Edward Laurence Grace (13 March 1931 – 22 August 2020) was an Australian politician. He represented the

Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party (ALP), also known as the Labor Party or simply Labor, is the major Centre-left politics, centre-left List of political parties in Australia, political party in Australia and one of two Major party, major parties in Po ...

(ALP) in the

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entities. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often ...

from 1984 to 1998, holding the New South Wales seat of Fowler.

Early life

Grace was born on 13 March 1931 in

Swansea Swansea ( ; ) is a coastal City status in the United Kingdom, city and the List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, second-largest city of Wales. It forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area, officially known as the City and County of ...

, Wales. He served in the

British Merchant Navy The British Merchant Navy is the collective name given to British civilian ships and their associated crews, including officers and ratings. In the UK, it is simply referred to as the Merchant Navy or MN. Merchant Navy vessels fly the Red Ensi ...

before moving to Australia, where he became a self-employed air-conditioning consultant in Sydney. He served on the

Fairfield City Council The Fairfield City Council is a local government area in the west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The council was first incorporated as the "Municipal District of Smithfield and Fairfield" on 8 December 1888, and the coun ...

from 1977 to 1985 and was also a board member of the

Prospect County Council Prospect Electricity was the state-owned corporation owned by the Government of New South Wales, Australia, that was responsible for retailing electricity to consumers in the Greater Western Sydney region between 1991 and 1996. It was founded in ...

electricity utility, including as chair from 1981 to 1984.

Politics

Grace was elected to parliament at the 1984 federal election, and subsequently re-elected on four occasions. He retired at the 1998 election and was succeeded by his former staffer Julia Irwin. Grace served as an ALP

whip A whip is a blunt weapon or implement used in a striking motion to create sound or pain. Whips can be used for flagellation against humans or animals to exert control through pain compliance or fear of pain, or be used as an audible cue thro ...

from 1990 to 1998. He also served on various standing committees, including as chair of the members' interests committee from 1993 to 1996. He was president of the Australian-Croatian Parliamentary Friendship Group. In 1992, he and

Brian Courtice Brian William Courtice (born 17 April 1950) is a former Australian politician and trade unionist. He represented the Division of Hinkler in federal parliament from 1987 to 1993 as a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). He was expelled fro ...

were the only two members of an ALP

caucus A caucus is a group or meeting of supporters or members of a specific political party or movement. The exact definition varies between different countries and political cultures. The term originated in the United States, where it can refer to ...

committee to oppose allowing gay people to serve in the Australian Defence Force.

References

1931 births 2020 deaths Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Australia Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Fowler Members of the Australian House of Representatives Politicians from Swansea New South Wales local councillors Welsh emigrants to Australia Australian MPs 1984–1987 Australian MPs 1987–1990 Australian MPs 1990–1993 Australian MPs 1993–1996 Australian MPs 1996–1998 {{Australia-Labor-representative-stub