Jim Sheehan

This article is about the politician. For the historian, see James J. Sheehan.

James Michael Sheehan (24 July 1885 – 10 April 1967) was an Australian trade unionist and politician.

Jim Sheehan
Senator for Victoria
In office 12 July 1938 – 20 September 1940
Preceded by	John Barnes (died between election and beginning of term)
Succeeded by	John Spicer
In office 1 July 1944 – 30 June 1962
Personal details
Born	(1885-07-24)24 July 1885 Castlemaine, Victoria
Died	10 April 1967(1967-04-10) (aged 81) Castlemaine, Victoria
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Occupation	Railway worker, unionist

Born in Castlemaine, Victoria, he received a primary education before becoming a railway worker.^[1] He was an organiser with the Australian Workers' Union and President of the Victorian Trades Hall Council, as well as being an active member of the Victorian Labor Party.^[2] On 12 July 1938, he was appointed to the Australian Senate for Victoria to fill a casual vacancy caused by the death of Labor Senator John Barnes. The Australian Constitution dictated that an appointment to a casual vacancy was required to be re-contested at the next election and while Sheehan was number one on the Labor ticket, he was defeated in 1940 with the UAP-Country coalition winning all four seats.^[3] He was third on Labor's ticket at the 1943 election, with Labor winning all three seats,^[4] taking his place at the in 1944. He remained in the Senate until his retirement in 1961, taking effect in 1962.^[1][5]

Sheehan died in 1967, aged 81.^[2]