Eric Bedford

For the British architect, see Eric Bedford (architect).

The Honourable
Eric Bedford
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for Fairfield
In office
24 February 1968 – 28 August 1981
Preceded byJack Ferguson
Succeeded byJanice Crosio
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for Cabramatta
In office
19 September 1981 – 31 December 1985
Preceded byDistrict created
Succeeded byJohn Newman
Personal details
Born
Eric Lance Bedford

(1928-02-19)19 February 1928
Concord, New South Wales, Australia
Died8 July 2006(2006-07-08) (aged 78)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Political partyLabor Party

Eric Lance Bedford (18 February 1928 – 8 July 2006) was an Australian politician, affiliated with the Labor Party and elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

Bedford was born at Concord, NSW, and attended Fort Street Boys High School before studying at Sydney Teachers College and embarking on a teaching career in country areas. He took an Arts degree through external study and returned to teach at Liverpool Boys High School and later Bankstown Girls High School. After high school, he went to the University of New England .[1]

While at Liverpool Boys High, Bedford met Gough Whitlam and enquired about rejoining the Labor Party, of which he had been a member in his youth. He later served as Gough Whitlam's campaign director at the 1966 election, and Whitlam persuaded Eric to stand for state parliament in the seat of Fairfield, which was vacant as a result of a redistribution.[1]

Bedford won the seat and served as the Member for Fairfield between 1968 and 1981 and then represented the seat of Cabramatta. He served as the Minister for Education in the Wran Government from May 1976 to February 1980. He then served as Minister for Planning and the Environment, Minister for Industry and Minister for Small Business until the end of his political career in 1985.[2]

He received the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 and was invested with the Red Danice Hrvatske (Order of the Croatian Daystar) for services to education. In 1986 he was granted permission to retain the title "The Honourable".[3]

Bedford died in Sydney on 8 July 2006(2006-07-08) (aged 78).[2]

  1. ^ a b Irwin, Julia (16 August 2006). "The Hon Eric Bedford MP" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Commonwealth of Australia: House of Representatives. p. 149. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b "The Hon. Eric Lance Bedford (1928–2006)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  3. ^ "Part 9 Members and ex-Members granted permission to retain the title of 'The Honourable'" (PDF). NSW Parliamentary Record. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 31 October 2021.