Jim McKiernan

James Philip "Jim" McKiernan (born 11 October 1944) was an Irish-born Australian politician. Born in Cavan, Ireland, he was a fitter and turner before entering politics. In Australia he was a union education officer for the Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union. In 1984, he was elected to the Australian Senate as a Labor Senator for Western Australia. A one-time convenor of the Left faction, McKiernan was the Labor Caucus' returning officer for the Hawke versus Keating leadership ballot. He remained in the Senate until his retirement in 2002.