List of Jewish members of Australian parliaments explained

Jews have been a part of the Australian parliament since federation. In 2016 a record number of 6 MPs identified as Jewish.[1] When Kerryn Phelps won the 2018 Wentworth by-election the number rose to 7, but subsequently dropped back to 6 following the 2019 Australian federal election.

Federal parliament

Party!Years!Notes!Source
Michael BaumeMacarthurSenatorNSW 1975–831985–96[2]
Peter BaumeSenatorNSW 1974–91Minister in Fraser government
Joe BerinsonPerthWA Labor1969–75Minister in Whitlam government
Josh BurnsMacnamaraVic Labor2019–[3]
Moss CassMaribyrnongVic Labor1969–83Minister in Whitlam government
Sam CohenSenatorVic Labor1962–69
Barry CohenRobertsonNSW Labor1969–90Minister in Hawke government
Michael DanbyMelbourne PortsVic Labor1998–2019[4]
Mark DreyfusIsaacsVic Labor2007–Minister in Gillard, Rudd and Albanese governments
Syd EinfeldPhillipNSW Labor1961–63
Max FalsteinWatsonNSW Labor

Independent

1940–49
Mike FreelanderMacarthurNSW Labor2016–
Jason FalinskiMackellarNSW 2016–22
Josh FrydenbergKooyongVic 2010–22Minister in Abbott, Turnbull, and Morrison governments.
Deputy leader of the Liberal Party
Stirling GriffSenatorSA Centre Alliance2016–22
Sir Isaac IsaacsIndiVic Protectionist1901-06Minister in the Deakin governmentChief Justice of Australia

Governor-General of Australia

Lewis KentHothamVic Labor1980–90Stood for election in Israel for Maki
Dick KlugmanProspectNSW Labor1969–90
Julian LeeserBerowraNSW 2016–
Kerryn PhelpsWentworthNSW Independent2018–19[5]
Pharez PhillipsWimmeraVic Protectionist1901–06
Elias SolomonFremantleWA Free Trade1901–03Mayors of Fremantle
Vaiben Louis SolomonSouth AustraliaSA Free Trade1901–03Premier of South Australia

State parliaments

New South Wales

!Name!Electorate!Party!Years!Notes!Source
Maurice AlexanderGoulburnIndependent1861–72
Morris AsherHumeIndependent1859–60
Henry CohenWest MaitlandIndependent1874–80
Ian CohenMember of the Legislative CouncilGreens1995–2011
John CohenPetershamProtectionist PartyLiberal Reform

Nationalist

1898–1919Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Morton CohenBlighLiberal1965–68
Samuel CohenMorpethIndependent1860
Albert CollinsNarrabriNamoiLiberal ReformIndependent Liberal1901–10
Charles CollinsNamoi

Narrabri

IndependentProtectionist

Free Trade

1885–871890–98
Margaret DavisMember of the Legislative CouncilLiberal1967–78
Syd EinfeldBondiWaverleyLabor1965–1981Also served in federal parliamentMinister in state government
Samuel EmmanuelArgyleIndependent1862–64
Derek FreemanMember of the Legislative CouncilLiberal1973–84
Hyman GoldsteinEastern SuburbsCoogeeNationalist1922–251927–28Mayor of Randwick
Ron HoenigHeffronLabor2012–Mayor of Botany Bay
Solomon HyamBalmainMember of the Legislative CouncilProtectionist1885–871892–1901Mayor of Balmain
Sir Asher JoelMember of the Legislative CouncilCountry Party1958–78
Samuel JosephWest SydneyMember of the Legislative CouncilIndependent1864–681882–85

1887-93

John KayeMember of the Legislative CouncilGreens2007–16
Abe LandaBondiLabor1930–321941–65Minister in state government
Paul LandaMember of the Legislative Council

Peats

Labor1973–84
Leyser LevinHumeIndependent1880–85
Lewis LevyLiverpool PlainsWest MaitlandIndependent1871–721874
Sir Daniel LevySydney-FitzroyDarlinghurst

Sydney

Paddington

Woollahra

Liberal ReformNationalist

United Australia

1901–37Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Ernest MarksNorth SydneyNationalist1927–30
Solomon MeyerCarcoarIndependent1874–76
Ernest MitchellMember of the Legislative CouncilUnited Australia Party1934–43
Jacob Levi MontefioreMember of the Legislative CouncilIndependent1856–601874–77
Phillip G. MyersArgyleIndependent1880–81
Harris NelsonOrangeIndependent1872–77
Simeon PhillipsDubboFree TradeLiberal Reform1895–1904
Joseph RaphaelWest SydneyIndependent1872–74
Eric RoozendaalMember of the Legislative CouncilLabor2004–13Minister in state government
Julian SalomonsMember of the Legislative CouncilIndependent1870–711887–99Minister in state government

Chief Justice of New South Wales

Sir Saul SamuelMLC for counties of Roxburgh, Phillip and WellingtonOrange

Wellington

Member of the Legislative Council

Independent1854–561859–80Minister in state governmentReceived baronet
Leon SniderMember of the Legislative CouncilLiberal

Country Party

1943–65

Northern Territory

!Name!Electorate!Party!Years!Notes!Source
Jon IsaacsMillnerLabor1977–81Leader of the Opposition[6]

Queensland

!Name!Electorate!Party!Years!Notes!Source
Louis GoldringFlindersIndependent1888–93Mayor of Hughenden
Jacob HorwitzWarwickLiberal Party1878–87Mayor of Warwick
Francis Benjamin KatesDarling DownsCunninghamIndependent1878–811883–88

1899–1903

Isidor LissnerKennedyCairnsMinisterialist1883–931896–99

South Australia

!Name!Electorate!Party!Years!Notes!Source
Sir Lewis CohenNorth AdelaideAdelaideIndependentADL1887–931902–06Mayor of Adelaide
Morris Lyon MarksThe Burra and ClareIndependent1857–58
Maurice SalomMLC for South AustraliaIndependent1882–91
Emanuel SolomonWest Adelaide

MLC for South Australia

Independent1862–651867–71
Judah Moss SolomonCity of AdelaideMLC for South Australia

West Adelaide

Independent1858–601861–65

1871–75

Mayor of Adelaide
Saul SolomonEast TorrensIndependent1887–90
Vaiben Louis SolomonNorthern TerritoryIndependentNational Defence League1890–19011905–08Premier of South AustraliaAlso served in federal parliament

Tasmania

!Name!Electorate!Party!Years!Notes!Source
Joseph CohenLauncestonIndependent1860–61
John DaviesHobart TownDevon

Franklin

Independent1884–1913Mayor of Hobart

Victoria

!Name!Electorate!Party!Years!Notes!Source
Sir Benjamin BenjaminMLC for Melbourne ProvinceIndependent1889–92Mayor of Melbourne
David BornsteinBrunswick EastLabor1970–75
Edward CohenEast MelbourneIndependent1861–651868–77Mayor of Melbourne
Harold CohenCaulfieldMLC for Melbourne SouthNationalistUnited Australia Party1929–351935–43Minister in state government
Henry CohenMLC for Melbourne ProvinceNationalist1921–37Minister in state government
Philip DalidakisMLC for Southern Metropolitan RegionLabor2014–19Minister in state government [7]
Charles DyteBallarat EastIndependent1864–71
Benjamin FinkMaryborough and TalbotIndependent1883–89
Theodore FinkJolimont and West RichmondIndependent1894–1904
Adolphus GoldsmithMLC for Ripon, Hampden, Grenville and PolwarthIndependent1851–53
Paul HamerBox HillLabor2018–[8]
Max HirschMandurangMinisterial1902–03
Jennifer HuppertMLC for Southern MetropolitanLabor2009–10
Sir Isaac IsaacsBogongIndependent1892–1901
John Alfred IsaacsOvensIndependent1894–1902
Walter JonaHawthornLiberal1964–85Minister in state government
Daniel Barnet LazarusSandhurstIndependent1893–971900–02Mayor of Sandhurst
Nathaniel LeviMaryboroughEast Melbourne

MLC for North Yarra Province

Independent1860–651866–68

1892–1904

Jonas LevienSouth GrantBarwonIndependent1871–771880–1906Minister in state government
Archie MichaelisSt KildaUnited Australia PartyLiberal1932–52Speaker of the Legislative Assembly
Martin PakulaMLC for Western Metropolitan

Lyndhurst

Keysborough

Labor2006–2022Minister in state government
Pharez PhillipsMLC for North Western ProvinceIndependent1896–1901
Sidney RicardoSouth BourkeIndependent1857–59
Samuel SamuelDundasIndependent1892–92
Helen ShardeyElectoral district of CaulfieldLiberal1996–2010[9]
Baron SniderSt KildaMLC for Higinbotham ProvinceLiberal1955–66
David SouthwickCaulfieldLiberal2010–Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in Victoria since 2021
Emanuel SteinfeldMLC for WellingtonIndependent1892–93
Joseph SternbergMLC for Northern ProvinceMLC for BendigoIndependentNationalist1891–19021904–1928
Marsha ThomsonMLC for Melbourne NorthFootscrayLabor2006–18Minister in state government[10]
Evan ThornleyMLC for Southern MetropolitanLabor2006–08[11]
Ephraim ZoxEast MelbourneIndependent1877–99

Western Australia

!Name!Electorate!Party!Years!Notes!Source
Joe BerinsonMLC for North-East Metropolitan ProvinceMLC for North Central Metropolitan Province

MLC for North Metropolitan

Labor1980–93Also served in federal parliamentMinister in the Whitlam government
Harry BoanMetropolitan ProvinceMetropolitan-Suburban ProvinceWA Liberal PartyNationalist1917–181922–24
Matthew MossNorth FremantleMLC for West ProvinceIndependentWA Liberal Party1895–971900–01

1902–14

Minister in state government
Sir Charles NathanMLC for Metropolitan-Suburban ProvinceNationalist1930-34
Lionel SamsonMLC for Western AustralianIndependent1849–561859–68
Elias SolomonSouth FremantleIndependent1892–1901Mayor of FremantleAlso served in federal parliament

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Levi. Joshua. Record number of Jews elected. 2021-04-05. ajn.timesofisrael.com. en-US.
  2. Web site: Jewish Parliamentarians. Australian Jewish Historical Society.
  3. Web site: Kohn. Peter. Macnamara's first MP. 2021-04-05. ajn.timesofisrael.com. en-US.
  4. Web site: Michael Danby: A life in politics. 2021-04-05. ajn.timesofisrael.com. en-US.
  5. Web site: Narunsky. Gareth. Antisemitic email targets Phelps. 2021-04-05. ajn.timesofisrael.com. en-US.
  6. Web site: 2018-07-16. Walt Secord meets Darwin Jewry. 2021-04-07. J-Wire. en.
  7. Web site: Kohn. Peter. Dalidakis leaves politics. 2021-04-07. ajn.timesofisrael.com. en-US.
  8. Web site: Douglas . Carly . Southwick, Pakula seats at risk . The Australian Jewish News . 23 November 2021.
  9. Web site: Progressive Israeli Leaders Visit Australia World Union for Progressive Judaism. 2021-04-18. wupj.org.
  10. Web site: Kohn. Peter. Thomson quitting Parliament. 2021-04-07. ajn.timesofisrael.com. en-US.
  11. Web site: SINNOTT. ALEX. 2008-12-30. Exodus shocks family: Father supports exit from politics. 2021-04-07. The Standard. en-AU.

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