About John

John Hargreaves MLA has been a Member of the Legislative Assembly since 1998. He has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in political history.

Born in Birmingham, UK in 1949, John at the age of three migrated with his family to Australia. His family spent their first few years in Australia in a migrant hostel on the outskirts of Sydney, an experience that has contributed significantly to his principled views in support of multiculturalism and against the incarceration of refugee children in detention centres.

As the son of an Air Force officer, John's family moved frequently with him attending school in NSW, Victoria and WA as well as Malaysia. He is married, has two daughters and four grandchildren.

Before his election, John was active in the Tuggeranong community serving on the Tuggeranong Community Council, the Tuggeranong Festival Committee and Erindale College Board and Calwell High School Board. Prior to his election, John had a 29 year career as a public servant, in the departments of Health and Education. In 1994 he received the Long and Dedicated Service Award.

As a member of the Australian Labor Party, John believes strongly in the benefits of self government, based firmly on the principle of ‘no taxation without representation'. From November 2004 to October 2009, John was Minister for Urban Services and subsequently, Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Environment and Minister for Heritage, Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services, Minister for Corrections and Minister for Industrial Relations.

John now serves as the Government whip and sits on a number of ACT Legislative Assembly committees.