John MacBean was a well-respected and influential figure in the Australian labor movement. His career began in the early 1960s when he joined the Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and quickly rose through the ranks to become a NSW Organiser. He received scholarships to study economics and industrial relations and served on various boards before becoming the Secretary of the Labor Council of NSW in 1984. MacBean was known for his consensus-oriented leadership style and his commitment to promoting women within the labor movement.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, MacBean led successful campaigns for shorter working hours and fairer working conditions for a variety of industries. He also played a key role in the NSW ALP, serving as Senior Vice President and later as party president when the Hawke Labor government came into power in 1983. However, tensions between MacBean and Treasurer Paul Keating emerged in 1986 over economic policy and leadership qualities, leading to a public falling out between the two men.
MacBean’s most significant interventions in NSW ALP politics came in 1986 when he supported Barrie Unsworth to succeed Neville Wran as Premier of NSW, and later advocated for Bob Carr to become the leader of the NSW opposition after the 1988 election loss. MacBean’s legacy was marked by his dedication to practical measures to support workers and ease their financial burdens during periods of economic change. He was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1986 for his services to the union movement and the wider community.
In his personal life, MacBean was described as a humble and traditional man who valued family above all else. His wife, Gail, and their children and grandchildren were his greatest source of strength and support, especially during difficult times such as the sudden death of his son-in-law. MacBean’s impact on the labor movement was evident in the succession of individuals he had employed who went on to lead the Labor Council for the next twenty-seven years, a testament to his legacy of common-sense moderation and leadership.
Despite battling Parkinson’s in his later years, MacBean’s dedication to the labor movement and his family never wavered. He passed away leaving behind a lasting impact on the Australian labor movement and a reputation as a dedicated and respected leader who was committed to fighting for the rights of workers and promoting gender equality within the movement. MacBean’s influence on the labor movement in Australia is still felt today, as his successors continue to uphold the values and principles he championed during his time as Secretary of the Labor Council of NSW.
