Tony Burke
From Freepedia
Anthony Stephen "Tony" Burke (born 4 November 1969), Australian politician, was elected to the House of Representatives as member for the seat of Watson, New South Wales for the Australian Labor Party at the 2004 federal election.
Burke was educated at the University of Sydney, where he graduated in arts and law. He was an Electorate Officer for Senator Graham Richardson 1993-94 and for Senator Michael Forshaw 1994-95. He was director of Euthanasia No, a community organisation camapaigning against the legalisation of euthanasia and assisted suicide, 1995-97. He was Campaign Manager for the Australian Republican Movement in 1997. He was then an organiser with the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association 1997-03. He is the President of the Bankstown Community College.
In March 2003 Burke was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council, but resigned in June 2004 when he gained Labor endorsement for Watson, a safe Labor seat in Sydney's inner suburbs previously held by Leo McLeay.
Burke, a member of the right-wing Labor Unity faction of the Labor Party, was elected to the Opposition Shadow Ministry immediately on his election to Parliament. He was Shadow Minister for Small Business in 2004-05 and was appointed Shadow Minister for Immigration in June 2005. He is widely regarded as the outstanding talent among the new intake of Labor members from the 2004 election.
