Don Dobie

James Donald Mathieson "Don" Dobie (28 July 1927 – 25 November 1996) was an Australian politician. Born in Glasgow in Scotland, he migrated to Australia as a child and was educated at Brisbane Grammar School, the University of Melbourne, and Columbia University in New York. He then became an economist with a private bank until 1966, when he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives for the Liberal Party, defeating Labor member Les Johnson for the seat of Hughes. A redistribution ahead of the 1969 election wiped out Dobie's majority and gave Labor a notional eight-percent majority--technically making it a safe Labor seat on paper. Believing this made Hughes unwinnable--especially with Johnson priming for a rematch--Dobie transferred to the new seat of Cook, becoming its first member. This move proved prescient, as Johnson retook Hughes for Labor on a large swing.

On 20 August 1971, he was appointed Assistant Minister assisting the Prime Minister, William McMahon. In 1972, he was defeated by Labor's Ray Thorburn, but was elected again in 1975. He retired in 1996, and died later the same year.

References

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Les Johnson	Member for Hughes 1966 – 1969	Succeeded by Les Johnson
Preceded by new seat	Member for Cook 1969 – 1972	Succeeded by Ray Thorburn
Preceded by Ray Thorburn	Member for Cook 1975 – 1996	Succeeded by Stephen Mutch