Leo McLeay

The Honourable Leo McLeay
Member of the Australian Parliament for Grayndler
In office 23 June 1979 – 13 March 1993
Preceded by	Frank Stewart
Succeeded by	Jeannette McHugh
Member of the Australian Parliament for Watson
In office 13 March 1993 – 31 August 2004
Preceded by	New seat
Succeeded by	Tony Burke
20th Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives
In office 29 August 1989 – 8 February 1993
Preceded by	Joan Child
Succeeded by	Stephen Martin
Personal details
Born	4 October 1945 Sydney, New South Wales
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s)	Janice[1]
Children	Paul McLeay
Occupation	Telephone technician[2]

Leo Boyce McLeay (born 4 October 1945), Australian politician,^[3] was a Labor Party member of the House of Representatives from June 1979^[4] to October 2004. He was Speaker of the House of Representatives 1989–93. During 1992 he was censured by the then Federal opposition leader Dr. John Hewson with a motion of no confidence due to his political bias.^[5]

Biography

Leo McLeay was born in Sydney, and was a telephone technician before entering politics. He was a member of the Marrickville Municipal Council 1971–77,^[6] and was also Assistant General Secretary of the New South Wales Labor Party 1976–79.^[1][6]

In Parliament, he represented the Division of Grayndler, New South Wales from 1979 until 1993 and the Division of Watson, New South Wales from 1993 until 2004.^[6]

McLeay was Chair of Committees and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives 1986–89, and Speaker of the House 1989–93.^[6] He, Neil Andrew and Bronwyn Bishop are the only three speakers to be subject to motions of no confidence (which were defeated in all cases due to party lines).^[7] He resigned as Speaker following accusations that he had made a false compensation claim.^[2] This accusation was later shown to be incorrect.^[8] McLeay was subsequently Chief Government Whip 1993–96 and Chief Opposition Whip 1996–2001.^[6] He retired at the 2004 election.^[6]

After leaving parliament Leo McLeay became a Director of the Mary MacKillop Foundation in 2005.^[9] He was also the New South Wales director of the Enhance Group.^[10]

His son is Paul McLeay who was the Member for Heathcote in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 2003 until his defeat at the 2011 state election.^[11]

References

1. Kayee Griffin (5 December 2007). "Tribute to the Honourable Leo Mcleay". NSW Hansard. p. 11278. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
2. Robert Milliken (4 February 1993). "Canberra Speaker skids into scandal". The Independent. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
3. "Senators and Members, by Date of Birth". 13 June 2001. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
4. "Commonwealth of Australia Legislative Election of 18 October 1980". Retrieved 28 January 2010.
5. "Parliament Hansard of 2 April 1992 Want of Confidence Motion in Mr Speaker".
6. Amanda Fazio (5 December 2007). "Tribute to the Honourable Leo Mcleay". NSW Hansard. p. 12855. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
7. "Division of motion of no confidence". Hansard. 2 April 1992. pp. 1734–1742. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
8. "Former speaker cleared". The Independent. 20 February 1993. Retrieved 28 January 2010.
9. "Board of Directors". Retrieved 28 January 2010.
10. "Leo McLeay Director NSW". Retrieved 28 January 2010.
11. "Young guns must fire or party faces uncivil war". The Daily Telegraph. 16 November 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2010.

External links

• Cartoon by Geoff Pryor appearing in the Canberra Times 20 December 1992