16 Facts About Jim Cope

Jim Cope was a member of the Australian Labor Party and served in the House of Representatives from 1955 to 1975.

Jim Cope was Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1973 to 1975, resigning abruptly in dramatic circumstances, when he was in the Chair presiding over question time, when he came into conflict with Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

Jim Cope was born 26 November 1907 in Surry Hills, New South Wales.

Jim Cope was the youngest of five sons born to Martha and George Eugene Cope.

Jim Cope's father worked as a compositor and was a "strong supporter of the Australian Labor Party".

Jim Cope attended Crown Street Public School and Bourke Street Public School.

Jim Cope left school after two years of secondary education and began working as a messenger boy.

Jim Cope later worked as a machinist at the Randwick Tramway Workshops, but was retrenched during the Great Depression and relied on the dole for three years.

Jim Cope worked part-time as a cricket umpire and billiard marker.

Jim Cope served as federal treasurer of the Australian Glass Workers' Union from 1952 to 1955.

Jim Cope joined the ALP in 1930 and became president of its Redfern branch.

Jim Cope was elected to the Redfern Municipal Council in 1948.

Jim Cope's seat was abolished in a redistribution, but he switched to Watson at the 1955 federal election.

Jim Cope held Watson until its abolition in 1969, when he transferred to the new seat of Sydney.

On 27 February 1973, Jim Cope was appointed the first Labor Speaker of the House since 1950.

Jim Cope retired from parliament at the double dissolution election of 11 November 1975.