John Cobb (Australian politician)
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| The Honourable John Cobb MP |
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Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Water Security
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| In office 10 November 2001 – Current |
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| Constituency | Calare |
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| Born | 11 February 1950 Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | National Party of Australia |
| Spouse | Gai Cobb |
| Website | johncobb.com.au |
John Kenneth Cobb (born 11 February 1950), Australian politician, has been a National Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since November 2001 representing the Division of Parkes, New South Wales and the Division of Calare since 2007. He was born in Bathurst, New South Wales, and was a farmer and grazier before entering politics. He was President of the New South Wales Farmers Association 1998-2001.
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[edit] Life before entering parliament
Cobb was born in Bathurst, son of Lee and Mary Cobb,[1] and was raised on the family property near Mount Hope, New South Wales.[2]
From the 1980s until his candidacy for Federal Parliament, Cobb was active in, and spent three years as President of, the New South Wales Farmers Association, a lobby group representing farmers and rural and regional communities.[3] He also continued to farm the family property. In 2000, an accident on the farm (Cobb was not present at the time) claimed the life of an employee, Kenneth Johnson. Charges were laid against Cobb as Johnson's employer, resulting in a conviction and fine being imposed, not long after Cobb was elected to Parliament.
[edit] Ministry and shadow ministry
Cobb was elected to the House of Representatives from the Division of Parkes, a safe National Party seat, at the 2001 federal election.
In July 2005 Cobb was appointed to the ministry as Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, but soon after was reshuffled to the Community Services portfolio. His time in the portfolio was rocky. In March 2006 he was criticised for being one of six 'prominent Coalition MPs' who did not disclose their shares in AWB Limited.[4]
In October 2006 Cobb sparked controversy after reportedly stating at a meeting of disability service advocates that he would "get rid of" a child who had a disability. Mr Cobb denied the accusations.[5][6][7] Prime Minister John Howard backed his minister at the time, however Cobb lost the portfolio in a reshuffle three months later. He then became Assistant Minister for Water Resources.[8]
John Cobb moved to the neighbouring seat of Calare at the 2007 election after the popular independent member Peter Andren retired to join the contest for a NSW Senate seat. The Liberal-National Party Coalition lost the election, however Cobb retained the seat of Calare. He was chosen by new Opposition leader Brendan Nelson to be a member of his shadow ministry, as the spokesperson on Regional Development and Water Security.[9]
[edit] Personal
John Cobb has a wife Gai, and seven daughters.[10][11]
[edit] References
- ^ Mr John Cobb MP. Parliamentary Debates, 14 February 2002, p. 213.
- ^ The Honourable John Cobb MP: Your Member for Parkes, Biography, accessed January 2008
- ^ New South Wales Farmers Federation, Who We Are and What We Do, retrieved January 2008.
- ^ Cath Hart, 'Six MPs explain interests in AWB', The Australian, 13 March 2006.
- ^ Matthew Franklin and Patricia Karvelas, 'Cobb would 'get rid of' disabled child', The Australian, 20 Oct 2006.
- ^ Misha Schubert, 'Cobb denies disability comment', The Age, 21 Oct 2006.
- ^ Matthew Franklin, 'Minister's disabled slur affirmed', The Australian, 24 Oct 2006.
- ^ 'The PM's election year line-up', Canberra Times, 24 Jan 2007
- ^ Parliament of Australia, Shadow Ministry, 6 December 2007, retrieved January 2008
- ^ John Cobb, House of Representatives Debates, 14 February 2002, p. 213.
- ^ Misha Schubert, 'Cobb denies disability comment', The Age, 21 Oct 2006.
[edit] External links
- Parliament of Australia, Hon. John Cobb MP, official Parliament website biography, retrieved January 2008
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Peter McGauran |
Minister for Citizenship & Multicultural Affairs 2005–2006 |
Succeeded by portfolio split (no equivalent) |
| Preceded by Kay Patterson (no junior minister) |
Minister for Community Services (junior minister) 2006–2007 |
Succeeded by Nigel Scullion |
| Parliament of Australia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Tony Lawler |
Member for Parkes 2001 – 2007 |
Succeeded by Mark Coulton |
| Preceded by Peter Andren |
Member for Calare 2007 – present |
Incumbent |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Cobb, John Kenneth |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Australian politician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 11 February 1950 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Bathurst, New South Wales, Australia |
| DATE OF DEATH | living |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
