Albert Jacob

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.[1] He had previously served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services; Seniors and Volunteering and Youth, from June 2012 to March 2013.[2] His seat was abolished prior to the 2017 state election and he was defeated contesting Burns Beach.

The Honourable Albert Jacob JP
Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for Ocean Reef
In office 6 September 2008 – 11 March 2017
Personal details
Born	16 March 1980 Subiaco, Western Australia
Political party	Liberal
Alma mater	University of Western Australia
Awards	2004 UWA "Association of Consulting Architects Prize"
Website	albertjacob.net

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.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5]

Environment & Heritage

Jacob oversaw a number of major changes to the environment portfolio, including fulfilling an election commitment to create a dedicated department to manage the State's national parks and conservation estate, and a separate regulatory department. In June 2013, the Department of Parks and Wildlife was created, along with the Department of Environment Regulation, replacing the Department of Environment and Conservation.[1]

Jacob oversaw the successful introduction of the $81.5 million Kimberly Science and Conservation Strategy. The strategy was designed to provide for the long-term conservation of the Kimberly region, particularly the protection of the region's unique animals, plants and marine environment.[1] He also oversaw the $21million Parks for People initiative, which proposed to create 450 new camp and caravan sites in 16 of the State's national parks.[1]

As Heritage Minister, Jacob established an Australian-first Heritage Revolving Fund. The fund was created to provide seed money to government-owned heritage buildings so they could be revitalised.[6]

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. The move was interpreted as retribution for Smith's strong advocacy of marriage equality in 2017.[7]

References

1. "WA Cabinet Ministers". Department of Premier and Cabinet.
2. "23rd Edition of the Parliamentary Handbook" (PDF). Parliament of Western Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016.
3. "Inaugural Speech - Mr Albert Jacob MLA" (PDF). Parliament of Western Australia.
4. "Hon. Albert Paul Jacob MLA". Parliament of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
5. "Albert Jacob MLA". Liberal Party of Australia (Western Australian Division), Western Australian Division. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
6. "Revolving fund to revitalise WA's heritage". State Heritage Office.
7. Law, Peter (5 November 2020). "WA Liberals plot to drop same-sex marriage champion Senator Dean Smith". The West Australian. Retrieved 25 January 2021.