Tom Webster

Who is Tom Webster?

Thomas Stephen Webster, is a former Labor Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing the electorate of Wakehurst from 1978 to 1984.

Born in 1950, Webster was educated at Rozelle Public School and Drummoyne Boys' High School. After High school he attended Sydney Technical College and became a property valuer for the Valuer-General's Department. He was admitted as a Fellow of the Australian Property Institute.

Webster joined the Grafton Branch of the Australian Labor Party in 1971 and joined the Dee Why branch in 1976, becoming President from 1977-1978. He was pre-selected as Labor Party candidate for the NSW State seat of Wakehurst in 1978. The 1978 election saw a huge swing towards the Labor Party in NSW and was known as the 'Wranslide', in reference to the state leader, Neville Wran. Webster was elected on 7 October 1978, becoming the first Labor member of what was a traditionally safe Liberal seat, defeating the sitting Liberal member Allan Viney.

During his six years in Parliament, he served on a number of committees including the Public Accounts Committee. He was later appointed as senior policy adviser to the State Premier.