He was the Labor member for Maroubra in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1968 to 1983.
He was then apprenticed as a fitter and turner, and joined the Amalgamated Engineering Union aged 16.
Haigh worked at Bunnerong Power Station from 1949 until 1959, and joined the Labor Party in 1949.
[2] In 1976 he was appointed to the ministry as minister assisting the premier; the Services portfolio was added in 1977.
[1] Dropped from the ministry after the 1981 state election, he resigned from parliament in 1983; the by-election for his seat was won by future Premier Bob Carr.