| The Honourable Dr Brendan Nelson BM BS MP |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|---|---|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 3 December 2007 |
|
| Preceded by | Kevin Rudd |
|
12th Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia
|
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 29 November 2007 |
|
| Deputy | Julie Bishop |
| Preceded by | John Howard |
|
50th Minister for Defence
|
|
| In office 27 January 2006 – 3 December 2007 |
|
| Preceded by | Robert Hill |
| Succeeded by | Joel Fitzgibbon |
|
|
|
| In office 26 November 2001 – 27 January 2006 |
|
| Preceded by | David Kemp |
| Succeeded by | Julie Bishop |
|
|
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2 March 1996 |
|
| Preceded by | David Connolly |
|
|
|
| Born | 19 August 1958 Melbourne, Victoria |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
| Spouse | Gillian[1] |
| Alma mater | Flinders University |
| Profession | GP |
Dr Brendan John Nelson (born 19 August 1958) is an Australian politician and the Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of Australia, as leader of the Liberal Party of Australia.[2] Nelson has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2 March 1996, representing the Division of Bradfield, New South Wales.
Contents |
Early life
Nelson was born in Melbourne, Victoria and was educated at Saint Ignatius' College, Adelaide. He then attended The University of Adelaide, where he commenced, though did not complete, a Bachelor of Finance in Economics and Flinders University, Adelaide where he graduated in medicine. He was a general practitioner in Hobart, Tasmania 1985-95, Director of Hobart and Launceston After Hours Medical Services 1987-91, Tasmanian State President of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) 1990-92, Federal Vice-President 1991-93 and Federal President 1993-95.
Political career
When he was elected as the Federal President of the AMA it was widely known that he had joined the Australian Labor Party in 1988 and was ambitious to enter politics. His partner in his medical practice was Dr David Crean, brother of Simon Crean and later a Tasmanian state Labor minister. By 1994, however, Nelson was a member of the Liberal Party and in 1995 he gained Liberal endorsement for Bradfield, one of the safest Liberal electorates in Australia. It is believed that he told the Labor Party he wanted to be endorsed for Denison, the strongest Labor seat in Tasmania (held by Duncan Kerr), and that when he was rejected he defected to the Liberal Party. Nelson was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence in 2001.
Minister for Education, Science and Training
After the 2001 federal election he was promoted directly to Cabinet with the senior portfolio of Minister for Education, Science and Training. In this portfolio he introduced a series of radical changes to Australia's higher education system, simultaneously imposing more direct government control over the management of universities while also allowing them to earn more revenue by charging higher fees to students. He also extended the Howard government's policy of directing more federal funding to non-government schools, as well as becoming more involved in criticising and reviewing the state education systems. In 2005 he introduced Voluntary Student Unionism. He was a popular target for student activism because of the changes that he introduced to Australian higher education and universities.[3][4]
In 2005 Nelson expressed support for the teaching the controversial theory of intelligent design alongside evolution if parents wished it.[5] He later said it should only be taught in religion or philosophy classes.[6]
Minister for Defence
After his rapid promotion to Cabinet, Nelson was spoken of as a possible future Liberal leader. On 24 January 2006, Prime Minister John Howard announced Nelson's promotion from the Education, Science and Training portfolio to the high profile Defence portfolio. As Defence Minister, he made the controversial decision to purchase Boeing's Super Hornet aircraft instead of a fighter perceived by some to be more capable.[7]
Leader of the Opposition
Following the defeat of the Howard government at the 2007 federal election, he was elected party leader and therefore Leader of the Opposition, narrowly defeating Malcolm Turnbull in a 45 to 42 vote[2], after the withdrawal from the race of Tony Abbott. After Nelson's election, his political past resurfaced, with him claiming he came from a Labor family.[8] On 1 December 2007, Nelson attempted to distance himself from some of the conservative policies of his predecessor, John Howard, by announcing the need to address "the social and economic injustices affecting homosexuals." He further added, however, "I don't support gay marriage, adoption or IVF." [9] Nelson declared that the Liberal Party had "listened and learned" from the Australian public, and has declared WorkChoices "dead", and has called on the new Rudd Labor Government to move quickly to introduce draft industrial relations legislation.[10]
Personal life
- Nelson has been married three times.
- In 1995, his brother, Philip, died after a long battle with AIDS.[1]
References
- ^ a b The evolution of Brendan Nelson, The Sydney Morning Herald, 23 December 2005
- ^ a b "Nelson wins Liberal leadership", The Sydney Morning Herald, 29 November 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-29.
- ^ Nelson too chicken to face us, say students Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 28 September 2005
- ^ 'Safety fear' stops Nelson talking at uni again, The Sydney Morning Herald, 28 September 2005
- ^ 'Intelligent design' an option: Nelson, The Age, 11 August 2005
- ^ Intelligent design not science: experts, The Sydney Morning Herald, 21 October 2005
- ^ 'Flying Blind', Four Corners, 29 October 2007
- ^ Nelson dogged by Labor party past. ABC News (29 November 2007).
- ^ 'Nelson backs gay legal rights', Sunday Herald Sun, 2 December 2007
- ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/19/2123199.htm?section=justin
External links
| Parliament of Australia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by David Connolly |
Member for Bradfield 1996 – present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by David Kemp |
Minister for Education, Science and Training 2001–2006 |
Succeeded by Julie Bishop |
| Preceded by Robert Hill |
Minister for Defence 2006–2007 |
Succeeded by Joel Fitzgibbon |
| Preceded by Kevin Rudd |
Leader of the Opposition 2007 – present |
Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by John Howard |
Leader of the Liberal Party 2007 – present |
Incumbent |
|
|
|---|
| Menzies · Holt · Gorton · McMahon · Snedden · Fraser · Peacock · Howard · Peacock · Hewson · Downer · Howard · Nelson |
|
|
|
|---|---|
| Labor | Anthony Albanese · Sharon Bird · Chris Bowen · David Bradbury · Tony Burke · Jason Clare · Greg Combet · Bob Debus · Justine Elliot · Laurie Ferguson · Joel Fitzgibbon · Peter Garrett · Jennie George · Sharon Grierson · Jill Hall · Chris Hayes · Julia Irwin · Mike Kelly · Robert McClelland · Maxine McKew · Daryl Melham · John Murphy · Belinda Neal · Julie Owens · Tanya Plibersek · Roger Price · Janelle Saffin · Craig Thomson |
| Liberal | Tony Abbott · Bob Baldwin · Bronwyn Bishop · Pat Farmer · Joanna Gash · Alex Hawke · Joe Hockey · Sussan Ley · Louise Markus · Scott Morrison · Brendan Nelson · Philip Ruddock · Alby Schultz · Malcolm Turnbull · Danna Vale |
| Nationals | John Cobb · Mark Coulton · Luke Hartsuyker · Kay Hull · Mark Vaile |
| Independent | Tony Windsor |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Nelson, Brendan John |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Australian politician |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 19 August 1958 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
