Senator Evans was elected to Federal Parliament in 1993.
He was Chair of the Joint Native Title Committee and was appointed as the Opposition Whip in the Senate following the 1996 Election.
He was appointed to the Shadow Ministry after the 1998 Election as the Shadow Minister for Family Services and the Aged. Following the 2001 election he was appointed Shadow Minister for Defence, and in 2004 became the Shadow Minister for Defence Procurement, Science and Personnel.
In October 2004 Chris was elected as the Federal Labor Leader in the Senate, and also became the Shadow Minister for Social Security. In June 2005 he became Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services, and in December 2006 became Shadow Minister for National Development, Resources and Energy.
Chris's work within the ALP has spanned a number of policy areas. He has served on the Party's National Executive and has convened Labor's National Social Justice Policy Committee.
Prior to entering Federal Parliament he was the State Secretary of the Labor Party's WA Branch and before that was Secretary of the Fire Fighters Union in WA.
Chris is married with two sons. He is very keen about rugby and is also stubbornly loyal to the Fremantle Dockers Football Club.
Chris Evans is the duty senator for Curtin, Forrest and Stirling.
Electorate Profile
Curtin
State:
WA
Name Derivation:
Named after John Curtin 1885-1945, Prime Minister of Australia 1941-45.
Area and Location Description:
Curtin covers an area of approximately 104 sq km west of Perth, bordered by the Indian Ocean In the west and the Swan River in the south. The main suburbs include Churchlands, City Beach, Claremont, Cottesloe, Crawley, Dalkeith, Daglish, Doubleview (part), Floreat, Glendalough, Jolimont, Leederville, Mosman Park, Mount Claremont, Mount Hawthorn, Nedlands, North Perth (part), Osborne Park (part), Peppermint Grove, Scarborough (part), Shenton Park, Subiaco, Swanbourne, Wembley, Wembley Downs, West Leederville, West Perth (part) and Woodlands.
Products/Industries of the Area:
Mainly residential and recreational, light retail and hospitality. University of Western Australia is in the south-east of the division.
First Proclaimed/Election:
1948/1949
Demographic Rating:
Inner Metropolitan
Members:
- Bishop, J (LP) 1998-
- Rocher, A (LP/IND) 1981-1998
- Garland, R V (LP) 1969-1981
- Hasluck, P M C (LP) 1949-1969
Forrest
State:
WA
Name Derivation:
Named after Sir John (later Lord) Forrest 1847-1918, the first Premier of Western Australia 1890-1901.
Area and Location Description:
Forrest covers an area of approximately 12 781 sq km encompassing the south west corner of Western Australia from the Shire of Harvey and Collie in the north to the Shires of Augusta-Margaret River and Nannup in the south. The main towns include Augusta, Australind, Bunbury, Busselton, Capel, Collie, Donnybrook, Dunsborough, Eaton, Harvey, Margaret River, Nannup and Yallingup.
Products/Industries of the Area:
Agriculture (beef and dairy cattle, sheep, fruit and vegetables, wine, flowers), forestry, mining (coal and mineral sands), fisheries, manufacturing, commerce and tourism.
First Proclaimed/Election:
1922
Demographic Rating:
Rural
Members:
- Marino, N (LP) 2007-
- Prosser, G (LP) 1987-2007
- Drummond, P H (LP) 1972-1987
- Kirwan, F (ALP) 1969-1972
- Freeth, G (LP) 1949-1969
- Lemmon, N (ALP) 1943-1949
- Prowse, J H (CP) 1922-1943
Stirling
State:
WA
Name Derivation:
Named after Sir James Stirling 1791-1865, the first Governor of Western Australia.
Area and Location Description:
Stirling covers an area of approximately 77 sq km from the Indian Ocean to the west and Mirrabooka and Dianella in the east. Suburbs include Balcatta, Balga, Carine, Gwelup, Hamersley, Karrinyup, Mirrabooka, Nollamara, North Beach, Scarborough, Stirling and Westminster, and parts of Dianella, Doubleview, Innaloo, Woodlands and Yokine.
Products/Industries of the Area:
Light industrial areas at Osborne Park and Balcatta, market gardens, boat building, shoe factories, food processing, clothing and chemical production.
First Proclaimed/Election:
1955
Demographic Rating:
Inner Metropolitan
Members:
- Keenan, M (LP) 2004-
- McFarlane, J (ALP) 1998-2004
- Cameron, E (LP) 1993-1998
- Edwards, R F (ALP) 1983-1993
- Viner, R I (LP) 1972-1983
- Webb, C H (ALP) 1961-1972
- Cash, E D (LP) 1958-1961
- Webb, C H (ALP) 1955-1958