Graham Perrett
{{Short description|Australian politician (born 1966)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Graham Perrett
| honorific-suffix =
| image = Graham Perrett MP (cropped).jpg
| caption = Perrett in 2013
| constituency_MP = Moreton
| parliament = Australian
| majority =
| predecessor = Gary Hardgrave
| successor = Julie-Ann Campbell
| term_start = 24 November 2007
| term_end = 28 March 2025
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1966|1|5}}
| birth_place = St George, Queensland, Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Australian
| party = Australian Labor Party
| relations =
| children = 2
| residence =
| alma_mater = University of Queensland
Queensland University of Technology
| occupation = Solicitor
| profession =
| signature =
| website = {{URL|https://www.grahamperrett.net.au/}}
| footnotes =
}}
Graham Douglas Perrett (born 5 January 1966) is an Australian politician who was a member of the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2025, representing the Queensland seat of Moreton for the Australian Labor Party (ALP). He worked as a schoolteacher, solicitor, and political staffer before entering parliament.
Early life
Perrett was born in St George in Queensland in 1966 (seventh child in a family of ten children),{{cite web|url=http://www.alp.org.au/people/qld/perrett_graham.php|title=Graham Perrett – Member for Moreton|publisher=Australian Labor Party|access-date=1 December 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070829201221/http://alp.org.au/people/qld/perrett_graham.php |archive-date = 29 August 2007}} and received a diploma of teaching in 1985.{{cite web|url=http://www.labor4moreton.com/about.shtml|title=About Graham|publisher=Labor for Moreton|access-date=2 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707235625/http://www.labor4moreton.com/about.shtml|archive-date=7 July 2007|url-status=dead}} He taught for three years in schools on the Darling Downs and Far North Queensland, then another eight years in Brisbane.
In 1993, Perrett completed a BA (Hons) through the University of Queensland. His thesis was a study of The Autobiography of Malcolm X. He later received an LL.B. from Queensland University of Technology in 1999. He worked as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland from 1999 to 2005 in Quinn & Scattini.{{cite web |url=http://quinnscattini.com.au/gperret.htm |title=Quinn & Scattini Solicitors |website=quinnscattini.com.au |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000523154142/http://quinnscattini.com.au/gperret.htm |archive-date=23 May 2000 |url-status=dead}} After working with the Queensland Independent Education Union as an organiser he was given a role as a senior policy adviser to the Premier of Queensland, Peter Beattie, in 2005, and later for the Minister for Health, Stephen Robertson.
Politics
Perrett ran unsuccessfully for the federal seat of Moreton in 2004. He was elected to Moreton at the 2007 election{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22817263-952,00.html |title=Graham Perrett takes back Moreton after 11 years |work=The Courier Mail|publisher=News.com.au |author=Hannah Davies |date=24 November 2007|access-date=2 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071127010611/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0%2C23739%2C22817263-952%2C00.html |archive-date=27 November 2007}} where he ended Gary Hardgrave's 11-year term in office with a 7.6-point swing.{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,%2022820312-5013650,00.html |title=New faces ride wave of change |work=The Courier Mail|publisher=News.com.au |author=Sam Strutt |date=26 November 2007|access-date=2 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128035008/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0%2C23739%2C%2022820312-5013650%2C00.html |archive-date=28 November 2007}} Perrett described the victory as surprising, stating "In my wildest dreams I certainly didn't expect that the seat would be decided as early as it was". Perrett claimed the victory, over a former multicultural affairs minister, could be put down to the fact that "people are ready for hope and aren't prepared to stick with the tired old fear factor of John Howard".
In the 2007 Moreton campaign Perrett's rival, Gary Hardgrave, complained of being branded a "racist", after the standing member said that Moreton was being "exhausted" by the influx of African refugees. Perrett campaigned primarily on issues relating to health and education in the lead up to the election, whilst Hardgrave focused primarily on roads, according to a radio interview.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2004/s1206446.htm|title=Hardgrave and Perrett battle it out for Moreton|work=The World Today|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|author=Eleanor Hall|date=24 September 2007|access-date=2 December 2007}}
Perrett was appointed as a government whip in May 2013, holding the position until Labor's defeat at the 2013 election. He was appointed as a shadow parliamentary secretary in Bill Shorten's shadow ministry in May 2014 and was also reappointed as a whip in August 2016. Perrett remained as a shadow assistant minister under Anthony Albanese when he replaced Shorten as leader in June 2019. He was not included in the Albanese ministry after Labor won the 2022 election, but was appointed chair of the Joint Statutory Committee on Public Works.{{cite Au Parliament |mpid=HVP |name=Mr Graham Perrett MP |access-date=2021-11-10}}
In August 2024, Perrett announced that he would not re-contest his seat at the 2025 federal election.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/aug/21/labor-left-warrior-graham-perrett-to-retire-after-almost-20-years-in-federal-parliament|title=Labor left warrior Graham Perrett to retire after almost 20 years in federal parliament|first=Amy|last=Remeikis|publisher=Guardian Australia|access-date=22 August 2024|date=22 August 2024}}
Personal life
Perrett lives in Moorooka, Queensland with his wife Lea and has two sons.://www.alp.org.au/our-people/our-people/graham-perrett/{{as of?|date=August 2024}}
Perrett published his first novel, The Twelfth Fish, in October 2008. The sex scenes in The Twelfth Fish drew attention from the political class and the media. In the lead-up to the 2010 federal election a Christian group put out a flyer calling Perrett the "Member for Porn". He retained his seat and went on to publish a sequel in September 2013, The Big Fig.{{Cite book | url=http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/6258247 | title=National Library of Australia | year=2013 | publisher=Boolarong Press | isbn=9781922109866 | oclc=846537011 | access-date=8 October 2014 | archive-date=13 October 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013041430/http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/6258247 | url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url = http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/federal-mp-graham-perrett-releases-second-saucy-book-20130926-2ufus.html|title = The Sydney Morning Herald| date=26 September 2013 }}
In his teaching days Perrett played in a band called Once I Killed a Gopher with a Stick and remains a fan of music and literature. He enjoys writing and bushwalking.{{Cite web|url = http://www.vulgar.com.au/12thfish.html|title = Biography published by The Vulgar Press|access-date = 12 November 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081013114607/http://vulgar.com.au/12thfish.html|archive-date = 13 October 2008|url-status = dead}}
Perrett attracted international attention and ridicule after tweeting about facial injuries he suffered while watching an episode of political satire Veep. Perrett suffered a black eye and received three stitches in his cheek after knocking himself unconscious.{{Cite news |date=2017-05-04 |title=Federal MP laughed so hard at Veep he choked, got a black eye |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-04/federal-mp-laughed-so-hard-at-veep-he-choked/8496936 |access-date=2022-05-09}}
Electoral history
{{Electoral history begin|title=House of Representatives{{Cite web |date=2005-11-09 |title=QLD DIVISION - MORETON - AEC Virtual Tally Room |url=https://results.aec.gov.au/12246/results/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-12246-173.htm |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=AEC Virtual Tally Room}}{{Cite web |date=2007-12-11 |title=House of Representatives Division First Preferences |url=https://results.aec.gov.au/13745/Website/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-13745-173.htm |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=AEC Virtual Tally Room |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2010-09-09 |title=House of Representatives Division First Preferences |url=https://results.aec.gov.au/15508/Website/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-15508-173.htm |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=AEC Virtual Tally Room |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2013-10-04 |title=House of Representatives Division First Preferences |url=https://results.aec.gov.au/17496/Website/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-17496-173.htm |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=AEC Virtual Tally Room |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2016-07-27 |title=Moreton, QLD - AEC Tally Room |url=https://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/HouseDivisionPage-20499-173.htm |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=AEC Tally Room |archive-date=4 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240404102243/https://results.aec.gov.au/20499/Website/HouseDivisionPage-20499-173.htm |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2019-06-06 |title=Moreton, QLD - AEC Tally Room |url=https://results.aec.gov.au/24310/Website/HouseDivisionPage-24310-173.htm |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=AEC Tally Room}}{{Cite web |date=2022-06-16 |title=Moreton, QLD - AEC Tally Room |url=https://results.aec.gov.au/27966/Website/HouseDivisionPage-27966-173.htm |access-date=2024-04-11 |website=AEC Tally Room |archive-date=12 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240412125347/https://results.aec.gov.au/27966/Website/HouseDivisionPage-27966-173.htm |url-status=live }}
}}
{{Electoral history election
|rows = 8
|electorate = Moreton
|party = labor
|year = 2004
|votes_firstpreference = 30,828
|percent_firstpreference = 39.12
|change_firstpreference = {{increase}} {{figure space|2}}0.14
|position = Second
|votes_twocandidate = 36,118
|percent_twocandidate = 45.83
|change_twocandidate = {{decrease}} {{figure space|2}}1.61
|elected = Not Elected
|year2 = 2007
|votes_firstpreference2 = 37,908
|percent_firstpreference2 = 47.11
|change_firstpreference2 = {{increase}} {{figure space|2}}7.27
|position2 = First
|votes_twocandidate2 = 44,055
|percent_twocandidate2 = 54.75
|change_twocandidate2 = {{increase}} {{figure space|2}}7.58
|elected2 = Elected
|year3 = 2010
|votes_firstpreference3 = 29,190
|percent_firstpreference3 = 36.01
|change_firstpreference3 = {{decrease}} 12.12
|position3 = Second
|votes_twocandidate3 = 41,147
|percent_twocandidate3 = 51.13
|change_twocandidate3 = {{decrease}} {{figure space|2}}4.88
|elected3 = Elected
|year4 = 2013
|votes_firstpreference4 = 31,932
|percent_firstpreference4 = 38.73
|change_firstpreference4 = {{increase}} {{figure space|2}}2.72
|position4 = Second
|votes_twocandidate4 = 42,503
|percent_twocandidate4 = 51.55
|change_twocandidate4 = {{increase}} {{figure space|2}}0.42
|elected4 = Elected
|year5 = 2016
|votes_firstpreference5 = 31,342
|percent_firstpreference5 = 36.90
|change_firstpreference5 = {{decrease}} {{figure space|2}}1.83
|position5 = Second
|votes_twocandidate5 = 45,892
|percent_twocandidate5 = 54.02
|change_twocandidate5 = {{increase}} {{figure space|2}}2.47
|elected5 = Elected
|year6 = 2019
|votes_firstpreference6 = 31,864
|percent_firstpreference6 = 35.15
|change_firstpreference6 = {{decrease}} {{figure space|2}}1.60
|position6 = Second
|votes_twocandidate6 = 47,045
|percent_twocandidate6 = 51.90
|change_twocandidate6 = {{decrease}} {{figure space|2}}2.12
|elected6 = Elected
|year7 = 2022
|votes_firstpreference7 = 34,633
|percent_firstpreference7 = 37.42
|change_firstpreference7 = {{increase}} {{figure space|2}}2.27
|position7 = First
|votes_twocandidate7 = 54,690
|percent_twocandidate7 = 59.09
|change_twocandidate7 = {{increase}} {{figure space|2}}7.19
|elected7 = Elected
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|au}}
{{s-bef|before=Gary Hardgrave}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member for Moreton|years=2007–2025}}
{{s-aft|after=Julie-Ann Campbell}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perrett, Graham}}
Category:Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Australia
Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Moreton
Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives
Category:Queensland University of Technology alumni
Category:Labor Left politicians
Category:21st-century Australian novelists
Category:University of Queensland alumni
Category:Australian solicitors
Category:People from St George, Queensland
Category:Australian MPs 2007–2010
Category:Australian MPs 2010–2013
Category:Australian MPs 2013–2016
Category:Australian MPs 2016–2019