Sid Spindler

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Siegfried Emil "Sid" Spindler (9 July 19321 March 2008) was an Australian politician representing the Australian Democrats in the Australian Senate for one term from 1990 to 1996.

Spindler was born in Łódź, Poland. After moving to Australia, he studied at the University of Melbourne where he gained a Bachelor of Laws. He was an administrator of the the Alice Springs Community College, owner of a painting and decorating business, consultant and Senior Adviser to Don Chipp and Janine Haines before running for Parliament.[1][2]

Spindler helped convince Chipp to lead the Australian Democrats when it was established in 1977. He was State President of the Australian Democrats from 1985 to 1989 and Deputy National President from 1987 to 1990. He was elected as a Senator for Victoria as an Australian Democrat at the March 1990 election, taking his seat in July 1990. He held several shadow portfolios throughout his period in parliament. In parliament he spoke in support of the rights of Aborigines, refugees, prisoners, pensioners, taxpayers and the environment and spoke against child labour and sexual discrimination. He also campaigned against child labour and sexual discrimination. He did not contest the 1996 election and retired from parliament in June 1996.[1][3][4]

Spindler's relationship with Janet Powell, then leader of the Democrats, was used as leverage to remove Powell from the leadership in 1991.[5]

After retiring Spindler and his family established the Towards a Just Society Fund in 2002, which distributes $200,000 annually to help Aboriginal students. He died of liver cancer in the Epworth Hospital in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond on his fiftieth wedding anniversary. He was survived by his wife, Julia and four children.[3][2]

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Persondata
NAME Spindler, Sid
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Australian politician
DATE OF BIRTH 9 July 1932
PLACE OF BIRTH Łódź, Poland
DATE OF DEATH 1 March 2008
PLACE OF DEATH Richmond, Victoria
Languages