James Manahan

James Edward Monaghan (20 September 1921 – July 2007) was an Australian politician who served as a member of the Australian House of Representatives. He was born in Sydney, New South Wales, where he was educated in Catholic schools before proceeding to the University of Sydney. His early education in the Catholic school system and subsequent university studies provided the foundation for his later professional work in law and public service.

After completing his studies at the University of Sydney, Monaghan entered the public service and pursued a legal career. He qualified as a barrister and combined this profession with work as a public servant, gaining experience in the workings of government and the legal system. This dual background in law and administration positioned him to move into electoral politics, where his understanding of public policy and legal frameworks informed his approach to representation.

Monaghan entered federal politics at the 1961 Australian federal election. Standing as a candidate for the Australian Labor Party, he contested the House of Representatives seat of Evans, an electorate in suburban Sydney. In that election he defeated the sitting Liberal member, Frederick Osborne, thereby gaining a place in the national legislature. His victory reflected broader political shifts of the period and brought a change in representation for the constituents of Evans.

As the Labor member for Evans, Monaghan served in the Australian House of Representatives from 1961 until 1963. During his single term in office he participated in the legislative process and contributed to debates on national issues, representing the interests and concerns of his electorate within the federal Parliament. His service coincided with a significant period in Australian political life, marked by close electoral contests and evolving policy debates, and he took part in the democratic process at the national level as his party sought to advance its legislative program.

Monaghan’s parliamentary tenure came to an end at the 1963 federal election, when he was defeated by the Liberal candidate Malcolm Mackay. Following his departure from Parliament, he returned to his legal career, resuming work as a barrister. In returning to law after leaving politics, he continued to apply the skills and knowledge he had developed in both his public service and parliamentary experience. James Edward Monaghan lived out his later years in Australia and died in July 2007, leaving a record of service in both the legal profession and the federal Parliament.