Michael George Forshaw (born 11 January 1952[citation needed]) is an Australian politician who served as a member of the Australian Senate for the state of New South Wales from May 1994 to June 2011, representing the Australian Labor Party.[2]

Michael Forshaw
Senator for New South Wales
In office
10 May 1994 – 30 June 2011
Preceded byGraham Richardson
Personal details
Born (1952-01-11) 11 January 1952 (age 72)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Political partyAustralian Labor Party
SpouseJan Forshaw.[1]
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
University of New South Wales
OccupationBarrister

Early life and education

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Forshaw was born in Sydney. He was educated at the University of Sydney, where he graduated in arts, and the University of New South Wales, where he graduated in law.

Career

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Forshaw was admitted as a barrister in 1985.[2]

Forshaw began employment with the Australian Workers' Union in 1975 as an Industrial Officer and was elected as the union's Assistant General Secretary in 1989.[2] In 1991 Forshaw was elected as the General Secretary of the AWU when he negotiated the amalgamation of the AWU with the Federation of Industrial Manufacturing & Engineering Employees (formerly the Federated Ironworkers' Association of Australia) to form the AWU-FIMEE Amalgamated Union. From 1993 until entering the Senate in 1994 Forshaw was the Joint National Secretary of the AWU-FIMEE Amalgamated Union (which changed its name back to the AWU in 1995).

A member of Labor's right faction,[3] on 2 March 2010 Forshaw announced his decision to retire, citing he was making way for outgoing state party boss Matt Thistlethwaite.[4] His term ended on 30 June 2011.

In September 2016, he was elected to Sutherland Shire Council as a Councillor and in September 2020 he became Deputy Mayor.[5]

Personal

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Forshaw is married to retired Sutherland Shire Councillor Jan Forshaw [1] and has three sons, Simon, Martin and Jeremy.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Engadine Chamber of Commerce Small Business Awards". Parliament of New South Wales. 5 December 2007. Archived from the original on 11 March 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  2. ^ a b c "Biography for FORSHAW, Michael George". Australian Parliament. Archived from the original on 8 October 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  3. ^ Milne, Glenn (19 September 2009). "Rudd's 'f***ing' rant at factions". The Sunday Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
  4. ^ Salusinszky, Imre (2 March 2010). "Senator Michael Forshaw cedes to party boss". The Australian. Retrieved 26 July 2010.
  5. ^ Cr Michael Forshaw - Deputy Mayor Sutherland Shire Council
Trade union offices
Preceded by General Secretary of the Australian Workers' Union
1991–94
Succeeded by