Political Career
Two years after his election to parliament, McClelland became a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry. He was Shadow Attorney-General 1998–2003, Shadow Minister for Workplace Relations 2001–03, Shadow Minister for Homeland Security 2003–05, Shadow Minister for Defence 2004–06 and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs 2006–07. In November 2007, Robert McClelland was appointed as the Attorney-General. As part of a cabinet reshuffle in December 2011 he was moved to oversee the portfolio of emergency management and housing.
After McClelland indicated on 8 October 2007 his party's disapproval of death sentences for all south Asian countries, his leader Kevin Rudd criticized the speech as "insensitive" because it was made on the eve of the anniversary of the Bali bombings. McClelland apologized, but critics called the positions inconsistent.
In the 2007 Federal election, McClelland was re-elected to the seat of Barton with a 4.53% swing toward the Labor Party. In the 2010 Federal election, McClelland was re-elected to the seat of Barton, but suffered an 8.08% swing against the Labor Party.
In February 2008, McClelland stated that it was unacceptable that the ACT government, which is proposing to allow same-sex couples to enter into unions, would give the right to hold public ceremonies to celebrate their unions. McClelland was criticised by Greens Senator Bob Brown, who said it was displaying the ugly face of Labor conservatism.
Read more about this topic: Robert McClelland (Australian Politician)
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