Collection 1774 - Noel Hicks, politician

Noel Jeffrey Hicks was born on 4 November 1940, in Adelaide, Australia. Hicks initially was a plumber and a road design draughtsman by trade, before entering Australian politics. He then moved to Broken Hill (c. early 1970s), before finally settling in the town of Griffith, New South Wales (NSW) (c. 1981). In 1963, he married Joan Carter, had 4 children and remarried in 1991 to Anne Lyle.

Hicks served in local government at the City of Broken Hill, first as an Alderman (1971-1977) and then Mayor (1974-1975; 1976-1977). He then moved into parliamentary service, as a National Country member for Riverina in the Australian House of Representatives (1980, 1983, 1993), the House of Representatives for Riverina-Darling, NSW (1984, 1987, 1990; 1996-1998), was the National Party Whip in the House of Representatives (1983-1994), Chief Whip (1994-1998), and the National Party Spokesman on Foreign Affairs (1987) and (1994-1998).

He became a member of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Selection (1988-1998), Televising (1991-1996) and Privileges (1995-1998). In the Joint Standing Committee, he was a member on Australian Capital Territory (ACT) (1980-1983), Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (1987-1998) and Migration (1998). In the Joint Statutory Committee, he was a member on the Broadcasting of Parliamentary Proceedings (1983-1998) and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (1996-1998).