1. Graham Douglas Perrett was born on 5 January 1966 and is an Australian politician who was a member of the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2025, representing the Queensland seat of Moreton for the Australian Labor Party.
18 Facts About Graham Perrett
1. 2.
Graham Perrett worked as a schoolteacher, solicitor, and political staffer before entering parliament.
3.
Graham Perrett taught for three years in schools on the Darling Downs and Far North Queensland, then another eight years in Brisbane.
4.
In 1993, Graham Perrett completed a BA through the University of Queensland.
5.
Graham Perrett's thesis was a study of The Autobiography of Malcolm X He later received an LL.
6.
Graham Perrett ran unsuccessfully for the federal seat of Moreton in 2004.
7.
Graham Perrett was elected to Moreton at the 2007 election where he ended Gary Hardgrave's 11-year term in office with a 7.6-point swing.
8.
Graham Perrett described the victory as surprising, stating "In my wildest dreams I certainly didn't expect that the seat would be decided as early as it was".
9.
Graham Perrett claimed the victory, over a former multicultural affairs minister, could be put down to the fact that "people are ready for hope and aren't prepared to stick with the tired old fear factor of John Howard".
10.
Graham Perrett campaigned primarily on issues relating to health and education in the lead up to the election, whilst Hardgrave focused primarily on roads, according to a radio interview.
11.
Graham Perrett was appointed as a government whip in May 2013, holding the position until Labor's defeat at the 2013 election.
12.
Graham Perrett was appointed as a shadow parliamentary secretary in Bill Shorten's shadow ministry in May 2014 and was reappointed as a whip in August 2016.
13.
Graham Perrett remained as a shadow assistant minister under Anthony Albanese when he replaced Shorten as leader in June 2019.
14.
Graham Perrett was not included in the Albanese ministry after Labor won the 2022 election, but was appointed chair of the Joint Statutory Committee on Public Works.
15.
Graham Perrett published his first novel, The Twelfth Fish, in October 2008.
16.
Graham Perrett retained his seat and went on to publish a sequel in September 2013, The Big Fig.
17.
Graham Perrett attracted international attention and ridicule after tweeting about facial injuries he suffered while watching an episode of political satire Veep.
18.
Graham Perrett suffered a black eye and received three stitches in his cheek after knocking himself unconscious.