Harry Jenkins (senior)
Encyclopedia
Henry Alfred Jenkins AM (24 September 192527 July 2004), Australian Labor
politician, was Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives
during the term of the Labor
government of Bob Hawke
.
Jenkins was born and educated in Melbourne
. He graduated in medicine from the University of Melbourne
. He worked as a general practitioner until 1961, when he was elected as a Labor member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for the seat of Reservoir
, where he served until 1969. In the Victorian Parliament he was Shadow Minister for Health.
Jenkins then moved to the Federal Parliament. He was elected to the House of Representatives
for the Division of Scullin
at the 1969 election. In May 1983, on the election of the Hawke government, he was elected Speaker of the House, a position he held until his retirement in 1985. He was succeeded as member for Scullin by his son, Harry Jenkins
, Jr.
After leaving politics, Jenkins was appointed Australian Ambassador to Spain
, a post he held until 1988. In 1991 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia
.
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
politician, was Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives
Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives
The Speaker of the House of Representatives is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives, the lower house of the Parliament of Australia. The presiding officer in the upper house is the President of the Senate....
during the term of the Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
government of Bob Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
.
Jenkins was born and educated in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. He graduated in medicine from the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
. He worked as a general practitioner until 1961, when he was elected as a Labor member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
for the seat of Reservoir
Electoral district of Reservoir
Electoral district of Reservoir was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Victoria.-Members for Reservoir:...
, where he served until 1969. In the Victorian Parliament he was Shadow Minister for Health.
Jenkins then moved to the Federal Parliament. He was elected to the House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
for the Division of Scullin
Division of Scullin
The Division of Scullin is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It is located in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, including Epping, Lalor, Bundoora, Mill Park and Plenty....
at the 1969 election. In May 1983, on the election of the Hawke government, he was elected Speaker of the House, a position he held until his retirement in 1985. He was succeeded as member for Scullin by his son, Harry Jenkins
Harry Jenkins
Henry Alfred "Harry" Jenkins , an Australian politician, is a member of the House of Representatives, representing the Division of Scullin, Victoria, since the 1986 by-election for the Australian Labor Party...
, Jr.
After leaving politics, Jenkins was appointed Australian Ambassador to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, a post he held until 1988. In 1991 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
.