David Kennedy (Australian politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Kennedy
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Kennedy in 1973
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| Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 2 March 1985 – 2 October 1992 |
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| Preceded by | New seat |
| Succeeded by | Max Turner |
| Constituency | Bendigo West |
| In office 3 April 1982 – 2 March 1985 |
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| Preceded by | Daryl McClure |
| Succeeded by | Abolished |
| Constituency | Bendigo |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Bendigo |
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| In office 7 June 1969 – 2 December 1972 |
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| Preceded by | Noel Beaton |
| Succeeded by | John Bourchier |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 March 1940 Ulverstone, Tasmania, Australia |
| Political party | Labor |
| Relations | Cyril Kennedy |
| Alma mater | University of Melbourne |
| Occupation | Schoolteacher |
Andrew David Kennedy, born on March 20, 1940, is an Australian radio broadcaster and a former politician. He served in the Australian Parliament's House of Representatives from 1969 to 1972. He represented the Bendigo area for the Labor Party.
Later, he was a member of the Victorian state parliament from 1982 to 1992. He represented the areas of Bendigo (1982–1985) and Bendigo West (1985–1992). Before becoming a politician, he worked as a schoolteacher.
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Early Life and Education
Kennedy was born in Ulverstone, Tasmania, on March 20, 1940. His older brother, Cyril Kennedy, also became a politician. Both brothers served in the Victorian state parliament together for ten years.
Kennedy is a very distant relative of Mannalargenna, an important Aboriginal Tasmanian leader from the 1800s. When he first became a politician, this family history was not widely known.
He spent his early years in Tasmania, going to a Catholic primary school. His family later moved to Melbourne. There, he attended Catholic primary schools in Burnley and Richmond. He also went to a public school in Hawthorn.
Kennedy finished his high school education at University High School, Melbourne. He then went to the University of Melbourne. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors and a diploma in education. From 1963 to 1969, he worked as a teacher at Bendigo High School.
Time in Federal Politics
Kennedy joined the Australian Labor Party when he was young. He became the president of the Bendigo branch of Young Labor. He also worked for the party, helping with public relations.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In 1969, Kennedy was elected to the House of Representatives. This happened during a special election for the Bendigo area. He was 29 years old and became the youngest member of the Labor Party group in parliament. He won his seat again in the 1969 federal election with even more votes.
Focus on Education
While in parliament, Kennedy often spoke about education. He strongly supported the idea of building a university in Bendigo. He was critical of a government plan that gave money to private schools for building projects.
In May 1972, he shared a list of private schools that had received money. He said the government was "wasting public money" and creating an "unfair education system." His views sometimes caused disagreements with the education minister, Malcolm Fraser.
Leaving Federal Politics
Kennedy lost his seat in the 1972 federal election to John Bourchier. This election was important because the Labor Party won and formed the government for the first time since 1949. During his election campaign, some groups opposed him because of his views on certain social issues.
After his defeat, Kennedy worked for a time as a press secretary for the overseas trade minister, Jim Cairns. He tried to get re-elected to Bendigo in 1974 but lost to Bourchier again.
Time in State Politics
After leaving federal politics, Kennedy went back to being a schoolteacher. He also held leadership roles in several community groups. These included a community health center and a housing society. He also served on the committee for the Music Advancement Society of Bendigo.
Serving in Victoria
In 1982, Kennedy was elected to the Victorian state parliament. He won the seat of Bendigo. This was a win for the Labor Party against the sitting Liberal member. His seat was later changed, and he moved to represent the new seat of Bendigo West in 1985.
Kennedy remained a regular member of parliament, known as a backbencher, during his time in state politics. In the 1988 state election, he won by only a small number of votes. Before the 1992 election, the boundaries of his area were changed. This made it harder for him to win. He was eventually defeated by the Liberal candidate, Max Turner.
Later Activities
In 1986, Kennedy started hosting a classical music program on a radio station in Harcourt. He later helped start Phoenix FM, a community radio station in Bendigo. In 2016, he celebrated 30 years of his radio program.
