Chris Bourke

Chris Bourke
Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly
In office
1 June 2011 – 15 October 2016
Preceded byJon Stanhope
ConstituencyGinninderra
Personal details
NationalityAustralian
Political partyLabor Party
Alma materMelbourne University
ProfessionDentist
Websitechrisbourke.com.au

Christopher John Bourke is an Australian politician, a Labor member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Ginninderra from 2011 to 2016. He was the first Indigenous Australian elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly.[1] He filled the casual vacancy created by the resignation of former Chief Minister Jon Stanhope.[2]

Bourke grew up in country Australia.[3] He graduated from Melbourne University in 1982, where he was the first Indigenous Australian to complete a dentistry degree.[4] He undertook graduate studies at the University of Adelaide and the University of Sydney.[3] Prior to being elected in 2011, Bourke worked as a dentist, performing locum dentistry work in remote areas of Australia after a period of private practice in Canberra. He is President of the Indigenous Dentists' Association of Australia.[5]

  1. ^ "Bourke to be first indigenous MLA". The Canberra Times. 30 May 2011. Archived from the original on 18 August 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  2. ^ "Dr Chris Bourke officially declared elected to fill the casual vacancy". ACT Electoral Commission. 1 June 2011. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Dr Christopher Bourke". Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet. Archived from the original on 15 April 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  4. ^ "Congratulations Chris Bourke". Regional Development Australia, ACT. 1 June 2011. Archived from the original on 25 August 2011.
  5. ^ "Indigenous Dentists' Association of Australia". Archived from the original on 23 April 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2011.