Martin Ferguson - Member for Batman

Minister for Resources and Energy
Minister for Tourism

Parliament House

Suite M1 23
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Tel:

(02) 6277 7930

Fax:

(02) 6273 0434

Email:

Email Martin

Batman Electorate Office

159 High Street
PRESTON, VIC, 3072

Tel:

(03) 9416 8690

Fax:

(03) 9416 7810

Biography

Martin was born in Sydney in 1953 and was educated at St Patrick's, Strathfield. He has a Bachelor of Economics degree (Hons) from Sydney University.

Martin was elected to Federal Parliament as the Member for Batman in 1996 and became Shadow Minister for Employment and Training. In 1997, he assumed the added responsibility of Population and Immigration and Assistant to the Opposition Leader on Multicultural Affairs. He was re-elected to the Shadow Ministry on 22 November 2001.

He is currently Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism in the Rudd Labor Government.

Previously, Martin was President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) after working for the Federated Miscellaneous Workers' Union of Australia since 1975. As president of the ACTU, Martin was a member of advisory councils and foundations including the Social Security Review, the Economic Planning Advisory Council, the National Labour consultative Council and the Advance Australia Foundation.

Martin and his wife Patricia have two children.

Electorate Profile

State: Victoria (Inner Metropolitan)

Name: Named after John Batman (1801-1839), the early settler and explorer, known as the 'Founder of Melbourne'.

Area and Location Description: The Division of Batman is located in Melbourne’s northern suburbs. It covers an area of approximately 53 sq km from Reservoir in the north to Northcote in the south, with Merri Creek providing the western boundary and Darebin Creek and part of Macleod providing the eastern boundary. The suburbs of Alphington (part), Bundoora (part), Coburg North (part), Fairfield (part), Kingsbury, Macleod (part), Northcote, Preston, Reservoir and Thornbury are in this division.

Products/Industries of the area: Light engineering, textiles, clothing and footwear.

First Proclaimed/Election: 1906

Members:

• Martin Ferguson (ALP) 1996-
• B L Howe (ALP) 1977-96
• H J Garrick (ALP) 1969-77
• S J Benson (ALP/IND) 1962-69
• A C Bird (ALP) 1949-62
• F Brennan (FLP/ALP) 1934-49
• S Dennis (UAP) 1931-34
• F Brennan (ALP) 1911-31
• H E Beard (ALP) 1910-10
• J Coon (PROT) 1906-10