Allan Rocher

Allan Rocher (born 16 February 1936), Australian politician, is a former Liberal Party of Australia Senator for Western Australia from 1978 to 1981 and member of the Australian House of Representatives Division of Curtin from 1981 to 1998. Up until 1996 he represented the Liberal Party of Australia.

Rocher was born in Deloraine, Tasmania. He worked as a commercial arbitrator and then as a registered builder. He eventually became president of the Master Builders' Association of Western Australia.^[1]

Rocher was elected as a Senator for Western Australia at the 1977 election, taking up his seat on 1 July 1978. He won Liberal Party endorsement to contest Curtin at the Curtin by-election on 21 February 1981, following the resignation from Parliament of Victor Garland. This preselection was also contested by fellow Senator Fred Chaney. Rocher resigned for the Senate on 10 February 1981 in order to stand at the by-election, which he won. He held the seat until 1998. He was Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel from August 1992 to April 1993.^[1]

Rocher lost Liberal Party endorsement for the seat prior to the 1996 election to Ken Court and then resigned from the Liberal Party.^[2] He successfully recontested his seat as an Independent in that election, winning with 29.4% of the primary vote and the aid of Australian Labor Party preferences. He lost his seat at the following election in 1998, to Liberal candidate Julie Bishop, his vote having dropped to 17.7%.

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