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Russ Gorman

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Russ Gorman
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Greenway
In office
1 December 1984 – 29 January 1996
Preceded byNew seat
Succeeded byFrank Mossfield
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Chifley
In office
5 March 1983 – 1 December 1984
Preceded byJohn Armitage
Succeeded byRoger Price
Personal details
Born20 July 1926
Kandos, New South Wales
Died3 January 2017(2017-01-03) (aged 90)
Bowral, New South Wales
NationalityAustralian
Political partyAustralian Labor Party
OccupationPublic servant
Military service
AllegianceAustralia Australia
Branch/service Royal Australian Air Force
Years of service1944–1946
RankLeading Aircraftman

Russell Neville Joseph Gorman (20 July 1926 – 3 January 2017) was an Australian politician. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1983 to 1996, representing the electorate of Chifley. Gorman was the last veteran of the Second World War to serve in the House of Representatives.[1]

Gorman was born in Kandos, New South Wales. He enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force in 1944, reaching the rank of leading aircraftman, and was stationed at Ultimo, New South Wales, Benalla, Victoria, Oakey, Queensland and Townsville before his discharge in 1947. He worked as an overseer and personnel officer after the war, and was working for Blacktown City Council at the time of his election to parliament.[2][1][3]

Gorman was elected to the House of Representatives at the 1983 federal election.[4] During his first year, he faced criminal charges for domestic violence against his wife, being convicted in August but then having his conviction quashed in December. He denied the allegations, which re-emerged when Liberal Senator Noel Crichton-Browne was embroiled in a domestic violence controversy in 1995.[5][6] In 1984, he transferred to the new seat of Greenway.[4]

Gorman rarely spoke in parliament, stating on his retirement that he had only ever made "two major speeches", but he was known to speak his mind and for his colourful language elsewhere.[7] He proposed lowering the pension age to 60 for all people, making mortgage payments tax-deductible for first home buyers, and requiring advertisers to contribute to the cost of cleaning up rubbish.[8][9][10] In 1987, he reportedly told Treasurer Paul Keating during a debate about privatisation "if you blokes would stop stroking your stalks and get out there in the electorate, you'll find out what people really think of you".[11][12] In 1994, opposing preferential treatment for women in Labor preselection, he publicly lashed Labor minister Bob McMullan as a 'dickhead' and opposed Carmen Lawrence for deputy prime minister because she had failed to help former premier Brian Burke, who had been jailed for corruption.[13] He retired at the 1996 election.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Commonwealth Members of Parliament who have served in war: the Second World War". Parliamentary Library. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  2. ^ "Biography for GORMAN, Russell Neville Joseph". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Preselection threat in Sydney seat". The Canberra Times. Vol. 56, no. 16, 866. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 30 November 1981. p. 3. Retrieved 17 July 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ a b c Carr, Adam (2008). "Australian Election Archive". Psephos, Adam Carr's Election Archive. Retrieved 17 May 2008.
  5. ^ "MP fined on assault charges". The Canberra Times. Vol. 57, no. 17, 478. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 6 August 1983. p. 7. Retrieved 17 July 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "New hearing for MP ordered". The Canberra Times. Vol. 58, no. 17, 602. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 8 December 1983. p. 7. Retrieved 17 July 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Gorman, Mr Russell Neville Joseph". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  8. ^ "FEDERAL POLITICS Forests find a gentle champion". The Canberra Times. Vol. 69, no. 21, 686. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 31 August 1994. p. 10. Retrieved 17 July 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "First-home mortgages 'should be deductible'". The Canberra Times. Vol. 63, no. 19, 421. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 12 April 1989. p. 14. Retrieved 17 July 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Ad rubbish may cost twice". Sydney Morning Herald. 31 August 1988. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Mr. K's way: whack 'em in the mouth". The Age. 7 November 1987. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Summer may not be so sunny". The Age. 7 November 1987. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Backbencher lashes out at McMullan". The Canberra Times. Vol. 69, no. 21, 658. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 3 August 1994. p. 5. Retrieved 17 July 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Member for Chifley
1983–1984 		Succeeded by
New division Member for Greenway
1984–1996 		Succeeded by


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