Martin Pakula’s family migrated to Australia in the 1930’s and 1940’s from Poland and the former USSR. Martin was born in Melbourne in 1969 and is the eldest of 3 children.
Martin was educated at Ormond Primary School and Haileybury College and joined the Australian Labor Party in 1987, whilst at Monash University.
At Monash, Martin completed an Economics Degree (1989), and an Honours Degree in Law (1991) winning the Industrial Relations Law prize in his final year. From there he served Articles at Macpherson and Kelley Solicitors and stood as the ALP candidate for the Federal Seat of Goldstein in 1993.
In 1993, Martin joined the National Union of Workers, where he served as an Industrial Officer (1993 – 2000), Assistant State Secretary (2000 – 2004) and State Secretary and National Vice President (2004 – 2006).
Martin also served as a Trustee Director of Labour Union Cooperative Retirement Fund (LUCRF), and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
In 2006, Martin was elected to the Legislative Council as the member for Western Metropolitan Region and was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Transport. In 2007, Premier Brumby appointed him Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Ports.
In 2008, Martin was appointed Minister for Industry and Trade and Minister for Industrial Relations.
In January 2010, Martin was appointed as the Minister for Public Transport. Martin retained his Industrial Relations portfolio.
A keen football and racing fan, Martin has been a member of the Carlton Football Club for 30 years and is also a member of the VRC. He is married to Lisa, and they have two children.