Wade Noonan

The Honourable Wade Noonan MP
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Williamstown
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 September 2007
Preceded by	Steve Bracks
Personal details
Born	7 April 1971
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Alma mater	Swinburne University of Technology

Wade Mathew Noonan (born 7 April 1971) is an Australian politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since September 2007, representing the electorate of Williamstown. He has been Minister for Police and Minister for Corrections in the Andrews ministry since December 2014.

Noonan studied at Parade College and the Swinburne University of Technology. He worked as a travel manager for STA Travel from 1990 to 1996, before becoming involved in the union movement. He worked as an organiser for the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association from 1996 to 2002, before shifting to the Transport Workers Union of Australia, where he became federal assistant secretary and federal organising and training officer. He remained in this role until his election to parliament.^[1] Noonan's father, Bill Noonan, is a long-time TWU official and Victorian state secretary.^[2]

In July 2007, Steve Bracks, the then Premier of Victoria and member for the safe Labor seat of Williamstown, suddenly announced his intention to retire from politics. Noonan emerged as an early favourite to win Labor preselection for the resulting by-election, and won the nomination after a deal to install television presenter Angela Pippos in the seat fell through.^[2][3][4] He was elected on 15 September 2007, defeating Greens candidate, former City of Maribyrnong mayor and future Senator Janet Rice.^[5]

On 8 February 2016, Noonan announced he would be taking a three-month leave of absence from his ministerial and parliamentary positions to undergo counselling due to exposure to traumatic incidents in his work as police minister.^[6]

References

1. ""Parliamentary Handbook: Wade Noonan". Parliament of Victoria. Accessed 24 October 2007.
2. Whinnett, Ellen. "Union heavy firms for seat". Herald Sun, 14 August 2007.
3. Whinnett, Ellen. "TV sports host pulls plug on Labor". Herald Sun, 16 August 2007.
4. Rood, David and Ker, Peter. "Noonan, Foley to run in byelections". Herald Sun, 23 August 2007.
5. Hannan, Ewin. "ALP in two by-election cakewalks". Herald Sun, 17 September 2007.
6. "Victorian Police Minister Wade Noonan steps down due to 'unexpected toll' of job". ABC News. 8 February 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.