Tom Evans (Western Australian politician)

Thomas Daniel "Tom" Evans (18 April 1929 – 27 February 1995) was an Australian politician who was a Labor Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1956 to 1980, representing the seat of Kalgoorlie. He served as a minister in the government of John Tonkin, including as treasurer and attorney-general.

Evans was born in Denmark, Western Australia, to Kathleen Veronica (née Hayden) and Daniel Thomas Evans. He was educated at various country schools, and later spent two years in Perth studying teaching, attending Claremont Teachers College. As a teacher, Evans spent time at schools in Leonora, Westonia, Gwalia, Roelands, Esperance, Boyup Brook, and Kalgoorlie.^[1] He was elected to parliament at the 1956 state election, aged 26,^[2] having defeated Herbert Styants (a long-serving MP) for Labor preselection.^[3] After entering parliament, Evans began studying law. He served his articles of clerkship with Tom Hartrey (a future Labor MP), and was called to the bar in 1965.^[1]

Following Labor's victory at the 1971 state election, Evans was made Treasurer, Minister for Forests, and Minister for Tourism in the new ministry formed by John Tonkin (also a former schoolteacher).^[1] He was the first state treasurer since James Gardiner in 1919 to not serve simultaneously as premier.^[4] However, Evans served in the position for only seven months, as Tonkin effected a ministerial reshuffle in October 1971 and assumed the position himself. After the reshuffle, Evans was appointed Attorney-General and Minister for Education. He was also made Minister for Recreation in July 1972, but lost the education portfolio to Jerry Dolan in May 1973.^[1]

The Labor government was defeated at the 1974 state election. Evans served in the shadow ministry until the 1977 election, under two leaders of the opposition (John Tonkin and Colin Jamieson). He left parliament at the 1980 election, and afterwards practised law in Kalgoorlie and Perth, including with his own firm. Evans eventually retired to Perth, dying there in February 1995 (aged 65). He married twice, firstly to Eileen O'Donnell in 1957 (with whom he had children), and then to Karen Camilleri in 1979.^[1]

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