Barry Cohen

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Date of Birth3 April 1935
Death Date18 December 2017

ParliamentFederal
DesignationMHR Robertson NSW
PartyALP
Term1969 to 1990

BiographyBarry Cohen was born in Griffith NSW moving to Sydney at high school age. He represented the seat of Robertson on the Central Coast of NSW for more than 20 years including ministerial portfolios for Home Affairs and the Environment, then Arts, Heritage and the Environment during the Hawke government from 1983 to 1987. After retiring from politics, he wrote several books of anecdotes especially relating to the years during the Whitlam administration. Cohen was a steadfast supporter of Israel and campaigned strongly against the Soviet Union treatment of Jews. Later, he invoked some criticism by claiming modern leadership of the ALP lacked the passionate support of Israel shown by Bob Hawke and Kim Beazley. He argued for greater support for people with Alzheimer’s disease after suffering from that condition for many years before his death in 2017. He was 82 years old.