Rick Barker

Rick Barker (2011)

Richard "Rick" John Barker (born October 27, 1951 in Greymouth , West Coast , New Zealand ) is a New Zealand politician of the New Zealand Labor Party (NZLP) who was a member of the House of Representatives from 1993 to 2011 and was a minister several times.

Life

Union official and MP

Barker began studying at the University of Otago after finishing high school in Greymouth . He worked as a salesman, barman, warehouse worker, farm worker, truck driver and factory worker as well as a worker in a quarry. In addition, he began his engagement as a union function such as for example as secretary of the hotel workers union in the Otago region and as secretary of the hotel, boarding and restaurant workers union for Auckland and the North Island . In 1973 he joined the Labor Party as a member and was later National Secretary of the Service Workers 'Union and an executive member of the National Council of Trade Unions and Workers' Federations NZCTU (New Zealand Council of Trade Unions) .

On November 6, 1993 Barker was elected for the first time for the Labor Party as a member of the House of Representatives and represented in this until October 12, 1996 initially the constituency of Hastings . During that time he was a member of the State Enterprise Committee. He was re-elected to the House of Representatives in the constituency of Tukituki on October 12, 1996 and represented the constituency until September 17, 2005. First, between 1996 and 1999, he was Deputy Parliamentary Director of the opposition Labor Party (Junior Opposition Whip) and belonged as such from March 4, 1997 to October 19, 1999 also to the committee of parliamentary officials. Subsequently, between 1999 and 2002, he was senior deputy parliamentary director of the now ruling Labor Party (Senior Government Whip) and was also a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Rules of Procedure.

Minister and Deputy Speaker of Parliament

Second Clark cabinet from 2002 to 2005

On August 15, 2002, Barker was appointed by Prime Minister Helen Clark as Minister of Customs in her second cabinet , to which he was a member until October 19, 2005. During this time he was also Assistant Minister of Justice between August 15, 2002 and October 19, 2005, and Minister Assistant for Social Services and Employment from August 15, 2002 to May 19, 2003. He was one next to it on 27 August 2002 to 18 June 2003 the Parliamentary Committee on Local Government and Environment as a member and was further between 19 May 2003 and 19 October 2005 both Minister of the courts (Minister for Courts) as also Assistant Minister for Social Development and Employment. He was also a member of Parliament's Social Services Committee between October 8, 2003 and March 3, 2004.

In the second Clark cabinet, he was also Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector from August 24, 2004 to October 19, 2005 and, for a short time, Minister for Youth (Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector) between November 3 and December 21, 2004 (Minister of Youth Affairs) . In addition, he was Minister for Small Business from December 21, 2004 to October 19, 2005 .

Third Clark Cabinet from 2005 to 2008

In the elections on September 17, 2005, Barker was re-elected to the Labor Party's list as a member of the House of Representatives and was a member of it until November 26, 2011.

Shortly afterwards, on October 19, 2005, he was also appointed to the third cabinet of Prime Minister Helen Clark and until November 19, 2008 he was Minister of Civil Defense , Minister for the Courts, Minister of Internal Affairs ) as well as the Minister of Veterans' Affairs . He also served as Assistant Minister of Justice between November 5, 2007 and November 19, 2008.

Deputy Speaker of Parliament from 2008 to 2011

After the Labor Party's defeat in the elections on November 8, 2008, he was spokesman for his group for the courts and for veterans affairs between November 20, 2008 and November 26, 2011. At the same time, on December 9, 2008, Barker became Assistant Speaker and thus Deputy President of the House of Representatives. He held this function until April 5, 2011 and was also a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs between December 9, 2008 and May 19, 2011.

Most recently, Barker was Parliamentary Secretary of the opposition Labor Group (Chief Opposition Whip) from April 5 to October 20, 2011, after he ended his function as Deputy Speaker of Parliament . In addition, between April 6 and October 20, 2011, he was also a member of the Parliamentary Committee for Companies and the House of Representatives Committee on Rules of Procedure.

Barker is married to Jennifer Barker and has three children and the stepfather of two other children.

Web link

• Entry on the homepage of the New Zealand Parliament

Individual evidence

1. ^ New Zealand: Key Ministries