Ken Gabb
Encyclopedia
Kenneth George "Ken" Gabb (born 4 December 1949) is a former Australia
n politician. He was the Labor
member for Earlwood
in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1978 to 1988, and a state minister from 1986 to 1988.
Gabb was born in Earlwood
, New South Wales
, to Loyal Leslie Gabb and Joyce Edna McCartney. He attended Canterbury Boys High School (1962–67) before studying for a Bachelor of Law at Sydney University (1968–72). He underwent further study at the University of New South Wales
from 1973 to 1977, and was called to the bar in 1980. On 6 December 1985 he married Elisabeth Faith Williams in Sydney
.
Gabb had joined the Australian Labor Party
in 1971, and in 1978 former Liberal
Premier Eric Willis
resigned from parliament, creating a by-election for his seat of Earlwood
. Gabb was selected as the Labor candidate, and had an easy victory over Liberal candidate Alan Jones
. In 1986 he became Minister for Mineral Resources, and later in the year was also made Aboriginal Affairs Minister. Gabb was defeated by the Liberal Party in the 1988 state election
.
After leaving politics, Gabb worked for Barclays Bank (1989–1991) before moving to the Crown Solicitor's Office (1991–95), the New South Wales Department of Attorney-General and Justice (1995–96) and back to the Crown Solicitor (1996–99). On 26 January 1999, Gabb's wife Elisabeth died. He married Dyana Corak on 25 March 2001.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. He was 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...
member for Earlwood
Electoral district of Earlwood
Earlwood was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly of the Australian state of New South Wales from 1950 to 1991. It included Earlwood.-Members for Earlwood:...
in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
from 1978 to 1988, and a state minister from 1986 to 1988.
Gabb was born in Earlwood
Earlwood, New South Wales
Earlwood is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Earlwood is located 12 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Canterbury...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, to Loyal Leslie Gabb and Joyce Edna McCartney. He attended Canterbury Boys High School (1962–67) before studying for a Bachelor of Law at Sydney University (1968–72). He underwent further study at the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
from 1973 to 1977, and was called to the bar in 1980. On 6 December 1985 he married Elisabeth Faith Williams in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
.
Gabb had joined the Australian Labor Party
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...
in 1971, and in 1978 former Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
Premier Eric Willis
Eric Willis
Sir Eric Archibald Willis KBE, CMG was an Australian politician, Cabinet Minister and the 34th Premier of New South Wales, serving from 23 January 1976 to 14 May 1976. Born in Murwillumbah in 1922, Willis was educated at Murwillumbah High School and the University of Sydney, where he obtained a...
resigned from parliament, creating a by-election for his seat of Earlwood
Electoral district of Earlwood
Earlwood was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly of the Australian state of New South Wales from 1950 to 1991. It included Earlwood.-Members for Earlwood:...
. Gabb was selected as the Labor candidate, and had an easy victory over Liberal candidate Alan Jones
Alan Jones (radio broadcaster)
Alan Belford Jones AO is an Australian radio broadcaster, former rugby union and rugby league coach and administrator.Jones hosts Sydney's most popular breakfast radio program, on radio station 2GB...
. In 1986 he became Minister for Mineral Resources, and later in the year was also made Aboriginal Affairs Minister. Gabb was defeated by the Liberal Party in the 1988 state election
New South Wales state election, 1988
Elections to the 49th Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday 19 March 1988. All seats in the Legislative Assembly and half the seats in the Legislative Council were up for election...
.
After leaving politics, Gabb worked for Barclays Bank (1989–1991) before moving to the Crown Solicitor's Office (1991–95), the New South Wales Department of Attorney-General and Justice (1995–96) and back to the Crown Solicitor (1996–99). On 26 January 1999, Gabb's wife Elisabeth died. He married Dyana Corak on 25 March 2001.