parliamentary Delegation to the 107th IPU Conference, Marrakech, Morocco, March 2002.

Study tour, Malaysia and Hong Kong, January 1994; Indonesia, January 1995; Hong Kong and China, April 1995; South Africa and Zimbabwe, April 1998; USA, Canada and UK, April-May 2001.

Parliamentary Party Positions

Deputy Government Whip in the Senate from 14.9.87 to 12.2.91.

Party Positions

Delegate, State Conference (WA) from 1978.

Member, ALP State Executive (WA) from 1978.

Member, ALP Administrative Committee (WA) 1981, 1982 and 1984.

Delegate, ALP National Conference 1982 and 1984.

President, ALP Perth Electorate Council 1983.

Secretary, Federal Parliamentary Labor Party (WA) 1985-93.

Returning Officer, Federal Parliamentary Labor Party 1990-96.

Personal

Born 11.10.1944, Cavan, Ireland.

Married.

Qualifications and Occupation before entering Federal Parliament

Education Officer for the AMWSU (WA).

Fitter and turner.

Justice of the Peace.