Joe Berinson

Joseph Max Berinson (7 January 1932 – 2 June 2018) was an Australian politician who represented the Australian Labor Party (ALP) in the Australian House of Representatives and the Western Australian Legislative Council. He was Minister for the Environment in the Whitlam government for several months in 1975, later serving a decade as Attorney-General of Western Australia.

Early life Berinson was born on 7 January 1932 in his family home in Highgate, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth. His parents were Shulem (Samuel) Berinson, a master baker, and Rivka (Rebecca) née Finkelstein, After matriculating in 1948, he studied pharmacy at Perth Technical College. He did training at a pharmacy in Forrest Place, where he gained his formative political experience. Forrest Place was the location of many political speeches and rallies, including by Prime Ministers Ben Chifley and Robert Menzies. Berinson labelled Menzies' speech as "very off-putting".

He was elected chairman of committees in February 1975. He was then appointed Minister for the Environment in July 1975, serving until the government's dismissal on 11 November 1975 and then losing his seat in the December 1975 election. After Berinson's defeat in 1975, he was admitted as a legal practitioner in 1977.

State politics In 1980, Berinson was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Council representing the Council electorates of North-East Metropolitan (1980–1983), North Central Metropolitan (1983–1989) and North Metropolitan (1989–1993). With the election of Brian Burke as Premier of Western Australia in 1983, Berinson was appointed Attorney-General. He served in this role under successive premiers Burke, Peter Dowding and Carmen Lawrence. While Attorney-General, he was appointed Queen's Counsel (QC) in 1988.

In 1991, he was identified as one of five members of the government most associated with WA Inc transactions.

Later life From 2001 to 2005, Berinson served as the president of the Jewish Community Council of Western Australia.

Berinson died on 2 June 2018, aged 86. His burial took place the following day at Karrakatta Cemetery. He was survived by his wife Jeanette and their four children.