Albert Jacob
{{Short description|Australian politician (born 1980)}}
{{for|the British politician|Albert Jacob (British politician)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix = The Honourable
| name = Albert Jacob
|honorific-suffix =JP
| image = AlbertJacobProfile.jpg
| assembly = Western Australian Legislative
| constituency_AM = Ocean Reef
| constituency =
|term_start = 6 September 2008
|term_end = 11 March 2017
| footnotes =
| signature =
| majority =
| party = Liberal
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|3|16|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Subiaco, Western Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| spouse =
| children =
| residence =
| alma_mater = University of Western Australia
| website =
| awards = 2004 UWA "Association of Consulting Architects Prize"
}}
Albert Paul Jacob (born 16 March 1980) is an Australian politician. He is the current mayor of the City of Joondalup. He was the member for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Ocean Reef from 2008 to 2017, and the Minister for the Environment and Heritage in Colin Barnett's government.{{cite web | url=https://www.premier.wa.gov.au/MINISTERS/Pages/Default.aspx | title=WA Cabinet Ministers | publisher=Department of Premier and Cabinet | access-date=14 April 2016 | archive-date=22 May 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522225948/https://www.premier.wa.gov.au/Ministers/pages/default.aspx | url-status=dead }} He had previously served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services; Seniors and Volunteering and Youth, from June 2012 to March 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/ParliamentaryHandbook/23rd%20Edition%20of%20the%20Parliament%20Handbook%20-%20Final%20Version.pdf |title=23rd Edition of the Parliamentary Handbook |publisher=Parliament of Western Australia |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183010/http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/ParliamentaryHandbook/23rd%20Edition%20of%20the%20Parliament%20Handbook%20-%20Final%20Version.pdf |archivedate=3 March 2016 }} His seat was abolished prior to the 2017 state election and he was defeated contesting Burns Beach.
Early life
Jacob was born in Subiaco, Western Australia on 16 March 1980. He grew up in Wanneroo, and was educated at Kingsway Christian College. He was a horticulturist before studying at the University of Western Australia and graduating with a Bachelor of Environmental Design, and a Masters in Architecture.{{cite web | url=http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament/memblist.nsf/(MemberPics)/442242C28559C622C82574D00020298F/$file/Inaug+Jacob+final.pdf | title=Inaugural Speech - Mr Albert Jacob MLA | publisher= Parliament of Western Australia}}
Jacob has always lived in the northern suburbs of Perth.
Politics
Jacob's career in state parliament began on 6 September 2008 when he was elected the inaugural member for the Western Australian state seat of Ocean Reef.{{cite web | url=https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/parliament%5CMemblist.nsf/WAllMembersFlat/Jacob,+Albert+Paul?opendocument | title=Hon. Albert Paul Jacob MLA | publisher=Parliament of Western Australia | access-date=23 April 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181134/http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Parliament/Memblist.nsf/WAllMembersFlat/Jacob,+Albert+Paul?opendocument | archive-date=3 March 2016 | url-status=dead }} Prior to that he had served almost three years on the Joondalup City Council in the North Central Ward.
He was appointed Environment and Heritage Minister in March 2013, following the re-election of the Liberal-National coalition government. Then aged 33, his appointment saw him become one of the youngest ministers ever appointed in Western Australia.
Jacob's other committee and community activities include having been the inaugural chair of both the Tamala Park Coastal Reserve Community Advisory Committee and the Mitchell Freeway Extension Community Reference Group, as well as serving as a local Justice of the Peace. He was the inaugural deputy chair of the Ocean Reef Marina Committee, and was also the deputy chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Community Development and Justice for four years.{{cite web | url=https://www.wa.liberal.org.au/state/albertjacob/full | title=Albert Jacob MLA | publisher=Liberal Party of Australia (Western Australian Division), Western Australian Division | access-date=23 April 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513182822/https://www.wa.liberal.org.au/state/albertjacob/full | archive-date=13 May 2016 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}
=Environment and heritage=
In June 2013, Jacob oversaw creation of the Department of Parks and Wildlife along with the Department of Environment Regulation, replacing the Department of Environment and Conservation.
He also introduced an $81.5 million Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy to provide for long-term conservation of the Kimberley region, particularly the protection of the region's unique animals, plants and marine environment. He also oversaw the $21-million Parks for People initiative, proposing to create 450 new camp and caravan sites in 16 of the state's national parks. Immediately following the defeat of the Barnett Government in March 2017, those departments and projects were merged into the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA).
As Heritage Minister, Jacob established a Heritage Revolving Fund to provide seed money for refurbishment of government-owned heritage buildings. Proceeds from the sale of these properties would fund future projects.{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/publications/tabledpapers.nsf/displaypaper/4010615aff26a719b3a700374825819a0019a8ac/$file/615.pdf |title=Heritage Revolving Fund – Heritage Works |work= Heritage Council Annual Report 2016-17 |page=44 | publisher= State Heritage Office}}
=Local government=
Jacob was elected Mayor of the City of Joondalup in October 2017, succeeding Troy Pickard.{{cite web |last1=Bianchini |first1=Justin |title=Former Ocean Reef MLA Albert Jacob elected Joondalup mayor |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/community-news/joondalup-times/former-ocean-reef-mla-albert-jacob-elected-joondalup-mayor-c-829080 |website=PerthNow |access-date=14 January 2022 |date=21 October 2017}} He was re-elected in October 2021. His term expires in October 2025.{{cite web |last1=Law |first1=Peter |title=Council elections: Former Eagles coach Ron Alexander elected to City of Vincent council |url=https://thewest.com.au/news/perth/council-elections-find-out-who-are-your-new-councillors-ng-b882042273z |website=The West Australian |access-date=21 October 2021 |date=17 October 2021 |url-access=subscription}}{{cite web |last1=de Kruijff |first1=Peter |title=Local government elections: New era in Fremantle, a former Eagle rises and a recount in Perth |url=https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/western-australia/local-government-elections-new-era-in-fremantle-a-former-eagle-rises-and-a-recount-in-perth-20210910-p58qnk.html |website=WAtoday |access-date=21 October 2021 |date=17 October 2021}} Jacob believes that voting in local government elections should be compulsory.{{cite web |last1=Brown |first1=Tyler |title=Joondalup mayor Albert Jacob wants compulsory voting, will run again at Local Government election |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/local-news/perthnow-joondalup/joondalup-mayor-albert-jacob-wants-compulsory-voting-will-run-again-at-local-government-election-c-3698003 |website=Perth Now |access-date=21 October 2021 |date=18 August 2021}}
=Senate speculation=
In November 2020, it was reported that religious conservatives in the WA Liberal Party had wanted to remove WA Liberal senator, Dean Smith, from the party's ticket for the next Senate election, in favour of Albert Jacob.{{cite news |last1=Law |first1=Peter |title=WA Liberals plot to drop same-sex marriage champion Senator Dean Smith |url=https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/wa-liberals-plot-to-drop-same-sex-marriage-champion-senator-dean-smith-ng-b881711692z |access-date=2021-01-25 |work=The West Australian |date=2020-11-05|url-access=subscription}} These claims were later shown to be unfounded.{{cite web |url=https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/western-australia/liberal-factions-fend-off-push-to-unseat-wa-senator-over-same-sex-marriage-support-20201105-p56bu2.html|title=Liberal factions fend off push to unseat WA senator over same-sex marriage support|publisher=WAtoday|date=6 November 2020}}
=Controversy=
As the WA Environment Minister, Albert Jacob supported clearing natural bushland for the controversial Roe 8 road project. [https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/wa-environment-minister-comfortable-with-bulldozing-bushland-for-roe-8-20170112-gtpvnr.html WA environment minister 'comfortable' with bulldozing bushland for Roe 8]. In April 2024, Jacob apologized to council members for breaching conduct by using profanity and slamming a desk during a CEO Performance Review Committee.{{cite web | url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/local-news/perthnow-joondalup/joondalup-mayor-apologises-over-slamming-desk-throwing-pen-and-saying-you-are-all-f-to-committee-c-14651742 | title='You are all f*****': Mayor apologises for shocking outburst | date=16 May 2024 }}
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|au-wa-la}}
{{s-new|seat}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member for Ocean Reef|years=2008–2017}}
{{s-non|reason=Abolished}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jacob, Albert}}
Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Western Australia
Category:Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Category:Politicians from Perth, Western Australia
Category:21st-century Australian politicians