Preceded by John Coates | Nationality Australian Occupation Trade union official | |
Alma mater University of SydneyUniversity of New South Wales Website Parliament of Australia - Biography Office Australian Senator since 1996 Books And Now I'm Ready, Telling it the Way it is: A Personal Journey | ||
Kerry Williams Kelso O'Brien (born 19 July 1951), was an Australian politician. O'Brien was a member of the Australian Senate for the state of Tasmania from September 1996 till June 2011, representing the Australian Labor Party.
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Background
O'Brien was born in Sydney. He was a research officer and elected official with the Federated Miscellaneous Workers' Union 1974-92, and Tasmanian Branch Secretary of the Australian Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers' Union 1992-96.
Political career - Australian Senate
O'Brien was an Opposition Whip in the Senate 1998-2001, and was a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry from November 2001 till 2007. He was Shadow Minister for Primary Industries and Shadow Minister for Resources 2001-03, Shadow Minister for Reconciliation and Indigenous Affairs and Shadow Minister for Tourism, Regional Services and Territories 2003-04, and Shadow Minister for Regional Services, Local Government and Territories 2004-05. He was appointed Shadow Minister for Transport in June 2005.
From December 2007 to September 2010, he held the position of Chief Government Whip in the Senate.
On 9 April 2010, he lost Labor preselection for the Australian federal election, 2010. His Senate term expired in June, 2011.