Gary Punch
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Gary Francis Punch (b. 21 August 1957) is a former Australian politician and government minister.
Punch was born in Arncliffe, New South Wales and educated at Hurstville Boys High School and subsequently obtained a commerce degree. He was an industrial relations and personnel manager before entering parliament. He was an alderman of Hurstville Municipal Council from 1977 to 1983 and was elector Mayor in 1978, when he was 21 and held that position until he stood for parliament.[1][2]
[edit] Political career
Punch beat former secretary of the Australian Labor Party, David Combe for Labor preselection to the seat of Barton in the Australian House of Representatives and was elected at the 1983 election. He was appointed Minister for the Arts and Territories in January 1988 in the third Hawke ministry. In September 1988, he was reshuffled to become Minister for Telecommunications and Aviation Support and held this position until 28 March 1989, when he resigned in opposition to cabinet's decision to build the third runway for Kingsford Smith International Airport, which adjoined his electorate.[3] He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence in the second Keating ministry in March 1993. In March 1994, he was promoted back to the outer ministry as Minister for Defence Science and Personnel and held this position until his retirement prior to the 1996 election.[1]
Punch gained a law degree while in parliament and in 1996 he was appointed executive director of the Australian Cotton Foundation, the industry body for cotton growing. He was also the Honorary Chairman of Sydney Olympic FC from 1996 to 1997. In 2000, he began to practise as a lawyer. He was appointed as a director of NRMA Motoring and Services Ltd in 2005.[2][4]
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Biography for Punch, the Hon. Gary Francis. ParlInfo Web. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved on 2000-02-12.
- ^ a b Askew, Kate. "No drama as Punch replaces Mr Lunch", The Sydney Morning Herald, April 16, 2005. Retrieved on 2000-02-12.
- ^ Kelly, Paul (1994). The End of Certainty: The Story of the 1980s. Allen & Unwin. ISBN 186373757X. P395
- ^ Board Of Directors. NRMA. Retrieved on 2000-02-12.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Brown |
Minister for the Arts and Territories 1988 |
Succeeded by Clyde Holding |
| Preceded by Peter Morris |
Minister for Telecommunications and Aviation Support 1988 – 1989 |
Succeeded by Ros Kelly |
| Preceded by John Faulkner |
Minister for Defence Science and Personnel 1994 – 1996 |
Succeeded by Bronwyn Bishop |
| Parliament of Australia | ||
| Preceded by James Bradfield |
Member for Barton 1983 – 1996 |
Succeeded by Robert McClelland |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Punch, Gary Francis |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Australian politician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 21 August 1957 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Arncliffe, New South Wales |
| DATE OF DEATH | Living person |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
