Stewart John West was born at Forbes, NSW on 31 March 1934 and educated at Wollongong after his family moved to Wollongong in 1941.  On leaving school he worked first as a bank officer then as a steel worker before becoming a waterside worker. He was President of the Waterside Workers' Federation, Port Kembla Branch, from 1972 to 1977. He held the position of Secretary, ALP Cunningham Federal Electorate from 1968 to 1977 and was Campaign Manager for the late Hon R F X Connor from 1966 to 1975. Following a by-election on 15 October 1977 West was elected to the House of Representatives as Member for Cunningham. He was re-elected at the general elections of 1977, 1980, 1983, 1984 and 1987.
 
In March 1980, Mr West was elected to the Opposition front bench and appointed spokesperson for Aboriginal Affairs. From 22 May 1980 to 19 September 1980 he was Parliamentary Representative on the Council of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies. He was opposition spokesperson on Environment and Conservation from 23 November 1980 to 14 January 1983 and on Finance and Trade from 14 January to 11 March 1983. He served on the following House of Representatives Standing Committees: Aboriginal Affairs (1 May 1980 to 19 September 1980) and Environment and Conservation (4 December 1980 to 4 February 1983).
 
On 11 March 1983, Mr West became Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs in the newly elected Labor Government, holding that position until 13 December 1984. On 3 November 1983, he resigned from Cabinet so that he would not have to vote in Caucus on a Cabinet recommendation favouring uranium export from Roxby Downs and approving two new contracts. He was re-instated in April 1984. From 13 December 1984 to July 1987 he was Minister for Housing and Construction and became Minister for Administrative Services in July 1987, a position he retained until 3 April 1990.
 
West was a member of the Intergovernment Consultation on Indo-China Refugees, Honolulu, in August 1983. At that time he officially visited Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. In August 1984 he made an official visit to the United States of America, Mexico, El Salvador and Argentina.
 

Sources
 
Who's Who in Australia, 1991
Parliamentary Handbook Of the Commonwealth of Australia, 1988 Canberra Times, 4 April 1984