Preceded by Peter Shack Nationality Australian Party Australian Labor Party Succeeded by Ricky Johnston Role Australian Politician | Preceded by Wendy Fatin Name George Gear Succeeded by Peter Shack | |
Born 8 March 1947 (age 77)
Kalgoorlie, Western Australia ( 1947-03-08 ) | ||
Political party Australian Labor Party | ||
George Gear (born 8 March 1947) is a former Australian politician and government minister.
Gear was born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia and received a Bachelor of Education at Mount Lawley College Advanced Education a Diploma of Electrical Engineering at Fremantle Technical College and a Diploma of Technical Teaching from Perth Technical College. He was a teacher of electrical trades before running for Parliament. He married Carol Howman in 1969 and they have one son and one daughter.
Gear was elected for the Australian Labor Party as the member for the seat of Tangney at the 1983 election for the Australian House of Representatives, defeating incumbent Liberal Peter Shack. However, after a redistribution erased his majority and made Tangney a notional Liberal seat, Gear shifted to the nearby seat of Canning for the 1984 election and won. He had to fend off spirited challenges from Liberal opponent Ricky Johnston in the next four elections, particularly when his seat started shifting southward toward Mandurah. At the 1996 federal election, Johnston was successful at her fifth attempt.
Gear was Government Whip from May 1990 to March 1993, and was appointed Assistant Treasurer in the second Keating ministry in March 1993. He was one of three ministers defeated in the 1996 election.