Frank Walker (Australian politician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Francis John Walker QC
Vice-President of the Executive Council
In office 24 March 1993 – 25 March 1994
Preceded by	Ralph Willis
Succeeded by	Gary Johns
41st Attorney General of New South Wales
In office 14 May 1976 – 1 February 1983
Premier	Neville Wran
Preceded by	John Maddison
Succeeded by	Paul Landa
Member of the Australian Parliament for Robertson
In office 24 March 1990 – 2 March 1996
Preceded by	Barry Cohen
Succeeded by	Jim Lloyd
Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Georges River
In office 19 September 1970 – 22 February 1988
Preceded by	Douglas Cross
Succeeded by	Terry Griffiths
Personal details
Born	(1942-07-07)7 July 1942 Sydney
Died	12 June 2012(2012-06-12) (aged 69) Sydney
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Alma mater	University of Sydney (L.L.B., L.L.M.)
Occupation	Lawyer, barrister

Francis John Walker, also known as Frank Walker, was an important Australian politician and judge. He was born on 7 July 1942 and passed away on 12 June 2012.

Frank Walker was a member of the Australian Labor Party. He served in the New South Wales state parliament from 1970 to 1988. Later, he was a member of the Australian national parliament from 1990 to 1996.

During his time in politics, Walker held many important jobs, called ministerial roles. He was the very first Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in New South Wales. He helped create some of the first laws that said Indigenous Australians should be paid for the land they lost. He is also remembered for helping to protect Australia's natural environment, especially by saving the Terania Creek rainforest.

Early Life and Education

Frank Walker was born in Sydney, Australia. When he was young, he lived with his father and brother in a jungle village in Papua New Guinea. His father faced difficulties finding work because of his political beliefs.

When Frank was 12, his family moved to Coffs Harbour in New South Wales. There, he finished his high school studies. As a teenager, he showed early support for the Aboriginal rights movement. He was even treated unfairly by police for sitting with Aboriginal people in a part of the local movie theatre that was separate for them.

Frank went to the University of Sydney. He earned a law degree in 1964 and a master's degree in law in 1969. He worked as a lawyer for many years. First, he was an articled clerk (a lawyer in training), then a solicitor (a lawyer who advises clients), and later a barrister (a lawyer who argues cases in court). In 1981, he was given the special title of Queen's Counsel, or QC. This title is given to experienced lawyers.

Political Career

New South Wales Politics

Frank Walker was a strong supporter of left-wing ideas. He was elected to the New South Wales Parliament in 1970. He represented the area called Georges River until 1988.

In 1976, when Neville Wran became the leader of the government, Frank Walker became the Attorney General of New South Wales. He was only 34 years old, making him the youngest person to hold this important legal job. As Attorney General, he was the chief legal advisor to the government.

During his time as Attorney General (1976-1983), Walker made many important changes.

• He introduced the first state laws about Aboriginal land rights. These laws helped Indigenous Australians get back some of their traditional lands.
• He changed old laws that allowed police to act unfairly towards poor and homeless people.
• He made it easier to investigate corporate fraud, which is when businesses try to cheat people.

Because of these big changes, Walker faced some challenges and disagreements from others.

He also held other important jobs in the New South Wales government:

• Minister for Justice (1978-1983)
• Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (1981-1984)
• Minister for Youth and Community Services (1983-1986)
• Minister for Housing (1983-1988)
• Minister for the Arts (1986-1988)

In 1988, the government he was part of lost the election. Because of this, Frank Walker also lost his seat in parliament.

National Politics

In 1990, Frank Walker was elected to the Federal Parliament, which is the national parliament. He represented the area called Robertson.

In the national government, he held these roles:

• Special Minister of State (March 1993 - March 1994)
• Vice-President of the Executive Council (March 1993 - March 1994)
• Minister for Administrative Services (March 1994 - March 1996)

In 1996, the government led by Paul Keating lost the election. Just like in his state career, Frank Walker lost his seat in parliament at the same time.

Even though he didn't hold the exact same jobs in national politics as he did in state politics, he still worked on similar issues. For example, as Special Minister of State, he was involved when the High Court made an important decision about Aboriginal land rights, known as the Mabo ruling.

Life After Politics

After leaving politics, Frank Walker became a judge. From 1997 to 2003, he served as a Judge of the Compensation Court of New South Wales. When that court closed, he became a judge in the District Court of New South Wales and the Dust Diseases Tribunal. In the Dust Diseases Tribunal, he mainly handled cases related to mesothelioma, a serious lung disease. He retired from being a judge in 2006.

Frank Walker was also the president of the Schizophrenia Fellowship from 1998 until he passed away. This organization helps people with schizophrenia, a mental health condition. His two sons, who both had schizophrenia, passed away at the age of 33.

Frank Walker died from cancer when he was 69 years old. His family accepted the offer of a state funeral. This is a special public ceremony to honor important people. The funeral was held on 19 June 2012 in Sydney. Many people attended, including former Prime Minister Paul Keating, former state leaders, Indigenous community members, lawyers, judges, and friends and family.

To remember his life and achievements, the NSW Society of Labor Lawyers holds a special lecture each year in his honor.