12 Facts About Barney Cooney

Bernard Cornelius Cooney was an Australian politician.

Barney Cooney was born at Currie on King Island in Tasmania.

Barney Cooney's family moved to the regional Victorian town of Culgoa in 1937, and subsequently moved through several other Victorian towns and suburbs: Deer Park, Gunbower, Yarck and South Melbourne.

Barney Cooney was educated at the Cohuna and Alexandra high schools and at St Kevin's College in Melbourne, before studying law at the University of Melbourne.

Barney Cooney undertook his articled clerkship with Melbourne firm Alexander Grant Dickson and King, and was admitted to the bar in 1961.

Barney Cooney practised largely in personal injury and industrial law.

Barney Cooney served on a wide range of parliamentary committees and chaired several, including the Scrutiny of Bills Committee.

Barney Cooney argued strongly in favour of civil liberties throughout his time in parliament, strongly opposing the Australia Card, restrictions on the legal rights of asylum seekers and anti-terror laws he viewed as "draconian".

Barney Cooney stated that he "never contemplated the ministry", but "used to oppose things in caucus a lot".

Barney Cooney held his Senate seat until his retirement in 2002.

Barney Cooney continued to practise as a barrister throughout and after his parliamentary career.

Barney Cooney died in February 2019 after a long illness.