Historical figure
Meng Heang Tak
Meng Heang Tak, known as Heang, is a Cambodian-born Australian politician. He has represented the District of Clarinda in the Legislative Assembly of Victoria for the Australian Labor Party since November 2018.[1] Before entering state politics he was a lawyer, a broadcaster for the Khmer programs of the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), and a councillor and mayor of the City of Greater Dandenong, in Melbourne's southeast.[1][2]
Early life and education
Tak was born in Cambodia.[3] His parliamentary page says he came to Australia from Cambodia at 16.[1] He told SBS in 2018 that from his first arrival at Melbourne's Tullamarine airport, Australia welcomed him with respect.[3]
In Australia he first went to the English Language School at Westall Secondary and then to Heatherhill Secondary College in Keysborough. He went on to earn a double degree in arts and laws, a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and a Graduate Certificate in Migration Law.[1]
Law, broadcasting and local government
Tak worked as a suburban lawyer for more than ten years. He was also a broadcaster for SBS's Khmer programs,[1] and SBS writes that he retired from SBS Radio in 2015.[3]
He won a seat on the Greater Dandenong council in 2012 and was its mayor for 2015 and 2016.[2] He stayed on the council until 2018.[1] By 2017 he had lived in Greater Dandenong for more than 19 years.[2]
State parliament
In November 2017 Tak told the council that Labor had endorsed him to contest Clarinda at the next state election. The seat's member, Hong Lim, had said he would not run again.[2] The Dandenong Star Journal noted that Lim, elected in 1996, was the first person of Chinese and Cambodian descent to sit in the Victorian Parliament.[2] Lim held the seat, called Clayton until it was renamed Clarinda in 2014, until 2018.[4]
Tak won Clarinda for Labor at the November 2018 election.[1][4] He gave his inaugural speech to the Parliament on February 21, 2019.[1] His parliamentary page describes Clarinda as one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse electorates in Victoria. It covers suburbs in Melbourne's southeast, including Clarinda, Clayton South, Heatherton and Springvale South.[1][4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Parliament of Victoria, Mr Meng Heang Tak, member page (undated)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Dandenong Star Journal, Casey Neill, Tak eyes state seat (November 28, 2017)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 SBS, Yu Xia, 'Me and My family Were Welcomed in Australia' says Labor Candidate Meng Heang Tak (November 23, 2018)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 The Tally Room, Clarinda – Victoria 2022 (2022)