Terry Roberts

Terance Gerald "Terry" Roberts (28 January 1946 – 18 February 2006) was a member of the South Australian Legislative Council between 1985 and 2006. At the time of his death, he was a Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation and Correctional Services in the South Australian government.

For other people named Terrence Roberts, see Terrence Roberts (disambiguation).

Terry Roberts
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation
Minister for Correctional Services
Member of the South Australian Legislative Council
In office
7 December 1985 (1985-12-07) – 18 February 2006 (2006-02-18)
Succeeded byBernard Finnigan
Personal details
Born
Terance Gerald Roberts

(1946-01-28)28 January 1946
Millicent, South Australia
Died18 February 2006(2006-02-18) (aged 60)
NationalityAustralian
Political partyLabor (SA)

Roberts was born and educated in Millicent, South Australia. After leaving school, he worked for several years as a ship's engineer and watchkeeper. He also had a brief stint working in parole and pre-release centre while working in London for a year. Roberts later worked as an official for the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU)[1] and was a member of the Australian Labor Party for most of his life.

He was elected to the Legislative Council in 1985 and served as a backbencher until 1993. After Labor went into Opposition, he was appointed as a Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Correctional Services.

Roberts was appointed to the Cabinet after the election of the Rann Government. As the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, he added more sacred sites to the Aboriginal Heritage Register than any other minister.

He was diagnosed as having pancreatic cancer in 2005 while surgery was being done on a bile duct obstruction. Roberts extended sick leave to undertake chemotherapy and radiation therapy before returning to work. While he returned to work in the middle of 2005, he died during February 2006.

The vacancy created in the upper house was filled in May 2006 by Bernard Finnigan.

References
  1. Mayne, Stephen (25 January 2006). "Tracking the unionists in parliament". Crikey. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
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