Chris Bourke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chris Bourke
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|---|---|
| Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 1 June 2011 – 15 October 2016 |
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| Preceded by | Jon Stanhope |
| Constituency | Ginninderra |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Labor Party |
| Alma mater | Melbourne University |
| Profession | Dentist |
Christopher John Bourke is an Australian politician. He was a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly for the area of Ginninderra. He served from 2011 to 2016.
Chris Bourke made history as the first Indigenous Australian to be elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly. He took office after the previous Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope, resigned. This meant there was an empty spot, called a "casual vacancy," that needed to be filled.
Early Life and Career
Chris Bourke grew up in country Australia. He went to Melbourne University and finished his dentistry degree in 1982. He was the first Indigenous Australian to complete this degree. He continued his studies at the University of Adelaide and the University of Sydney.
Before becoming a politician in 2011, Bourke worked as a dentist. He often worked as a "locum" dentist, which means he filled in for other dentists in different places. He helped people in remote areas of Australia. He also had his own dental practice in Canberra. Chris Bourke is also the President of the Indigenous Dentists' Association of Australia. This group supports Indigenous dentists and helps improve dental health for Indigenous communities.
Political Journey
Chris Bourke became a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly after Jon Stanhope resigned. His election happened through a special process called a "countback." This means they looked at the votes from the 2008 Australian Capital Territory election again to see who should take the empty seat.
After he was elected, Mr. Bourke became a minister. He was in charge of several important areas:
- Education
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
- Industrial Relations
- Corrections
He held these roles until the 2012 election. After that election, he was not chosen to be a minister again right away.
However, on 22 January 2016, Chris Bourke was reappointed as a minister. He took on new responsibilities, including:
- Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
- Minister for Children and Young People
- Minister for Disability
- Minister for Small Business and the Arts
- Minister for Veterans and Seniors
Chris Bourke ran for re-election in October 2016 but was not successful. His time in the ACT Legislative Assembly ended then.
