Stephen Martin (Australian politician)


Stephen Paul Martin is a former Australian politician, senior academic and rugby league referee. He served as an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives for the seat of Macarthur, south west of Sydney, from 1984–1993; and, following redistribution, represented Cunningham from 1993 until his resignation in 2002. Martin was the Chief Executive of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia from January 2011 until his retirement in April 2017.

Early life

Martin was born in Wollongong, New South Wales and received a BA at the Australian National University, an MA at the University of Alberta, a Master of Town and Country Planning at the University of Sydney, a Diploma of Education at the University of New South Wales and a PhD at the University of Wollongong. Prior to entering parliament, Martin served as a high school teacher with the New South Wales Department of Education, a lecturer at the University of Wollongong, and a Town Planner with the NSW Department of Environment and Planning serving as Regional Manager for the Macarthur Region. He also served as an Alderman on Wollongong City Council from 1983–1985.

Rugby league career

Martin had a successful career as a rugby league referee and administrator.
In 1984 Martin refereed the Illawarra Rugby League first grade grand final, a feat that was subsequently acknowledged in Hansard. Martin was also the Referees' Association Treasurer in 1979–80 and Secretary in 1981–82.
Martin subsequently became a director of the Illawarra Steelers. He resigned from the board of directors in 1995 in protest of the club's refusal to open talks with News Limited during the Super League War and the sacking of coach Graham Murray.

Political career

Martin served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade from 27 December 1991 to 24 March 1993 and was elected Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives on 4 May 1993, a position that he held until the election of the Howard government in 1996.
During his time as Speaker, he became the first Speaker to be given the power to suspend a member of the House for one hour without a vote by House members.
Martin resigned on 16 August 2002 causing a by-election which was subsequently won by Michael Organ running for the Australian Greens.

After politics

After a period as President of the University of Wollongong campus in Dubai, Martin took the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor at Victoria University in Melbourne in January 2005. His major contributions were to transform Victoria University's international operations and to create Victoria University International as a unit of the University.
In March 2008 Martin became Deputy Vice Chancellor at Curtin University of Technology in Perth. In April 2009 he took up the position of Senior Consultant with the Slade Group in Melbourne.
In June 2010, Martin joined the Southern Cross University Graduate College of Management in the role of Professor of Business Research and director of the Doctor of Business Administration program and left in November 2010.
Martin was appointed to the Chief Executive of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia on 1 January 2011.