Richard Sanderson Amery (born 31 March 1951) is an Australian former politician. He was a Labor Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1983 to 2015, representing the electorates of Riverstone (1983-1991) and Mount Druitt (1991-2015).[1]

Richard Amery
Member of the New South Wales Parliament
for Mount Druitt
In office
25 May 1991 – 6 March 2015
Preceded bySeat recreated
Succeeded byEdmond Atalla
Member of the New South Wales Parliament
for Riverstone
In office
22 October 1983 – 3 May 1991
Preceded byTony Johnson
Succeeded byJohn Aquilina
Personal details
Born
Richard Sanderson Amery

(1951-03-31) 31 March 1951 (age 73)
Liverpool, New South Wales
Political partyLabor Party
OccupationPolice officer

Early career

edit

Prior to entering politics, Amery spent several years in the retail industry before becoming a police officer with New South Wales Police, where he served for 13 years. At the time he resigned to take up his political work he was a senior constable.[1]

Parliamentary career

edit

Amery was the Minister for Agriculture from 1995 to 1997, when he was allocated additional responsibilities as Minister for Land and Water Conservation. He served as minister in both portfolios until 2001, when the Land and Water Conservation was allocated to another minister and Amery took on Corrective Services.[1]

Amery returned to the backbench following the 2003 election, as part of a larger reshuffle which also saw the departure of Ministers John Aquilina (who became Speaker) and Paul Whelan (who retired from Parliament).

As the longest-serving member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Amery is bestowed a colloquial title, Father of the House.[2] On 8 August 2014 Richard Amery announced that he would leave politics at the next NSW state election in 2015.[3] Father of the House Richard Amery (Mount Druitt) retired from parliament in 2015.[4]

Notes

edit
  1. ^ a b c "The Hon. Richard Sanderson Amery". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  2. ^ "Wollongong and Shellharbour City Council Elections". Questions without Notice. Parliament of New South Wales. 5 May 2011. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
  3. ^ "NSW Labor veteran Richard Amery to retire from parliament". The Australian. 11 August 2014. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014.
  4. ^ "NSW Labor veteran Richard Amery to retire from parliament". The Australian. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014.

 

New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for Riverstone
1983–1991
Succeeded by
Preceded by
District recreated
Member for Mount Druitt
1991–2015
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Agriculture
1995–2003
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Land and Water Conservation
1997–2001
Succeeded by
Craig Knowles
as Minister for Natural Resources
Preceded by
Minister for Corrective Services
2001–2003
Succeeded by


edit