14 Facts About Les Johnson

Leslie Royston Johnson AM was an Australian politician.

Les Johnson was a member of the Australian Labor Party and held ministerial office in the Whitlam government, serving as Minister for Housing, Works, Housing and Construction, and Aboriginal Affairs.

Les Johnson represented the Division of Hughes in New South Wales from 1955 to 1966 and from 1969 to 1983.

Les Johnson later served as High Commissioner to New Zealand from 1984 to 1985, cutting short his term due to his daughter's ill health.

Les Johnson initially worked as a boilermaker's mate before becoming an apprentice fitter and turner.

Les Johnson became active in the Amalgamated Engineering Union, serving as chair of its New South Wales Youth Committee.

Les Johnson later worked as an organiser for the Federated Clerks Union and ran a general store and newsagency at Gymea.

Les Johnson held it until his defeat at the 1966 election by Liberal Don Dobie.

Les Johnson lost this position as a result of the dismissal of the Whitlam government in November 1975.

Labor returned to government at the March 1983 election, but Les Johnson did not stand for a place in the ministry.

Les Johnson resigned from parliament in December 1983 so that he could become Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand.

Les Johnson married Gladys Jones in 1947, and she died in 2002.

In 2003 Les Johnson married Marion Sharkey, and they lived at Shoal Bay, NSW.

Les Johnson was made a Member of the Order of Australia in June 1990.