Joseph Martin Riordan AO (27 February 1930 – 19 November 2012) was an Australian politician and briefly government minister.[1]

Joe Riordan
Minister for Housing and Construction
In office
6 June 1975 – 11 November 1975
Prime MinisterGough Whitlam
Preceded byLes Johnson
Succeeded byJohn Carrick
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Phillip
In office
2 December 1972 – 13 December 1975
Preceded byWilliam Aston
Succeeded byJack Birney
Personal details
Born(1930-02-27)27 February 1930
Sydney
Died19 November 2012(2012-11-19) (aged 82)
Sydney
NationalityAustralian
Political partyAustralian Labor Party
SpousePatricia Watkins
Relations6 children = John Riordan, Peter Riordan, Michael Riordan, Bernie Riordan, Cathy Riordan and Maureen Riordan And 14 Grandchildren
OccupationClerk

Early years

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Riordan was born in Sydney, raised as a Catholic, and educated at Patrician Brothers School and Marist Brother College in that city. From 1958 to 1972 he was Federal Secretary of the Federated Clerks' Union (a stronghold of anti-Communist social democrats).[2][3]

Career

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Riordan was elected as the Australian Labor Party member for the House of Representatives seat of Phillip at the 1972 election, defeating the Liberal, William Aston. He was Minister for Housing and Construction from June 1975 until the dismissal of the Whitlam Government in November 1975. He was defeated by the Liberals' Jack Birney at the 1975 election.[4]

Riordan was Senior Deputy President of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission from 1986 to 1995.[2] He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in January 1995 for "service to industrial relations, to social justice and to the Community".[5]

Death

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He died on 19 November 2012, aged 82.[6]

Personal life

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He was the nephew of Darby Riordan, the Labor member of the House of Representatives for Kennedy from 1929 to 1936.[7]

Notes

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  1. ^ "It's an Honour – Flag Announcements". Itsanhonour.gov.au. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  2. ^ a b Who's who in Australia. North Melbourne: Crown Content. 2008. p. 2303. ISBN 978-1-74095-160-9.
  3. ^ "Riordan, Joseph Martin (1930 - )". Australian Trade Union Archives. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
  4. ^ "Members of the House of Representatives since 1901". Parliamentary Handbook. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 17 November 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2008.
  5. ^ "Riordan, Joseph Martin, AO". It's an Honour. Government of Australia. Retrieved 18 January 2008.
  6. ^ Herald Sun, 26 November 2012
  7. ^ Lumb, Martin (31 October 2012): Parliamentary relations: political families in the Commonwealth Parliament, Australian Parliamentary Library.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Housing and Construction
1975
Succeeded by
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Member for Phillip
1972–1975
Succeeded by