Wade Noonan

Who is Wade Noonan?

Wade Mathew Noonan is an Australian politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly since September 2007, representing the electorate of Williamstown. He entered parliament in a by-election caused by the retirement of the sitting Premier of Victoria, Steve Bracks.

Noonan studied at Parade College and the Swinburne University of Technology. He worked as a travel manager for STA Travel from 1990 to 1996, before becoming involved in the union movement. He worked as an organiser for the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association from 1996 to 2002, before shifting to the Transport Workers Union of Australia, where he became federal assistant secretary and federal organising and training officer. He remained in this role until his election to parliament. Noonan's father, Bill Noonan, is a long-time TWU official and the union's current Victorian state secretary.

In July 2007, Steve Bracks, the then Premier of Victoria and member for the safe Labor seat of Williamstown, suddenly announced his intention to retire from politics. Noonan emerged as an early favourite to win Labor preselection for the resulting by-election, and won the nomination after a deal to install television presenter Angela Pippos in the seat fell through. He was elected on 15 September 2007, defeating Greens candidate and former City of Maribyrnong mayor Janet Rice.