Les Johnson Politician

Leslie Royston "Les" Johnson AM (born 22 November 1924) is a former Australian politician and minister.Johnson was elected for the Australian Labor Party as the first member for the House of Representatives seat of Hughes at the 1955 election and held it until his defeat at the 1966 election. He regained Hughes at the 1969 election. Following Labor's win at the December 1972 election, he was appointed to the Whitlam ministry as Minister for Housing. In October 1973, he was appointed to the additional portfolio of Works. In November the two portfolios were combined as Housing and Construction. In June 1975 he was moved to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. He lost this position as a result of the dismissal of the Whitlam Government in November 1975. He subsequently became the Opposition Whip. Labor returned to government at the March 1983 election, but Johnson did not stand for a place in the ministry. However, he was appointed Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Chairman of Committees. He resigned from parliament in December 1983 so that he could become Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand.His position as High Commissioner was cut short following the serious illness of his daughter, Sally Anne Penman, who was diagnosed with breast cancer, and subsequently died in February 1988.Les Johnson married Gladys (Peg) Jones in 1947, and she died in 2002. They had three children, Grant, Sally (deceased) and Jenny. In 2003 Les Johnson married Marion Sharkey, and they now live at Shoal Bay, NSW.Johnson was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in June 1990.