Jim Keeffe
Australian politician (1919–1988)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Bernard Keeffe (20 August 1919 – 15 May 1988) was an Australian politician who served in the Australian Senate as a Labor Senator for Queensland.
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Jim Keeffe | |
|---|---|
Keeffe in 1974 | |
| National President of the Labor Party | |
| In office July 1962 – August 1970 | |
| Preceded by | James Stout |
| Succeeded by | Tom Burns |
| Senator for Queensland | |
| In office 1 July 1965 – 4 February 1983 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 August 1919 Atherton, Queensland, Australia |
| Died | 15 May 1988 (aged 68) Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
| Party | Australian Labor Party |
| Occupation | Insurance salesman |
Early life
Born in Atherton, Queensland, he was educated at state schools before becoming a farm labourer and forestry worker. After serving in the military 1942–1945, he became an insurance and real-estate salesman.[1]
He became state secretary of the Coopers' Union, before serving as secretary of the Queensland Labor Party between 1960 and 1965, and as federal president from 1962 to 1970.[1]
Senator
In 1964, he was elected to the Australian Senate as a Labor Senator for Queensland, taking his seat in 1965. He remained a Senator until his retirement in 1983.[1]
In 1978, Keeffe ran a petition supporting the wishes of the Aboriginal people on Palm Island to retain their Aboriginal council. However the council was sacked by Joh Bjelke-Petersen's government in July 1978. This followed moves by the Queensland Government to hand over control of Palm Island to Townsville Council. The government ran a counter-petition, which, it was reported, carried forgeries and duplication of names; both petitions contained many of the same people's signatures.[2]
Later life and death
In May 1988, Keeffe visited Canberra for the opening of the New Parliament House.[3] On 15 May, he was found dead by his son when his returning train pulled into the station in Townsville.[4]
