Leo McLeay

Leo Boyce McLeay (born 4 October 1945), Australian politician, was a Labor Party member of the House of Representatives from June 1979 to October 2004. He was Speaker of the House of Representatives 1989–93. During 1992 he was censured by the then Federal opposition leader Dr. John Hewson with a motion of no confidence due to his political bias.

Biography

Leo McLeay was born in Sydney, and was a telephone technician before entering politics. He was a member of the Marrickville Municipal Council 1971–77, and was also Assistant General Secretary of the New South Wales Labor Party 1976–79.

In Parliament, he represented the Division of Grayndler, New South Wales from 1979 until 1993 and the Division of Watson, New South Wales from 1993 until 2004.

McLeay was Chair of Committees and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives 1986–89, and Speaker of the House 1989–93. He, Neil Andrew and Bronwyn Bishop are the only three speakers to be subject to motions of no confidence (which were defeated in all cases due to party lines). He resigned as Speaker following accusations that he had made a false compensation claim. This accusation was later shown to be incorrect. McLeay was subsequently Chief Government Whip 1993–96 and Chief Opposition Whip 1996–2001. He retired at the 2004 election.