Robert Bruce McClelland (born 26 January 1958) is the Attorney-General of Australia. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since March 1996, representing the Division of Barton, New South Wales. He was born in Sydney, New South Wales, the son of Doug McClelland, who was a Senator for New South Wales 1962-87, a minister in the Whitlam government and President of the Senate 1983-87.
McClelland was educated at Blakehurst High School before studying at the University of New South Wales, where he gained bachelors degrees in arts and law, and the University of Sydney where he gained a masters degree in law. He practised as an Associate to the Justice Phillip Evatt of the Federal Court of Australia 1981-82 before becoming a solicitor and ultimately partner with law firm Turner-Freeman.[1]
Two years after his election to parliament, McClelland became a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry. He was Shadow Attorney-General 1998-2003, Shadow Minister for Workplace Relations 2001-03, Shadow Minister for Homeland Security 2003-05, Shadow Minister for Defence 2004-06 and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs 2006-07. In November 2007, Robert McClelland was appointed as the Attorney-General and currently holds that job.[2]
After McClelland indicated on 8 October 2007 his party's disapproval of death sentences for all south Asian countries, his leader Kevin Rudd criticized the speech as "insensitive" because it was made on the eve of the anniversary of the Bali bombings.[3][4] McClelland apologized,[5] but critics called the positions inconsistent.[6]
In the 2007 Federal election, McClelland was re-elected to the seat of Barton with a 4.53% swing toward the Labor Party.[7]
In February 2008, McClelland stated that it was unacceptable that the ACT government, which is proposing to allow same-sex couples to enter into unions, would give the right to hold public ceremonies to celebrate their unions.[8] McClelland was criticised by Greens Senator Bob Brown, who said it was displaying the ugly face of Labor conservatism.[9]
- ^ "Biography". Attorney-General's Department. http://www.attorneygeneral.gov.au/www/ministers/robertmc.nsf/Page/Biography. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
- ^ "The Hon Robert McClelland MP, Member for Barton (NSW)". Australian Parliament House. http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/biography.asp?id=JK6. Retrieved 2008-07-21.
- ^ "No mercy for terrorists: Rudd". The Sydney Morning Herald. October 9, 2007. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/no-mercy-for-terrorists-rudd/2007/10/09/1191695871021.html. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
- ^ "PM slams Rudd over death penalty". The Age. October 9, 2007. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/pm-slams-distasteful-death-penalty-bid/2007/10/09/1191695867280.html. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
- ^ "McClelland apologises to victims of Bali". news.com,au. October 11, 2007. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22563869-421,00.html. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
- ^ "Australia under fire for 'inconsistent' death penalty stance". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. October 9, 2007. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/09/2055099.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
- ^ "Australian Electoral Commission summary of Barton, Federal Election 2007.". Australian Electoral Commission. 2007-12-19. http://results.aec.gov.au/13745/website/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-13745-104.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-19.
- ^ Maley, Paul (2008-02-07). "Gay unions are OK ... just don't do it in public". The Australian. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23172362-12339,00.html. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- ^ "ACT civil partnerships issue will cause government rift: Brown". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2008-02-07. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/07/2157100.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
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| Persondata |
| NAME | McClelland, Robert Bruce |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Australian politician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 26 January 1958 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| DATE OF DEATH | living |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
