John Charles Kerin was a Labor Party politician and economist who served in the House of Representatives from 1972 to 1975 and again from 1978 to 1993.
In both the Hawke and Keating governments, he held a number of top ministerial positions, including six months as Treasurer of Australia and eight years as Minister for Primary Industries and Energy, the latter for the longest term in Australian history. He sadly demised on 29 March 2023.
1. John Kerin’s birthday, age, and birthplace
Kerin was born in Bowral in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales.
2. John Kerin’s nationality, ethnicity
Kerin holds Australian citizenship. However, his ethnicity is unknown.
3. John Kerin’s religion
John Kerin believes in the Christianity faith.
4. John Kerin’s height and weight
The renowned economist stands 178cm tall and weighs 80 kg.
5. John Kerin’s educational background
He attended Hurlstone Agricultural High School and Bowral High School while growing up in a rural region. He worked as a chicken farmer before earning a Bachelor of Arts in 1967 from the University of New England, Armidale, and a Master of Economics in 1977 from the Australian National University.
Kerin worked at the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics while studying for his two degrees (ABARE).
6. John Kerin’s parents and siblings
There is no information available regarding his parents’ and siblings’ details.
7. John Kerin’s wife and children
The prominent economist has concealed his personal details from the limelight. Hence, there is no record available regarding his marital status.
However, John Kerin is reported to have 4 children with his first wife. But, their names, and occupations among other information concerning them have been kept discrete.
8. John Kerin’s companies/career
Kerin was elected to the House of Representatives for the seat of Macarthur in 1972 after joining the Labor Party as a student. He sat on the backbench during Whitlam’s administration, but lost his seat in Labor’s resounding defeat in the 1975 election, and returned to work at the ABARE.
Later, he was chosen as Labor’s candidate for the safe seat of Werriwa in a by-election conducted in 1978 due to the retirement of former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, who had held the seat since 1952.
Following Labor’s resounding victory in the 1983 election, newly elected Prime Minister Bob Hawke named Kerin as Minister for Primary Industries and Energy, citing Kerin’s extensive experience in economics as well as working on commodities and agricultural issues.
Kerin’s background made him an excellent choice for the position, and he held it for practically the entire period Hawke was Prime Minister, making him by far the longest-serving minister in this ministry in Australian history.
During his tenure as Minister of Primary Industries and Energy, Kerin was instrumental in the Hawke Government’s numerous economic changes, including the eventual elimination of most tariff safeguards on agricultural imports.
Kerin left parliament in 1993 and was appointed to a top position in the Australian Meat and Livestock Corporation, as well as other boards of charities and corporations.
Kerin stayed active in Australia on a variety of public policy topics.
He was named to the board of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in October 2008. He was named Distinguished Life Member of the Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society in 2008.
Kerin was appointed Chair of the Crawford Fund in October 2010, a position he held until early 2017. The Crawford Fund intends to strengthen Australia’s worldwide agricultural research, development, and education participation. In 2011, he resigned from the Labor Party’s New South Wales branch in protest over what he perceived as the organization’s growing centralized control over its operations.
He claimed that the party’s administrative arm had grown more involved in policy creation, leaving little possibility for meaningful participation by rank-and-file members.
9. John Kerin awards
The late economist is not a recipient of any popular awards as of the time of his death.
10. John Kerin’s home: Where does John Kerin live?
The renowned economist was residing in Bowral, New South Wales, Australia ·
11. John Kerin’s earnings and net worth
Kerin’s estimated net worth is $ USD 6 Million and his primary income was from politics and economics.
12. John Kerin’s social media pages
John Kerin’s Instagram page is: @johnhkerin
