James Donald Mathieson Dobie was born on 28 July 1927, in Glasgow, son of Alexander Dobie of Dumfries, Scotland.  He was educated at Ascot Primary School, Brisbane Grammar School, The University of Melbourne where he took a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and the University of Columbia, New York, where he received an MBA.  He served with 2LAA Regiment RAA (CMF) with the rank of gunner.  From 1943-1966 Mr Dobie was employed in the Bank of New South Wales.  In 1966 he was elected to the House of Representatives as the Liberal member for Hughes (NSW).  In 1969 he became the Liberal member for Cook, NSW.

From 22 February 1967 to 8 September 1971, Mr Dobie was a member of the Joint Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, being Chairman of the Committee from 1969 to 1971.

From 23 June to July 16 1968 Mr Dobie was a member of the Australian Parliamentary Mission to the States bordering on the Indian Ocean and also a member of the Parliamentary delegation to East Africa.  In October 1970 he was a member of the Australian delegation to the 58th Annual Conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union at the Hague.

From 20 August 1971 to 1972, Mr Dobie was Assisting Minister assisting the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon William McMahon.  He lost his Parliamentary seat in 1972 but was re-elected by a 9,000 majority in 1975.  By 1977, Mr Dobie was a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts.

In 1973 he was a member of the State Executive of the Liberal Party of NSW and on the Federal Council of the Liberal Party of Australia in 1974.

Mr Dobie retired prior to general elections in 1996.


Sources:
 
1. Parliamentary Handbook, 1971, p 121
2. Who's Who in Australia, 1974, p 304
3. The Courier-Mail, 16 Dec 1975, p 3
4. Australian Government Directory, 1977, p 12
5. Parliamentary Handbook, 1988, p 88

Agency associated with person unregistered

23 Jun 1968-16 Jul 1968: Australian Parliamentary Mission to the
                         States bordering the Indian Ocean - Member
       1968-       1968: Parliamentary Delegation to East Africa -
                         Member 58th Annual Conference of the Inter
                         Parliamentary Union at the Hague - Delegate