George Gear
George Gear | |
---|---|
Mayor of the City of Melville | |
Assumed office 21 October 2019 | |
Preceded by | Russell Aubrey |
Member of the Australian Parliament for Tangney | |
In office 5 March 1983 – 1 December 1984 | |
Preceded by | Peter Shack |
Succeeded by | Peter Shack |
Member of the Australian Parliament for Canning | |
In office 1 December 1984 – 2 March 1996 | |
Preceded by | Wendy Fatin |
Succeeded by | Ricky Johnston |
Personal details | |
Born | Kalgoorlie, Western Australia | 8 March 1947
Political party | Australian Labor Party |
Spouse | Carol Howman |
Occupation | Teacher |
George Gear (born 8 March 1947) is a former Australian politician. As of February 2022[update], he is the mayor of the City of Melville in Western Australia, and had previously served from 1983 to 1996 in Federal Parliament including as Assistant Treasurer under the Keating government.
Background
Gear was born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia and received a Bachelor of Education at Mount Lawley College of Advanced Education, a Diploma of Electrical Engineering at Fremantle Technical College and a Diploma of Technical Teaching from Perth Technical College. Prior to entering federal parliament, he was a lecturer in electrical trades and engineering at TAFE.[1] In 1969, he married Carol Howman and they have one son and one daughter.[2]
Career
Gear was elected for the Australian Labor Party as the member for the seat of Tangney at the 1983 election for the Australian House of Representatives, defeating incumbent Liberal Peter Shack. However, after a redistribution erased his majority and made Tangney a notional Liberal seat, Gear shifted to the nearby seat of Canning for the 1984 election and won. He had to fend off spirited challenges from Liberal opponent Ricky Johnston in the next four elections, particularly when his seat started shifting southward toward Mandurah. At the 1996 federal election, Johnston was successful at her fifth attempt, making him one of eight ministers to be defeated in the 1996 election.
Time in Federal Parliament
Gear was Government Whip from May 1990 to March 1993. During this time he was a member of the House Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration[3] which conducted an extensive Inquiry into Australia's banking system. He was also Chairman of the House Privileges Committee.[4]
In 1991 Gear led a parliamentary delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York between September and December.[5] He was attached to the Australian mission and worked as a part of their team in negotiations, speeches and chairing meetings as required.
In March 1993, Gear was elected to the ministry and was appointed
Gear was the Federal Minister in charge of the
Entry into Local Government
In July 2019, Gear released a media statement[6] declaring his intention to contest the role of Mayor in the City of Melville for the 2019 local government elections. The position had been occupied since 2007 by Russell Aubrey, whose third term as Mayor had been marred with public controversy and internal division.[7] A long-time Melville resident, Gear ran his campaign on a platform of rebuilding confidence in the Council, restoring integrity to City processes and decision-making, mending relations with ratepayers and residents and giving ratepayers better value for money.
Following the conclusion of polling conducted by the
Notes
- ^ "Biography for Gear, the Hon. George". ParlInfo Web. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 3 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
- ISBN 978-1-74095-160-9.
- ISBN 0-644-22323-5. Archived(PDF) from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
- ISBN 0-644-24253-1. Archived(PDF) from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
- ^ a b c "Mayor George Gear". City of Melville. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
- ^ "City of Melville Residents and Ratepayers Association Inc". Facebook. 23 July 2019. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019.
- ^ "No end date in sight for Melville". PerthNow. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
- ^ "LOCAL GOVERNMENT ORDINARY POSTAL ELECTION NOTICE OF RESULTS" (PDF). City of Melville. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.