Bob Debus

Bob Debus "was born in Ryde in 1943 and was schooled at Homebush Boys High School before attending the University of Sydney to study Arts and Law. He has lived in the electorate of Macquarie for over 30 years.

"Bob has worked as a lawyer, an editor for Angus and Robertson Publishing and a radio broadcaster for the ABC. He has worked for the community as National Director of the aid agency Australian Freedom from Hunger and Community Aid Abroad. Bob served in the NSW Parliament as the member for Blue Mountains for 19 years, 16 of which were spent as a minister.

"As NSW Attorney General for six years he oversaw the passage of 258 legal bills through the NSW parliament, one-third of all bills passed by the NSW Parliament. He undertook a wave of reform including changes to the sexual assault laws to protect victims, set up Australian’s first Aboriginal circle sentencing systems and established the special commission of inquiry into James Hardie bringing justice for asbestos victims.

"As Environment Minister for eight years, he expanded the national park system by almost two thirds, creating massive new national parks on the North Coast and South Coast, and more recently Western NSW. Almost 40% of the coastline of NSW is now part of a national park.

"Bob is now the Minister for Home Affairs in the Rudd Labor Government."


 * Advisory Board, Transnational Institute