Kyam Maher
Kyam Joseph Maher is an Australian politician appointed to a casual vacancy in the South Australian Legislative Council for the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party on 17 October 2012. He served in the Cabinet of South Australia between 2015 and 2018, and served as Leader of Government Business in the Legislative Council between 2016 and 2018.
Kyam Maher MLC | |
|---|---|
| Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation | |
| In office 3 February 2015 – 18 March 2018 | |
| Premier | Jay Weatherill |
| Preceded by | Susan Close |
| Succeeded by | David Pisoni (as Minister for Industry and Skills) |
| Minister for Automotive Transformation | |
| In office 3 February 2015 – 18 March 2018 | |
| Premier | Jay Weatherill |
| Preceded by | Susan Close |
| Succeeded by | David Pisoni (as Minister for Industry and Skills) |
| Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation | |
| In office 3 February 2015 – 18 March 2018 | |
| Premier | Jay Weatherill |
| Preceded by | Ian Hunter |
| Succeeded by | Steven Marshall (as Premier of South Australia) |
| Member of the South Australian Legislative Council | |
| Assumed office 17 October 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Sneath |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kyam Joseph Maher Littlehampton, South Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party (SA) |
| Spouse(s) | Carmel Maher |
| Alma mater | University of Adelaide |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Website | SA Parliamentary Profile |
Background
Maher is of Aboriginal descent.[1] He grew up in Mount Gambier and attended Grant High School there. He does not consider that he experienced the disadvantage and racism that is common for many Aboriginal people in Australia. He left Mount Gambier to study law and economics at the University of Adelaide.[2]
Maher was a lawyer and political staffer before becoming South Australian state secretary of the Australian Labor Party.[3] In 2006, Maher was an inaugural committee member of the Progressive Labour Education Association Inc (PLEA), a joint-venture training organisation operated by the ALP Socialist Left faction and aligned unions United Voice (then the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union) and the Australian Services Union.[4]
Political career
Maher was appointed to the South Australian Legislative Council in 2012 to replace outgoing MLC Bob Sneath. Maher was re-elected from fourth position on the Labor ticket at the 2014 election.[5]
In February 2015 he was appointed to cabinet and, between 2015 and the 2018 state election, Maher has served as minister in the Labor Weatherill Ministry in a range of portfolios including manufacturing and innovation, automotive transformation, Aboriginal affairs and reconciliation;[1] and employment and science and information economy.[6] Maher was the first Aboriginal South Australian Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.[7]
On 18 January 2016 Maher was appointed as the Leader of Government Business in the Legislative Council in the Weatherill government.[8]
References
- "SA ministry reshuffle: Rau gets child protection task, Kyam Maher moved into Cabinet, Katrine Hildyard elevated". ABC News. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
- Dowdell, Andrew (13 May 2017). "Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Minister Kyam Maher starting to reconnect with indigenous heritage". Sunday Mail. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
- Harmsen, Nick (2 October 2012). "ALP secretary set for seat in Parliament". ABC News. ABC.
- "What is the Progressive Labour Education Association (PLEA)?". Progressive Left Unions and Sub-Branches (PLUS). Progressive Left Unions and Sub-Branches (PLUS). Retrieved 7 February 2015.
- 2014 SA Legislative Council results: Antony Green ABC
- Cabinet of South Australia: Premier.sa.gov.au Archived 21 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- "Kyam Maher, the first South Australian Aboriginal government minister for Aboriginal affairs during 2015-18". AdelaideAZ. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
- "Reshuffle, Peter Malinauskas and Leesa Vlahos join Jay Weatherill's Cabinet". The Advertiser. 18 January 2016.
External links
| Parliament of South Australia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Bob Sneath |
Member of the South Australian Legislative Council 2012–present Served alongside: Multiple Members |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Susan Close |
Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation 2015–2018 |
Succeeded by David Pisoni as Minister for Industry and Skills |
| Minister for Automotive Transformation 2015–2018 | ||
| Preceded by Ian Hunter |
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation 2015–2018 |
Succeeded by Steven Marshall as Premier of South Australia |
| Preceded by Gail Gago |
Leader of the Government in the South Australian Legislative Council 2016–2018 |
Succeeded by Rob Lucas |
| Minister for Science and Information Economy 2016–2018 |
Succeeded by David Ridgway as Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment | |
| Preceded by Gail Gago as Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills |
Minister for Employment 2016–2018 | |