Chris Bourke

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Chris Bourke
MLA
Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 June 2011
Preceded by Jon Stanhope
Constituency Ginninderra
Personal details
Nationality Australian Australia
Political party Australian Labor Party
Alma mater Melbourne University
Profession Dentist
Website http://www.chrisbourke.com.au

Christopher John "Chris" Bourke is an Australian politician, currently a Labor member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Ginninderra. He is the first Indigenous Australian elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly.[1] He filled the casual vacancy created by the resignation of former Chief Minister Jon Stanhope.[2] His election was the result of a countback of ballots cast for Stanhope in the 2008 Australian Capital Territory election.[3] Following his election Mr Bourke was made Minister of Education, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Minister for Industrial Relations, and Minister for Corrections.[4]

Bourke grew up in country Australia.[5] He graduated from Melbourne University in 1982, where he was the first Indigenous Australian to complete a dentistry degree.[6] He undertook graduate studies at Adelaide University and Sydney University.[5] Prior to being elected in 2011, Bourke worked as a dentist, performing locum dentistry work in remote areas of Australia after a period of private practice in Canberra. He is President of the Indigenous Dentists' Association of Australia.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Bourke to be first indigenous MLA". Canberra Times. 30 May 2011. 
  2. ↑ "Dr Chris Bourke officially declared elected to fill the casual vacancy". ACT Electoral Commission. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011. 
  3. ↑ "Casual vacancy countback result: Mr Chris Bourke to be elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly". ACT Electoral Commission. 30 May 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2011. 
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Dr Christopher Bourke". Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet. Retrieved 2 June 2011. 
  6. ↑ "Congratulations Chris Bourke". Regional Development Australia, ACT. 1 June 2011. 
  7. ↑ "Indigenous Dentists' Association of Australia". Retrieved 2 June 2011. 

External links

Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
Preceded by
Jon Stanhope		 Member of the Legislative Assembly
for Ginninderra
2011–present 		Incumbent
Labor (8)
Liberal (8)
Greens (1)
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