Michael Beahan
Encyclopedia
Michael Eamon Beahan, AM
(born 21 January 1937) was the 19th President of the Australian Senate
, holding that position from 1 February 1994 to 20 August 1996. He was a Senator representing Western Australia
in the Australian Senate
from 1987 to 1996.
of Irish
parents in 1937, Michael Beahan was educated at the Salesian College
in Battersea
, where he successfully completed O levels in 1953. Following a year as a clerk with a large insurance company, he migrated to Australia with his parents, four brothers and his sister in 1954. He commenced work as a process worker at the Australian Electrical Company, which manufactured electric motors, transformers and welders at its East Perth factory, later gaining an apprenticeship with an allied company. Having completed his apprenticeship he gained an A grade licence, permitting him to carry out all types of electrical work and later established his own small business as an electrical contractor. During this time he undertook compulsory military service (three months full time and two years compulsory part-time) serving with the 13th Field Squadron of the Royal Australian Engineers
.
In 1964 he returned to study, completing his matriculation at Leederville Technical College, Perth, and went on to complete degrees in Arts and Education at the University of Western Australia
. He taught at secondary and tertiary levels, becoming in 1973 the Trades and Labor Council's first education officer. From this position he was seconded to Melbourne in 1974 as part of a three-person team to set up the Australian Trade Union Training Authority
(TUTA), a Federal Government funded statutory authority providing education and training programs for union officials. He ran TUTA's first three week residential "train the trainer" course and in 1975 became TUTA's Western Australian Director, a position he held until 1981.
From 1981 to 1987, Beahan was State Secretary of the Western Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). (He was also a member of the National Executive of the ALP for eleven years, National Vice-President for four and International Secretary for four years.) He played a pivotal role in successful State election campaigns in 1983 and 1986, and in successful federal campaigns in 1983, 1984 and 1987, when he was elected to parliament.
During his time in parliament, Beahan was also the national convenor of the Centre Left faction of the Australian Labor Party
, a grouping which exercised the balance of power both in the parliamentary party and at the party's national conference and national executive and enjoyed influence beyond its numbers, particularly during the period of the Hawke
and Keating
governments.
He was elected President of the Senate in March 1994, succeeding Kerry Sibraa
. At the March 1996 general election he was defeated in his bid for another six-year term as Senator for Western Australia to commence on 1 July. His term as a Senator ended on 30 June, but he nevertheless had the authority to act as President of the Senate until his successor Margaret Reid
was elected in August.
Beahan was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia
on Australia Day
2011.
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"...
(born 21 January 1937) was the 19th President of the Australian Senate
President of the Australian Senate
The President of the Australian Senate is the presiding officer of the Australian Senate, the upper house of the Parliament of Australia. The presiding officer of the lower house is the Speaker of the House of Representatives....
, holding that position from 1 February 1994 to 20 August 1996. He was a Senator representing Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
in the Australian Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
from 1987 to 1996.
Before Parliament
Born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
of Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
parents in 1937, Michael Beahan was educated at the Salesian College
Salesian College (London)
-History:Salesian College was a Roman Catholic, Voluntary Aided school for boys aged 11 to 16. It was founded in 1895 in Battersea, London by the religious order of the Salesians of Don Bosco, who arrived in Battersea in 1887 as part of Don Bosco's dream to establish a Salesian presence in Great...
in Battersea
Battersea
Battersea is an area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is an inner-city district of South London, situated on the south side of the River Thames, 2.9 miles south-west of Charing Cross. Battersea spans from Fairfield in the west to Queenstown in the east...
, where he successfully completed O levels in 1953. Following a year as a clerk with a large insurance company, he migrated to Australia with his parents, four brothers and his sister in 1954. He commenced work as a process worker at the Australian Electrical Company, which manufactured electric motors, transformers and welders at its East Perth factory, later gaining an apprenticeship with an allied company. Having completed his apprenticeship he gained an A grade licence, permitting him to carry out all types of electrical work and later established his own small business as an electrical contractor. During this time he undertook compulsory military service (three months full time and two years compulsory part-time) serving with the 13th Field Squadron of the Royal Australian Engineers
Royal Australian Engineers
The Royal Australian Engineers is a corps of the Australian Army . The RAE is ranked fourth in seniority of the corps of the Australian Army, behind the Staff Cadets, Armoured and Artillery Corps...
.
In 1964 he returned to study, completing his matriculation at Leederville Technical College, Perth, and went on to complete degrees in Arts and Education at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
. He taught at secondary and tertiary levels, becoming in 1973 the Trades and Labor Council's first education officer. From this position he was seconded to Melbourne in 1974 as part of a three-person team to set up the Australian Trade Union Training Authority
Australian Trade Union Training Authority
The Australian Trade Union Training Authority was an Australian Government funded statutory authority providing education and training programs for union officials....
(TUTA), a Federal Government funded statutory authority providing education and training programs for union officials. He ran TUTA's first three week residential "train the trainer" course and in 1975 became TUTA's Western Australian Director, a position he held until 1981.
From 1981 to 1987, Beahan was State Secretary of the Western Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). (He was also a member of the National Executive of the ALP for eleven years, National Vice-President for four and International Secretary for four years.) He played a pivotal role in successful State election campaigns in 1983 and 1986, and in successful federal campaigns in 1983, 1984 and 1987, when he was elected to parliament.
In Parliament
During his parliamentary career Senator Beahan was, among other things, Chairman of the Joint Statutory Committee on Corporations and Securities and of one of the Senate's Estimates Committees. He was also a member of the Joint Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee and, at various times its Defence, Trade and Human Rights Committees, the Senate Education and Training Committee and the Joint Electoral Matters Committee. As President of the Senate he was also National Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.During his time in parliament, Beahan was also the national convenor of the Centre Left faction of 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...
, a grouping which exercised the balance of power both in the parliamentary party and at the party's national conference and national executive and enjoyed influence beyond its numbers, particularly during the period of the 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....
and Keating
Paul Keating
Paul John Keating was the 24th Prime Minister of Australia, serving from 1991 to 1996. Keating was elected as the federal Labor member for Blaxland in 1969 and came to prominence as the reformist treasurer of the Hawke Labor government, which came to power at the 1983 election...
governments.
He was elected President of the Senate in March 1994, succeeding Kerry Sibraa
Kerry Sibraa
Kerry Walter Sibraa, AO was an Australian Senator who represented the Labor Party for the state of New South Wales. He served as a Senator for from 1 July 1975 to 30 June 1978, and then again from 9 August 1978 until 1 February 1994, and was President of the Senate from 17 February 1987 to 1...
. At the March 1996 general election he was defeated in his bid for another six-year term as Senator for Western Australia to commence on 1 July. His term as a Senator ended on 30 June, but he nevertheless had the authority to act as President of the Senate until his successor Margaret Reid
Margaret Reid
Margaret Elizabeth Reid AO is a former Australian politician. She was the first woman to be President of the Australian Senate.-Early years:...
was elected in August.
After Parliament
Beahan is currently a semi-retired consultant providing strategic and political advice to business and the not-for-profit sector on strategic planning and how to deal with government. Beahan is married to Margaret Beahan (née Morris) and has two children, Daniel Beahan and Kate Beahan, two step children, Georgia Matterson and Michael Matterson and five grandchildren.Beahan was appointed 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"...
on Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
2011.