Albert Jacob


Albert Paul Jacob is an Australian politician. He is the current Mayor for the City of Joondalup. He was the member for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Ocean Reef from 2008 to 2017, and the Minister for the Environment and Heritage in Colin Barnett's government. He had previously served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services; Seniors and Volunteering and Youth, from June 2012 to March 2013. His seat was abolished prior to the 2017 state election and he was defeated contesting Burns Beach.

Early life

Jacob was born in Subiaco, Western Australia on 16 March 1980. He grew up in Wanneroo, and was educated at Kingsway Christian College. Jacob was a horticulturalist before studying at the University of Western Australia and graduating with a Bachelor of Environmental Design and a Masters in Architecture.
Jacob has lived in the Northern Suburbs of Perth his entire life.

Politics

Albert Jacob's State Parliament career began on 6 September 2008 when he was elected the inaugural member for the Western Australian seat of Ocean Reef. Prior to this he served almost three years on the Joondalup City Council in the North Central Ward.
He was appointed Environment and Heritage Minister in March 2013, following the re-election of the Liberal National Government.
Then aged 33, his appointment saw him become one of the youngest ministers ever appointed in Western Australia.
Jacob's other committee and community activities include having been the inaugural Chair of both the Tamala Park Coastal Reserve Community Advisory Committee and the Mitchell Freeway Extension Community Reference Group, as well as serving as a local Justice of the Peace. He was the inaugural Deputy Chair of the Ocean Reef Marina Committee and was also the Deputy Chair of the Community Development and Justice Parliamentary Standing Committee for 4 years.

Environment & Heritage

Jacob has overseen a number of major changes to the environment portfolio, including fulfilling an election commitment to create a dedicated department to manage the State's national parks and conservation estate and a separate regulatory department. In June 2013, the Department of Parks and Wildlife was created, along with the Department of Environment Regulation, replacing the Department of Environment and Conservation.
Jacob oversaw the successful rollout of the $81.5million Kimberly Science and Conservation Strategy. The strategy is for the Kimberley's long-term conservation and is investment in the protection of the region's unique animals, plants and marine environment.
Jacob is overseeing the $21million Parks for People initiative which will deliver 450 new camp and caravan sites in 16 of the State's national parks.
As Heritage Minister, Jacob established an Australian-first Heritage Revolving Fund. The fund will see seed money provided to government-owned heritage buildings so they can be revitalised.