THE HON KIM BEAZLEY MP

The Honorable Kim Christian Beazley MP became Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party on 19 March 1996.

He was born on 14 of December 1948, to a typical working class household, having to endure the hardships associated with having to survive off miserly federal Politicians income. He grew up never knowing the joys of unemployment in his household, nor the luxury of having to use the public education system, yet even though he was disadvantaged compared to the rest of the average working class, he always was one of them at heart.

After winning a rowing scholarship to Oxford University, although he could not draw or even, finger paint, he obtained a Masters degree in the Arts. The only teacher we contacted about him was his mentor, Tristram St John-Smythe his rowing coach. This is what he said about our beloved Kim. "The philosophy behind rowing is to go backwards, and to be the best at that! Nobody was better than Kim. It is good to see in his political career, he still applies the rowing ideal." He was also a lecturer in Social and Political theory at the News corp. oops that's supposed to read Murdoch University, Western Australia. On returning to Australia he became an, itinerate drifter when disaster nearly struck.

Here is the Police report to this sad and sorry tale.... But it has a happy ending.

On the 3^rd day of January in the year of our Lord 1973 a happy wanderer was bivouacked by still waters preparing himself a brew, when suddenly a prize merino ram appeared on the scene. Having not eaten for several minutes he was feeling considerable hunger pains. When he saw the merino, he sang hymns of praise to the tune of a particular waltz. He had a kindred spirit with the ram for they were both "jolly" Unfortunately for the ram he accidentally broke its neck while pirouetting with the drifter to this particular waltz. This upset the drifter but he was also practical. So he pickled the meat and placed it into an esky with the word tucker-bag written on it. Later in the day, the owner of the sheep a mister Bielke- Petersen, accompanied by three mounted Police saw the drifter and accused him of killing the sheep. Although protesting his innocence, they were ready to lynch him on the spot. Being a quick thinker he noticed hollow reeds in the water and shouted "you will never catch me alive", he leapt into the still waters creating a splash that went at least 50 feet into the air, he stayed underwater breathing through the reeds. After they assumed he had drowned they left the scene. After the coast was clear he resurfaced and hid behind a rock. He was so happy to have survived that he sang a tune to a Banjo Patterson poem (we are not sure which one), and a passer by thought he was hearing a ghost. After this near death experience he decided to enter politics."

He has served in the Federal Parliament since 1980, when he won the Perth metropolitan seat of Swan in a general election. He held the seat of Swan in every subsequent election up to and including 1993, moving to the seat of Brand in 1996.

His Ministerial career began on 11 March 1983 in the first Hawke Government, when he became Minister for Aviation and Minister Assisting the Minister for Defense. He was the youngest member of the ministry at the time of his appointments.

On 13 December 1984, Kim Beazley became the youngest ever, Australian Defense Minister, and the sixth Western Australian, to hold the position. He also served as a Special Minister of State from 14 July 1983 until 21 January 1984. On 15 February 1988 Mr. Beazley was appointed Government leader in the House of Representatives and Vice-President of the Executive Council.

In April 1990, after a general election, Mr. Beazley was appointed Minister for Transport and Communications. He served as Finance Minister from 9-27 December 1991, before becoming Minister for Employment Education and Training. He was re-appointed to the Finance portfolio in December 1993.

Kim Beazley has three children, and is married to Ms Susie Annus.

May 1996