Bob McMullan

Bob McMullan

Robert Francis (Bob) McMullan (born 10 December 1947) is an Australian former politician who represented the Australian Labor Party in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

He was born in Perth, Western Australia, and educated at the University of Western Australia, studying economics and arts. Active in the movement against the Vietnam War, McMullan was conscripted for military service in 1968 but successfully argued in court that he was a conscientious objector. McMullan became an industrial advocate for the trade unions, joining the Labor Party in 1973.

In 1975, McMullan became the Labor Party's Western Australian State Secretary. In 1981 he became National Secretary, based in Canberra, where he has lived ever since. He played a minor role in the 1983 election, at which Labor under Bob Hawke was successful..

On 19 January 2010, McMullan announced he would retire at the next federal election.