James McClelland (Australian politician)

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The Hon James Robert "Diamond Jim" McClelland (b. Melbourne, Australia, 3 June 1915, d. 18 January 1999), was a solicitor, a jurist, Senator, Minister in the Third Whitlam Ministry and Royal Commissioner looking at British nuclear tests in Australia and the first chief judge of the Land and Environment Court of NSW.

He was educated at Melbourne University (B.A.) and Sydney University (Law) and began practising as a solicitor in Sydney in 1951. His practise dealt mainly with union workers compensation claims for the F.A.I., where he was associated with Laurie Short and he played a large part (with Bob Santamaria) in helping Short take control of the Union from Ernie Thornton.

He entered Federal Parliament as a New South Wales Senator in 1972 and in the Third Whitlam Ministry was Minister for Manufacturing Industry (10 February 1975 to 6 June 1975) and Minister for Labour and Immigration from 6 June 1975 to November 1975.

In 1984 he was President of the Royal Commission into British nuclear tests in Australia at Maralinga.

He was reviled by the right as is indicated in Roderick Meagher's portrait in Quadrant and associated with Edward Campion, Patrick White, Manning Clark and Donald Horne.

[edit] References

Portraits: Jim McClelland, Quadrant, June 2005 – 49:6 [Accessed 4 March 2006]
James McClelland, (1988), Stirring the Possum: A Political Autobiography, Penguin, Sydney ISBN 0-14-009764-3
James McClelland, (1989), An Angel Bit The Bride Penguin ISBN 0-14-012831-X