Bob Sneath

Robert Kenneth "Bob" Sneath (born 24 June 1949) is a former Australian politician, and was a Labor Party member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 2000 and President of the South Australian Legislative Council from 2006 until he retired from Parliament in 2012.

Early life Sneath was born in June 1949 in Kingston South East, a town in South Australia's south-east. His father was a farmer, rabbit trapper and sheep shearer, working on Lake Park Station and running shearing teams until his retirement at the age of 72.

In 1994, Sneath moved to Adelaide after being elected to serve as the Secretary of the South Australian Branch of the Australian Workers' Union (AWU) from 1995 until his election to Parliament in 2000.

He is also a past Secretary of the Show Shearing Federation of Australia (SSFA).

Parliament and politics In addition to his involvement in the union movement, Sneath became involved in politics, joining the South Australian Labor Party and serving as President of the local Naracoorte sub-branch for six years.

In October 2000, Sneath was chosen by the Labor Party to fill a Casual Vacancy in the South Australian Legislative Council, which was created by the resignation of George Weatherill, with Sneath being sworn in on 4 October 2000. Sneath made his maiden speech in the Parliament on 10 October 2000.

On 27 April 2006, following the retirement of then-President Ron Roberts from the Legislative Council, Sneath was unanimously elected as President of the South Australian Legislative Council until he resigned from the Parliament in September 2012. receiving praise from the Liberal Opposition for being a "fair and reasonable" presiding member. Sneath's resignation caused his seat to be filled by a casual vacancy election by the Council in October 2012, which was filled by Kyam Maher. Sneath was granted the right to use the title The Honourable in December 2012.

Personal life In the 1960's, Sneath married his wife, Pam and had four children, Jodie, Dwaine, Joshua and Sam. Sneath also has a number of grandchildren

Sneath has a keen interest in fishing and is involved in fundraising for the Neil Sachse Foundation, and was a patron for the Down Syndrome Society of SA.