Political families of Australia

=Beazley Family=

Kim Edward Beazley AO (born September 30, 1917), Australian politician, was Minister for Education in the government of Gough Whitlam and a Labor member of the Australian House of Representatives for 32 years, from 1945 to 1977.

Kim Christian Beazley (born 14 December 1948), son of Kim Edward Beazley, is an Australian politician, who was Leader of the Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition from 1996 to 2001 and from 2005 to 2006.

Birney Family

Jack Birney (1928-1995), was a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives (representing the Sydney electorate of Philip) from 1975 till his defeat in 1983.

His son is Matthew John "Matt" Birney (born 10 June 1969), Australian politician, a former leader of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia from 9 March 2005 until 24 March 2006.

Burke Family

Thomas (Tom) Burke (August 28 1910 – January 17 1973) was a member of the Parliament of Australia. He was a Labor Party MP from 1943 to 1955, representing Perth.

His son Brian Burke was a Premier of Western Australia from 1983 until 1988.

Brian Thomas Burke (born in Perth, 25 February 1947) was premier of Western Australia from 25 February 1983 until his resignation on 25 February 1988.

Terence (Terry) Joseph Burke (born in Perth, 1 February 1942) is a former member for the seat of Perth in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly between 1968 and 1987. Brian and Terry are sons of former federal cabinet minister Tom Burke.

Chaney Family

Sir Fred Chaney: The Honourable Sir Frederick Charles Chaney (born in Perth, Western Australia on October 12, 1914, died 17 December 2001) was the MHR (Liberal Party), for Perth 1955-1969. Lord Mayor of Perth 1978-82.

Fred Chaney: The Honorable Frederick (Fred) Chaney (born in Perth, Western Australia in 1941) AO entered Federal Parliament in 1974 as a Senator for Western Australia for the Liberal Party, and was Leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 1983 until 1990 when he became the Member for Pearce in the House of Representatives, a position he held until 1993. His ministerial appointments in the Fraser government included Aboriginal Affairs, Social Security, and Minister assisting the Minister for National Development and Energy.

Court Family

The Court family has played a significant role in the politics of Western Australia in the second half of the twentieth century.
Sir Charles Walter Michael Court, AK, KCMG, OBE, (born September 29, 1911) was a Western Australian politician, representing the Assembly seat of Nedlands for the Liberal Party from 1953 to 1982. Charles Court was the state's twenty-first premier, from April 8, 1974 to January 25, 1982.

Richard Fairfax Court AC (born Nedlands, 27 September 1947), was a Western Australian politician, representing the seat of Nedlands in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for the Liberal Party of Australia from 1982 to 2001. He served as Premier of Western Australia from 1993 to 2001. His older brother Barry was president of the Pastoralists' and Graziers' Association, and married Margaret Court.

Downer Family

The Downer family has played a significant role in the South Australian and Australian political and social sphere since the early days of European settlement.
*Henry Downer (1814-1874) arrived in Adelaide from England in 1838.

*John Downer, 6 July 1843 – 2 August 1915, Premier of South Australia from 16 June 1885 until 11 June 1887 and again from 1892 to 1893.
*Alexander Downer, Sr., 7 April 1910 - 30 March 1981, generally known as Alec Downer, was Minister for Immigration from 1958 to 1963, and retired from Parliament on his appointment as Australian High Commissioner in London, a position he held until 1972.

*Alexander Downer, 9 September 1951 - current, became Foreign Minister of Australia in March 1996. He also served as the federal parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party from 1994-1995.

Hawke Family

Albert ("Bert") Redvers George Hawke (December 3 1900 in Kapunda, South Australia - 1989) was Premier of Western Australia from 1953 to 1959.

Bert Hawke's brother, Clement Hawke, a Congregational minister was the father of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke.

Robert James Lee (Bob) Hawke, AC (born 9 December 1929) was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia after previously being an Australian trade union leader.

After a decade as president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, he entered politics at the 1980 elections and became Prime Minister within three years. He became by far the longest-serving and most electorally successful Labor Prime Minister, achieving the rare feat of winning four consecutive federal elections, and he is Australia's third longest-serving Prime Minister.

Playford Family

The Playford family has played a significant role in the South Australian and Australian political and social sphere since the early days of European settlement.
*Thomas Playford Senior was a fiery Baptist minister who arrived in Adelaide in 1844 and, disgusted by the wickedness of the inhabitants, founded a new church called, simply, ‘The Christian Church’.
*Thomas Playford II served as Premier of South Australia from 1887 to 1889 and 1890 to 1892, as well as a Senator in the newly formed Commonwealth of Australia (a name he coined), including a stint as the Federal Minister for Defence.

*Thomas Playford III was a well known local farmer and Adelaide identity.

*Thomas Playford IV was Premier of South Australia from 1938 to 1965; the longest serving elected national or regional leader in the Commonwealth of Nations.
*Thomas Playford V is a Baptist minister who ran at the 2002 South Australian state election for the seat of Kavel under the banner of "Independent for Integrity in Parliament", polling 19%. He ran as a Family First candidate for the same seat at the 2006 election, polling 15% of the vote.

Willesee Family

Donald Robert "Don" Willesee (14 April 1916 - 9 September 2003) was an Australian politician, was a member of the Australian Senate for 25 years representing Western Australia, a Cabinet minister in the Whitlam government. Willesee joined the Australian Labor Party when he was 21 and was elected as a senator for Western Australia in 1950 at the age 33, the youngest Australian senator elected up to that time. He did not stand for re-election at the 1975 double dissolution election.

William Francis Willesee (26 December 1911 - 18 August 2000) Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council for North Province (Australian Labor Party) 22 May 1954 - 21 May 1965. Brother of Don Willesee.