Chris Bourke facts for kids

Christopher John Bourke is an Australian politician who was a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly (ACT Parliament). He represented the area of Ginninderra from 2011 to 2016.

Chris Bourke made history by becoming the first Indigenous Australian to be elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly. He took on this role after the previous leader, Jon Stanhope, resigned.

Chris grew up in country Australia. He studied at Melbourne University and graduated in 1982. He was the first Indigenous Australian to complete a dentistry degree there. He continued his studies at the University of Adelaide and the University of Sydney. Before becoming a politician, Chris worked as a dentist. He often worked in remote parts of Australia, helping people who didn't have easy access to dental care. He is also the President of the Indigenous Dentists' Association of Australia.

Political Career

Joining the ACT Parliament

Chris Bourke became a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly after Jon Stanhope resigned. He was chosen through a special process called a "countback." This means they looked at the votes from the previous election to see who should fill the empty spot.

Roles in Government

After he was elected, Chris Bourke became a minister. A minister is like a leader in charge of certain areas. He was responsible for:

• Education
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
• Industrial Relations
• Corrections

He held these roles until the 2012 election. In January 2016, he became a minister again. This time, he was in charge of:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
• Children and Young People
• Disability
• Small Business and the Arts
• Veterans and Seniors

Chris Bourke ran for re-election in October 2016 but was not successful.