Background
Rocher was born in Deloraine, Tasmania.
Rocher was born in Deloraine, Tasmania.
Up until 1996 he represented the Liberal Party of Australia. He worked as a commercial arbitrator and then as a registered builder. He eventually became president of the Master Builders" Association of Western Australia.
Rocher was elected as a Senator for Western Australia at the 1977 election, taking up his seat on 1 July 1978.
This preselection was also contested by fellow Senator Fred Chaney. He held the seat until 1998.
He was Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel from August 1992 to April 1993. Rocher lost Liberal Party endorsement for the seat prior to the 1996 election to Ken Court, the brother of then Washington Premier Richard Court, and then resigned from the Liberal Party.
He successfully recontested his seat as an Independent in that election, winning with 29.4% of the primary vote and the aid of Australian Labor Party preferences.
Rocher lost his seat to Liberal candidate Julie Bishop at the 1998 election, his vote having dropped to 17.7%.