Graham Perrett

Graham Douglas Perrett (born 5 January 1966) is an Australian Labor politician, and a member of the Australian House of Representatives in the seat of Moreton. Perrett has a diploma of teaching, and a Bachelor of Laws, and has previously worked in the Queensland Government under Peter Beattie.

Perrett was born in St George in Queensland in 1966 (7th child in a family of 10 children) , [cite web|url=http://www.alp.org.au/people/qld/perrett_graham.php|title=Graham Perrett - Member for Moreton|publisher=Australian Labor Party|accessdate=2007-12-01] and received a diploma of teaching in 1985.cite web|url=http://www.labor4moreton.com/about.shtml|title=About Graham|publisher=Labor for Moreton|accessdate=2007-12-02] Perrett later received a Bachelor of Laws from Queensland University of Technology in 1999, working as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland from 1999 to 2005. In 2005 he was given a role as Senior Policy Adviser for then Premier of Queensland, Peter Beattie. Perrett previously ran for the seat of Moreton in 2004.

Perrett has represented the seat of Moreton, Queensland, since the 2007 Australian federal election,cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22817263-952,00.html|title=Graham Perrett takes back Moreton after 11 years|publisher=News.com.au|author=Hannah Davies|date=24 November 2007|work=The Courier Mail|accessdate=2007-12-02] where he ended Gary Hardgrave's 11 year term in office with a 7.6% swing.cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,%2022820312-5013650,00.html|title=New faces ride wave of change|publisher=News.com.au|author=Sam Strutt|date=26 November 2007|work=The Courier Mail|accessdate=2007-12-02] 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". Perrett also 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".

A major issue in the 2007 Moreton campaign was the Australian Labor Party (on behalf of Perrett) branding Perrett's rival, Gary Hardgrave, a "racist", after the standing member said that Moreton was being "exhausted" by the influx of African refugees. Hardgrave had recently been acquitted by the Australian Federal Police, after claims he had misused his parliamentary entitlements. [cite web|title=Two Qld Federal MPs cleared of rorts charges|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=11 September 2007|url=http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/11/2030004.htm|accessdate=2007-12-02] 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. [cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2004/s1206446.htm|title=Hardgrave and Perrett battle it out for Moreton|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|work=The World Today|author=Eleanor Hall|date=24 September 2007|accessdate=2007-12-02]

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