Doug McClelland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Doug McClelland
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McClelland in 1973
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| President of the Senate | |
| In office 21 April 1983 – 23 January 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Harold Young |
| Succeeded by | Kerry Sibraa |
| Special Minister of State | |
| In office 6 June 1975 – 11 November 1975 |
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| Prime Minister | Gough Whitlam |
| Preceded by | Lionel Bowen |
| Succeeded by | Reg Withers |
| Minister for the Media | |
| In office 19 December 1972 – 6 June 1975 |
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| Prime Minister | Gough Whitlam |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | Moss Cass |
| High Commissioner to the United Kingdom | |
| In office 21 March 1987 – March 1991 |
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| Preceded by | Alfred Parsons |
| Succeeded by | Richard Smith |
| Senator for New South Wales | |
| In office 1 July 1962 – 23 January 1987 |
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| Succeeded by | Sue West |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 August 1926 Wentworthville, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | Labor |
| Spouse | Lorna McNeill |
| Relations | Alfred McClelland (father) Robert McClelland (son) |
| Occupation | Court reporter, politician |
Doug McClelland (born August 5, 1926) is an Australian who used to be a politician. He was a Senator for New South Wales from 1962 to 1987. A Senator is like a representative who helps make laws for the whole country. He was part of the Australian Labor Party (ALP).
Doug McClelland held important jobs in the government. He was the Minister for the Media from 1972 to 1975. This role was about handling things like TV, radio, and newspapers. He was also a Special Minister of State in 1975. Later, he became the President of the Senate from 1983 to 1987. The President of the Senate is like the speaker or leader of the Senate. After his time in politics, he became Australia's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 1987 to 1991. This means he was Australia's top diplomat in the UK.
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Early Life and Work
Doug McClelland was born on August 5, 1926, in Wentworthville, a suburb in western Sydney. His father, Alfred McClelland, was a farmer and also a politician for the ALP. He served in the New South Wales Parliament.
Doug went to Wentworthville Public School and then Parramatta High School. After school, he worked as a clerk in the state's Agriculture Department.
In 1944, when he was 18, Doug joined the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), which was Australia's army during World War II. He served in different parts of Australia and left the army in 1947 as a corporal. From 1949, he worked as a court reporter. This job involved writing down everything said in court. He was also an active member of the Australian Journalists Association, a group for journalists.
Getting into Politics
Doug McClelland joined the ALP in 1947. He became part of the state executive, which is a leadership group, in 1956. He also helped with election campaigns for H. V. Evatt, a close friend of his father and a leader of the ALP.
In 1961, Doug was elected to the Senate. He was 35 years old when his term as a Senator began on July 1, 1962.
Important Roles in Government
Doug McClelland held several key positions:
- Minister for the Media: From December 19, 1972, to June 6, 1975. This was a new role at the time, focusing on media and communication.
- Manager of Government Business in the Senate: From July 9, 1974. This role involved managing the government's plans and laws in the Senate.
- Special Minister of State: In 1975.
He also served as the President of the Australian Senate from April 21, 1983, until he left the Senate on January 23, 1987. From 1981, he was known as the Father of the Senate. This title is given to the longest-serving Senator.
In 1981, Doug McClelland was elected Chairman of Committees in the Senate, which also made him the Deputy President. He won with the help of the Australian Democrats party. This election helped set a new rule: that this important position would be held by someone from the opposition party.
When the ALP won the 1983 election, Doug McClelland was elected President of the Senate. As President, he worked to make sure that politicians could speak freely in parliament without fear of being sued for what they said there. This led to a new law called the Parliamentary Privileges Act 1987. This was a very important law, and it was the first time a presiding officer (like the President of the Senate) had introduced a bill in the history of the Australian Parliament.
Doug McClelland left the Senate in January 1987. He had also been the chairman of a committee that helped plan the new Parliament House in Canberra, which opened in 1988.
Life After Politics
After leaving the Senate, Doug McClelland became the Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. He held this important diplomatic role from 1987 to 1991, representing Australia in the UK.
Family and Awards
Doug McClelland is married to Lorna McNeill. They have one son, Robert McClelland, who also became a politician and represented the same area as his father's friend, H. V. Evatt. They also have two daughters.
In June 1987, Doug McClelland was given a high honor: he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia. This award recognizes his great service to Australia.
He also received the Douglas Wilkie Medal in 1973 from the Anti-Football League. This was a fun award given to people who did something good for "non-football" activities. Doug received it after he helped introduce a system for how TV programs were rated.
