Don Farrell

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Don Farrell
Born	6 June 1954 (1954-06-06) (age 54) Murray Bridge, South Australia
Occupation	Union secretary
Spouse	Nimfa
Children	Mary, Tess and Emily

Donald Edward Farrell (born 6 June 1954) is an Australian trade unionist and Australian Labor Party Senator elect. Farrell is the South Australian secretary and the National President of the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA) union and a leader of the state's right faction.^[1]

Farrell was born in Murray Bridge to a family of Irish-Catholic origins, and attended St Theresa's Primary School and Blackfriars Priory School while living in the Adelaide suburb of Daw Park. His father, Edward, ran as a Democratic Labor Party candidate throughout the 1960s and 70s and had a guiding influence on the young Farrell. He studied for a law degree at the University of Adelaide.

Farrell joined the SDA as a lawyer after completing his degree and attained the position of assistant secretary in 1980. His sole, and unsuccessful, attempt at gaining political office was a by-election for the Division of Adelaide in 1988. He has, however, been instrumental in the election of various figures in South Australia, notably Kate Ellis, the present Federal Member for Adelaide and Linda Kirk, a Federal Senator for South Australia.

Farrell was responsible for the internal deal that saw Premier Mike Rann become leader of the state Labor Party in 1994, with his position guaranteed for at least two terms; Rann's position is reliant upon Farrell's continued support.^{[citation needed]}

Farrell's devout Catholicism and factional ruthlessness have earned him the nicknames of 'The Pope' and 'The Don', respectively. He has been the leading driver in the marginalisation of the left since the 1980s; this culminated in the defection of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union in early 2006, giving the right a majority in the state caucus.

In June 2007 the South Australian Labor Party selected Farrell for the first position on the Party's Senate ticket in the 2007 election.

Farrell lives in the Adelaide Hills suburb of Waterfall Gully with his wife Nimfa and his daughters Mary, Tess and Emily. He is a member of the Adelaide Football Club and the West Adelaide Football Club.

[edit] References

1. ^ Google Books: Yes, Premier: Labor Leadership in Australia's States and Territories. Page 215 - Mike Rann chapter by Haydon Manning.

• "Burying the hatchet", The Advertiser (Adelaide). March 25, 2006
• Branches, Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association. Accessed August 25, 2006
• Division of Adelaide 1988 by-election results, Psephos. Accessed August 25, 2006
• "The Don", Sunday Mail (Adelaide). August 20, 2006
• "Don Farrell", The Advertiser (Adelaide). July 6, 2002
• First Speech to Parliament, Kate Ellis MP. Accessed August 25, 2006
• "Labor powerbroker endorsed for top spot on SA Senate ticket", ABC News Online. June 9, 2007. Accessed June 12, 2007.

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