Steve Georganas

Steven Georganas (born 13 June 1959) is an Australian politician and is the Australian Labor Party member for the House of Representatives seat of Adelaide in South Australia since the 2019 Australian federal election. Previously, he had been the member for Hindmarsh from 2004 to 2013 and again from 2016 to 2019.

Steve Georganas MP
Member of the Australian Parliament for Adelaide
Incumbent
Assumed office 18 May 2019
Preceded by	Kate Ellis
Member of the Australian Parliament for Hindmarsh
In office 2 July 2016 – 11 April 2019
Preceded by	Matt Williams
Succeeded by	Mark Butler
In office 9 October 2004 – 7 September 2013
Preceded by	Chris Gallus
Succeeded by	Matt Williams
Personal details
Born	13 June 1959 Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s)	Wendy Georganas
Children	George, Alex
Occupation	Taxi driver, underwriter, policy advisor
Website	Official Facebook Page

Background

Georganas was born in Adelaide of Greek parents. He gained a Business Studies Certificate at a TAFE college and worked as a taxi driver, an assembly-line worker in a factory, and an underwriter.[1][2] He worked as a ministerial adviser to South Australian government minister Jay Weatherill from 2002 to 2004.

Political career

Elections

Georganas was the Labor Party candidate for Hindmarsh at the 1998 federal election and the 2001 federal election, but was unsuccessful on both occasions.

At the 2004 federal election, Georganas defeated Liberal candidate Simon Birmingham, winning Hindmarsh by 108 votes. He was re-elected with increased majorities at the 2007 and 2010 federal elections.[3]

Georganas was defeated by Liberal candidate Matt Williams at the 2013 federal election when the Australian Labor Party lost government. Georganas was successful at recapturing the seat for Labor at the 2016 federal election.[4]

A redistribution ahead of the 2019 federal election saw the neighbouring seat of Port Adelaide abolished, with most of its territory being transferred to Hindmarsh. The redistribution made Hindmarsh significantly more secure for Labor, boosting the Labor majority to 8.2 percent. Soon afterward, the Left and Right factions of SA Labor reached a deal that saw Georganas relinquish Hindmarsh to the incumbent MP for Port Adelaide, former federal Labor president Mark Butler. In return, Georganas was given Labor preselection for Adelaide, after the incumbent MP, Kate Ellis, announced that she was retiring. Adelaide was made safer for Labor at the redistribution, having a nominal majority of 9 percent.

Policy positions

Georganas campaigned on noise reduction surrounding the Adelaide Airport,[5] and in 2007 introduced a Private member's bill to create an Aircraft Noise Ombudsman.[6]

He is a prominent advocate for animal welfare and curtailing live animal exports, speaking at rallies and tabling motions in parliament calling for the practice to be condemned and fines to be imposed for animal cruelty.[7][8][9] He also campaigned for the super-trawler FV Margiris to be banned from fishing in Australia.[5]

Georganas voted in support of same-sex marriage in Australia when the issue was debated in parliament in 2013.[10]

He has also campaigned for a 'Do Not Knock' register to ban door-to-door salespeople from visiting registered properties,[11] and introduced a Private member's bill to create a register in 2012.[12]

Georganas left the faction that had supported him since the 90s for undefined reasons.[13] Georganas joins a long list of South Australian MPs, Candidates and Members who have resigned from the left to join the right, including Lee Odenwalder MP, Tony Piccolo MP and high-profile candidate Jo Chapley.[13]

Personal life

Georganas has lived in the suburb of Mile End, currently in the electorate of Adelaide, his entire life.[5] He is married to Wendy Georganas and has two adult sons; George and Alex.[5]

He is a supporter of the West Adelaide Football Club, and a member of the club's board of directors.[14] He is also involved in numerous community organizations, including as president of his local Lions club, and as a board member of the Adelaide Greek Glendi Festival.[2]

References

1. "Hindmarsh – Australia Votes | Federal Election 2013 (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". ABC News. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
2. "Steve Georganas". ALP.org.au. Australian Labor Party. Archived from the original on 1 March 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
3. "Hindmarsh – Election 2010". The Tally Room. 25 October 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
4. Georganas elected unopposed: Neos Kosmos 3 September 2015
5. Novak, Lauren (10 October 2012). "MP Steve Georganas to be firm but fair in the chair". The Advertiser. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
6. "Parliamentary Business: Airport Development and Aviation Noise Ombudsman Bill 2007". Parliament of Australia.
7. McGreggor, Ken (11 September 2012). "Urgent review of live export supply chain needed, says MP Steve Georganas". Herald Sun.
8. "Thousands to rally against live exports with signs saying 'Come on Julia, don't be a chicken'". news.com.au. 6 October 2012.
9. Hockley, Catherine (8 July 2011). "Labor backbenchers revolt over cattle trade resumption". The Advertiser.
10. "Lower House votes down same-sex marriage bill". ABC News. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
11. "MP campaigns for do not knock register". ABC News. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
12. "Parliamentary Business: Do Not Knock Register Bill 2012". Parliament of Australia.
13. https://indaily.com.au/news/politics/2019/05/28/sa-factional-fallout-as-left-stalwart-defects/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
14. "Board Members | West Adelaide Football Club". westadelaidefc.com.au. Retrieved 3 May 2016.

External links

• Profile: ALP.org.au

• Search or browse Hansard for Steve Georganas at OpenAustralia.org