Graham Edwards (politician)

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For the British author of fantasy novels, see Graham Edwards (writer).

Graham John Edwards (born 18 July 1946), Australian politician, has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since October 1998, representing the Division of Cowan, Western Australia. He was born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, and was conscripted into the Australian Army for service in the Vietnam War in 1968. In 1971 he was severely injured, losing both legs. After leaving the Army he joined the Department of Defence as an officer with the Vietnam Veterans' Counselling Service. He was elected to the Council of the City of Stirling in 1981.

Edwards was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council in 1983. He was Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet 1987, Minister for Sport and Recreation 1987-89, Minister for Consumer Affairs 1988-93, Minister for Racing and Gaming, Sport and Recreation and Youth 1989-90, Minister for Police and Emergency Services 1990-93, Minister for the Aged 1990-91. Following the defeat of the Labor government of Carmen Lawrence in 1993 he was Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council and Shadow Minister for Tourism and Fisheries 1993-94. He retired from the Legislative Council in 1997.

In the federal Parliament Edwards has been a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry since 2001. He is currently Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Defence. In early 2006, Edwards announced that he was to retire from politics at the next federal election due in 2007 [1].