ROBERT TICKNER AO
Former Australian Minister in Hawke and Keating Governments; author; humanitarian campaigner; nuclear weapons ban and prison reform advocate.
Download and share our song “Jailing is Failing”
Robert is an author and campaigner, bringing his energy and passion to a broad range of causes.
Robert Tickner grew up and attended high school in Forster and Taree on the north coast of NSW before attending the University of Sydney and graduating in law and economics. He initially worked as a lecturer at the NSW Institute of Technology (later UTS) from 1974 to 1979, then as principal solicitor for the NSW Aboriginal Legal Service from 1979 to 1984 when he was elected as a member of the House of Representatives.
From 1977 to 1984 he also served as a Labor Councillor on the Sydney City Council, including a brief time as Acting Lord Mayor. Robert entered the federal parliament in the Hughes by-election in February 1984. He was elected to chair the Public Accounts Committee…more
Ten Doors Down audiobook available
Ten Doors Down, Robert Tickner’s personal memoir of meeting his birth parents is now available to enjoy in audiobook format, read by Robert himself. Discover this personal story about the significance of all forms of family in shaping us — and to the potential for love to heal great harm.
Ten Doors Down
Ten Doors Down is Robert’s personal memoir of meeting his birth parents. It is a testament to the significance of all forms of family in shaping us — and to the potential for love to heal great harm…more
Taking a Stand
Taking a Stand is Robert’s candid account of six crowded years in the struggle for the rights of the first Australians…more
Events
Explore upcoming opportunities to meet Robert in person…more
Justice Reform Initiative
Our criminal justice system is not working. The Justice Reform Initiative is an alliance of people from across the political spectrum who share long-standing professional experience or knowledge of the justice system and and believe that there is an urgent need for Australia to turn away from the American model of building more and more prisons and youth detention centres. Instead the Justice Reform initiative believes that we need to convince Governments to invest in evidence based alternatives for many people and including children, which address the underlying issues and social determinants, make our communities safer and turn lives around. The current system fails to do that and is costing Australia $8 Billion a year.
Robert Tickner currently serves as the Chair of the Justice Reform Initiative Board…more
ICAN Australia
Robert serves as an ambassador for ICAN Australia. Since its foundation, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) has worked to build a powerful global groundswell of public support for the abolition of nuclear weapons. By engaging a diverse range of groups and working alongside the Red Cross and like-minded governments, ICAN has helped reshape the debate on nuclear weapons and generate momentum towards elimination...more
EveryAGE Counts
Robert Tickner was a foundation Co-Chair and Chair of EveryAGE Counts from 2018 to 2025 and still remains an active and strong supporter of the campaign.
Robert is also deeply committed to principles of inter-generational solidarity. The EveryAGE Counts campaign is supported by a broad coalition including the Australian Human Rights Commission…more