Don Dobie

James Donald Mathieson Dobie (28 July 1927 – 25 November 1996) was an Australian politician. Born in Glasgow in Scotland, he migrated to Australia as a child and was educated at Brisbane Grammar School, the University of Melbourne, and Columbia University in New York. He then became an economist with a private bank until 1966, when he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives for the Liberal Party, defeating Labor member Les Johnson for the seat of Hughes. A redistribution ahead of the 1969 election erased Dobie's majority and gave Labor a notional eight-percent majority—technically making it a safe Labor seat on paper. Believing this made Hughes unwinnable—especially with Johnson priming for a rematch—Dobie transferred to the new seat of Cook, created mostly out of the more Liberal-friendly eastern portion of Hughes. This move proved prescient, as Johnson retook Hughes for Labor on a large swing while Dobie narrowly won Cook.

The Honourable Don Dobie
Member of the Australian Parliament for Hughes
In office 26 November 1966 – 25 October 1969
Preceded by	Les Johnson
Succeeded by	Les Johnson
Member of the Australian Parliament for Cook
In office 25 October 1969 – 2 December 1972
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Ray Thorburn
In office 13 December 1975 – 29 January 1996
Preceded by	Ray Thorburn
Succeeded by	Stephen Mutch
Personal details
Born	(1927-07-28)28 July 1927 Glasgow, Scotland
Died	25 November 1996(1996-11-25) (aged 69)
Nationality	Scottish Australian
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia
Alma mater	University of Melbourne Columbia University
Occupation	Economist

On 20 August 1971, he was appointed Assistant Minister assisting the Prime Minister, William McMahon. In 1972, he was defeated by Labor's Ray Thorburn, but retook the seat in 1975 and was returned at every election until his retirement in 1996. He died later the same year.[1]