Martin Pakula

Martin Philip Pakula (born 7 January 1969) is an Australian politician. He has been a Labor Party member of the Parliament of Victoria since 2006: in the Legislative Council for Western Metropolitan Region from 2006 to 2010, and then in the Legislative Assembly for Lyndhurst (2013–2014) and Keysborough (2014–present). He is currently the Minister for Jobs, Innovation & Trade and Minister for Tourism, Sport & Major Events in the Second Andrews Ministry since November 2018, as well as the Minister for Racing since December 2014. He has previously served as Attorney-General (2014–2018) in the First Andrews Ministry, as well as Minister for Industrial Relations (2008–2010), Minister for Industry and Trade (2008–2010) and Minister for Public Transport (2010) in the Brumby Ministry.[1]

The Honourable
Martin Pakula
MP
Minister for the Coordination of Jobs, Precincts and Regions
Assumed office
3 April 2020
PremierDaniel Andrews
Preceded byPosition established
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for Keysborough
Assumed office
29 November 2014
Preceded byNew seat
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for Lyndhurst
In office
27 April 2013 – 29 November 2014
Preceded byTim Holding
Succeeded bySeat abolished
Member of the Victorian Legislative Council for Western Metropolitan Region
In office
25 November 2006 – 26 March 2013
Personal details
Born (1969-01-07) 7 January 1969
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Political partyLabor
Websitewww.martinpakula.com.au

Early life

Pakula was born in Melbourne in 1969, the son of immigrants from Poland who were deported during World War II to Uzbekistan. Pakula's mother, a school teacher, arrived in Australia as a 6 year old with no knowledge of English, while his father, a lawyer, spoke no English at home.[2] He attended Ormond Primary School and then Haileybury.[3] Following this, he was accepted to study economics and law at Monash University. During his time at Monash he became a leading member of Victorian Young Labor, joining the Labor Party in 1987. He completed his Bachelor of Economics in 1989 and an Honours Degree in Law in 1991. In his final year, he won the Industrial Relations Law prize.

Professional career

After graduating from university, Pakula began work at Macpherson and Kelley Solicitors. In 1993, he became an Industrial Officer at the National Union of Workers. He went on to become State Secretary and National Vice President.

In 2005, Pakula unsuccessfully challenged Simon Crean in the ALP preselection for the seat of Hotham. Pakula was then preselected for ALP's third spot for the Western Metropolitan Region and was elected at the 2006 Victorian state election. Following the election, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Ports under Tim Pallas.

After the resignation of Minister Theo Theophanous in December 2008, Pakula was appointed Minister for Industry and Trade and Minister for Industrial Relations. In January 2010, he replaced Lynne Kosky as Minister for Public Transport following her resignation.[4][5]

On 18 March 2013 he was endorsed as the Labor candidate for the Lyndhurst by-election held on 27 April, caused by the February 2013 resignation of shadow treasurer Tim Holding.[6] Pakula resigned from the Legislative Council on 26 March 2013 to contest Lyndhurst and was successful in retaining the seat for Labor.

On 4 December 2014 he was sworn in as the Victorian Attorney-General, and was replaced by Jill Hennessy following the 2018 Victorian state election.

Personal life

Pakula is married with two children and is a supporter of the Carlton Football Club.[7] He lives in Black Rock.[8] Pakula is Jewish.[9]

References
  1. "Hon Martin Pakula". Parliament of Victoria. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  2. "My mum arrived here as a 6 year old. No English. Ended up being a school teacher for decades. Dad was born here but spoke no English at home. Became a lawyer. I'm the Attorney General of Victoria, and you - mate - can get stuffed. Australian enough for you?". Twitter. Martin Pakula. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  3. "About Martin | Martin Pakula MP".
  4. "Martin Pakula MLC - Premier of Victoria, Australia". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Archived from the original on 6 February 2009.
  5. Pakula to inherit transport troubles, The Age, 20 January 2010.
  6. Willingham, Richard (19 March 2013). "Pakula for safe seat". The Age. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  7. "Martin Pakula MLC". Premier of Victoria. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  8. Smethurst, Annika. "Parachuting pollies into safe seats fuels political cynicism". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  9. Douglas, Carly. "Southwick, Pakula seats at risk". The Australian Jewish News. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
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