Barry Cohen

For the Florida attorney, see Barry Cohen (attorney). For the American art therapist, see Barry Marc Cohen. For the television director and bridge expert, see Barry Crane.
The Honourable
Barry Cohen
AM
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Robertson
In office
25 October 1969  19 February 1990
Preceded by William Bridges-Maxwell
Succeeded by Frank Walker
Personal details
Born (1935-04-03) 3 April 1935
Griffith, New South Wales
Nationality Australian
Political party Australian Labor Party
Spouse(s) Rae O'Neill
Occupation Businessman
Religion Judaism

Barry Cohen AM (born 3 April 1935) is a former Australian Labor politician. He was a minister in the government of Bob Hawke.

Biography

Cohen was born in Griffith, New South Wales and educated at Griffith High School, Sydney Grammar School and North Sydney Technical High School. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University. He was a businessman before entering politics.

He was the federal member for the seat of Robertson from 1969 until his retirement before the 1990 election. Following the Australian Labor Party's win under Bob Hawke at the 1983 election, he was Minister for Home Affairs and the Environment from 1983 to 1984 and then Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Environment until 1987.[1]

After politics

Cohen has written a number of books on political anecdotes, and an autobiography:[2]

Personal

Cohen married Rae McNeill in October 1959 and they have three sons.[3]

Although Cohen voted for the decriminalisation of homosexuality in the 1970s, he has spoken out against gay marriage, arguing that "gay marriage and conventional marriage is [not] the same thing".[4]

Honours

Cohen was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2007, for service to the Australian Parliament and to the community through a range of cultural and environmental roles and contributions to public discussion and debate.[5]

References

  1. "Biography for Cohen, the Hon. Barry". ParlInfo Web. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 15 September 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
  2. "Barry Cohen". Celebrity Speakers. Retrieved 1 December 2007.
  3. Who's Who in Australia. North Melbourne: Crown Contents. 2008. p. 2303. ISBN 1-74095-160-3.
  4. Cohen, Barry (14 April 2011). "Opposing gay marriage doesn't mean I'm barking". The Australian.
  5. COHEN, Barry, It's an Honour.
Political offices
Preceded by
Tom McVeigh (home affairs and the environment)
Neil Brown (consumer affairs)
Minister for Home Affairs and the Environment
1983–1984
Succeeded by
John Brown
Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Environment
1984–1987
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
William Bridges-Maxwell
Member for Robertson
1969–1990
Succeeded by
Frank Walker
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