The Honourable
Martin Pakula
MP
Minister for Industry Support and Recovery
In office
22 June 2020 – 27 June 2022
PremierDaniel Andrews
Preceded byNew position
Succeeded byBen Carroll
Minister for Trade
In office
22 June 2020 – 27 June 2022
PremierDaniel Andrews
Preceded byHimself
Succeeded byTim Pallas
Minister for Business Precincts
In office
22 June 2020 – 27 June 2022
PremierDaniel Andrews
Preceded byJacinta Allan
Succeeded byBen Carroll
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events
In office
29 November 2018 – 27 June 2022
PremierDaniel Andrews
Preceded byJohn Eren
Succeeded bySteve Dimopoulos
Minister for Racing
In office
4 December 2014 – 27 June 2022
PremierDaniel Andrews
Preceded byDenis Napthine
Succeeded byAnthony Carbines
53rd Attorney-General of Victoria
In office
4 December 2014 – 29 November 2018
PremierDaniel Andrews
Preceded byRobert Clark
Succeeded byJill Hennessy
Member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for Keysborough
In office
29 November 2014 – 26 November 2022
Preceded byNew seat
Succeeded bySeat abolished
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

Martin Philip Pakula (born 7 January 1969) is a former Australian politician. He has been a Labor Party member of the Parliament of Victoria from 2006 to 2022: in the Legislative Council for Western Metropolitan Region from 2006 to 2013, and then in the Legislative Assembly for Lyndhurst (2013–2014) and Keysborough (2014–2022).

Pakula has served as a minister in the First Andrews Ministry and Second Andrews Ministry. Most recently until June 2022, Pakula was the Minister for Industry Support and Recovery, Minister for Trade, Minister for Business Precincts from June 2020, the Minister for Tourism, Sport & Major Events from November 2018, and the Minister for Racing from December 2014. He previously served as the Minister for Jobs, Innovation & Trade (2018–2020), Attorney-General (2014–2018). He also served 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]

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. He continued to be a minister in a number of portfolios, with the racing portfolio being held the longest since 2014.

In June 2022, Pakula announced he would retire at the November state election.[7] He stepped down from his ministerial roles on 27 June 2022.

Personal life

Pakula is married with two children and is a supporter of the Carlton Football Club.[8] He lives in Black Rock.[9] Pakula is Jewish.[10]

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. ↑ "Victorian ministers confirm resignations from Andrews government ahead of November election". ABC News. 24 June 2022.
  8. ↑ "Martin Pakula MLC". Premier of Victoria. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  9. ↑ Smethurst, Annika (16 September 2021). "Parachuting pollies into safe seats fuels political cynicism". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  10. ↑ Douglas, Carly. "Southwick, Pakula seats at risk". The Australian Jewish News. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
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