Harry Jenkins (senior)

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Henry Alfred Jenkins AM (24 September 1925 - 27 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.

Preceded by Sir Billy Snedden

Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives 1983–1986

Succeeded by Joan Child