Jack Birney

Reginald John Birney (26 September 1927 – 1 January 1995) was an Australian barrister and politician. He was a member of the Liberal Party and was in the House of Representatives from 1975 to 1983, representing the New South Wales seat of Phillip.

Early life Birney was born in Sydney on 26 September 1927.

Birney was a barrister before entering politics. Later that year he represented accused serial killer William MacDonald, mounting an unsuccessful insanity defence.

Politics In 1962 Birney was a vice-president of the United Australia Movement, which campaigned for the Territory of Papua and New Guinea to be granted representation in federal parliament and for Australian annexation of Dutch New Guinea. He visited Port Moresby where he spoke on "the immediacy of the Indonesian threat to East New Guinea", and with solicitor Bruce Miles was subsequently involved with the New Guinea Party which stood candidates at the 1963 federal election.

Birney was elected to the New South Wales state council of the Liberal Party in 1974. He was elected to the House of Representatives at the 1975 federal election, winning the seat of Phillip from the incumbent Australian Labor Party (ALP) MP Joe Riordan.

Later life Birney returned to his legal practice following the end of his parliamentary career.

Personal life Birney's first marriage was to Betty Ann Parnell. He later married Shirley Kirk and Toni McRae. He had a total of six children across his marriages, including Matt Birney who briefly served as leader of the Liberal Party in Western Australia.

Birney died in his sleep on 1 January 1995, aged 66, while on holiday at Coolah, New South Wales.