Greg Combet
| The Honourable Greg Combet AM MP |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Charlton |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 24 November 2007 |
|
| Preceded by | Kelly Hoare |
| 2nd Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency[1] | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 14 September 2010 |
|
| Preceded by | Penny Wong |
| Minister for Industry and Innovation | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 14 December 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | Kim Carr |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 28 April 1958 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Australian Labor Party |
| Spouse(s) | Petra Hilsen (separated) |
| Alma mater | University of New South Wales University of Sydney |
| Profession | Trade unionist and politician |
| Website | http://www.gregcombet.com.au/ |
Gregory Ivan Combet AM MP (born 28 April 1958) is an Australian politician and trade unionist. He was Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) between 2000 and 2007. He was elected member for the New South Wales seat of Charlton for the Australian Labor Party at the 2007 election and was immediately appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement in the First Rudd Ministry on 3 December 2007. Combet is currently the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency in the Second Gillard Ministry.[2] He had previously served as Parliamentary Secretary to this position, when it was held by Penny Wong.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Greg Combet was born in Sydney and attended Eastern Creek Primary school, then Rooty Hill High School from years 7 to 10.[3] He completed his secondary education at Baulkham Hills High School.[3] He was later educated at the University of New South Wales where he studied mining engineering,[4] and then graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Economics, and a Graduate Diploma in Labour Relations and the Law. He was a project officer for the New South Wales Tenants' Union before working for the Lidcombe Workers' Health Centre. In 1987, he was employed by the Waterside Workers' Federation, now part of the Maritime Union of Australia.
[edit] Union activity
Combet's association with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) began in 1993 when he became a Senior Industrial Officer. In 1996 he was elected Assistant Secretary and in 2000, following the retirement of Bill Kelty, he became Secretary. Over his time at the ACTU, Combet has co-ordinated many union campaigns, including the 'Cavalcade to Canberra' of 19 August 1996. The protest gained notoriety due to 2,000 breakaway protesters rioting in and around Parliament House.[5][6] He rose to further prominence during the 1998 Australian waterfront dispute and supported militant union protests during the campaign, saying "the laws were made against workers, and bad laws have to be broken."[5] Combet also participated in campaigns to secure entitlements and compensation for the staff of the collapsed airline Ansett Australia and asbestos victims of the James Hardie company. In his capacity as Secretary of the ACTU, Combet led the campaign against the Howard Government's WorkChoices industrial relations law changes.
[edit] Parliament
On 25 March 2007, The Sunday Age reported that senior Australian Labor Party figures had announced that Combet would run for election representing the ALP in the safe seat of Charlton in New South Wales.[7] However, later that day Combet told The Age newspaper that he was not planning an entry into federal politics at the 2007 election, preferring instead to continue leading the ACTU's campaign against the industrial relations law changes.[8] On 4 May 2007, Combet confirmed his intention to run for Charlton.[9] The sitting member for Charlton, Kelly Hoare, expressed anger at losing preselection for her seat,[10] and for a time considered running as an independent.
Combet stood down as ACTU Secretary to campaign full time in Charlton in the lead up to the federal election. On 14 June 2007 Jeff Lawrence, National Secretary of the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU) was elected unopposed as the next Secretary of the ACTU.[11]
Combet was elected as the new member for Charlton on 24 November 2007 as part of the ALP's victory in the 2007 Australian federal election, achieving a two party preferred swing of 4.47 percent, winning 62.87 percent of the two party vote.[12] Following the election, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd appointed Combet as Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement in the First Rudd Ministry. He was sworn in on 3 December 2007.[13] In February 2009, Combet was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change, with a focus on emissions trading, to assist Climate Change Minister Senator Penny Wong.
As a result of the resignation of Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon and the subsequent ministerial reshuffle, Combet was promoted to the Outer Ministry on 6 June 2009, as Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science and Minister Assisting the Minister for Climate Change. Combet's portfolio was amended in April 2010 to Minister Assisting the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and Minister for Defence Materiel and Science[14] and to help him focus on the Government's energy efficiency programs, he axed part of this scheme – Home Insulation Program (HIP) in late April due to the safety risks and the blow out in funding.[15][16]
Combet was re-elected to Charlton at the 2010 federal election, suffering a post-redistribution two party swing of 0.24 percent, winning 62.67 percent of the two party vote.[17]
[edit] Personal
Combet is a director of the Chifley Research Centre.
On 12 June 2006, in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, he was made a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia.[18]
Combet is separated from Petra Hilsen and has one daughter, one stepdaughter and one stepson. Mr Combet split up with his second wife blaming his workload had contributed to the marriage breakdown. He said relationship breakdowns were the price you paid "in this kind of work". Greg Combet and West Australian MP Melissa Parke confirmed their romance, but denied Ms Parke was pregnant. [19]
Combet has stated that he is an Atheist.[20]
In the 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation television series Bastard Boys, dramatising the 1998 Australian waterfront dispute in with Combet was heavily involved. The role of Combet was played by Daniel Frederiksen
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/member.asp?id=YW6
- ^ http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/gillard-announces-her-team-20100911-155ou.html.
- ^ a b Stavrou, Nikolaos (2010-07-21). "Shining Star - Tireless Pursuit of Justice". Mt Druitt St Marys Standard. http://digitaledition.mtdruittstandard.com.au/default.aspx?iid=38449&startpage=page0000015#folio=014. Retrieved 2011-12-14.
- ^ Greg Combet's MP website, 27 June 2010.
- ^ a b http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/marx/interventions/riot.htm
- ^ http://m.news.com.au/TopStories/pg/0/fi694959.htm
- ^ Koutsoukis, Jason (25 March 2007). "Rudd drafts another star recruit to his team". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/rudd-drafts-another-star-recruit/2007/03/24/1174597954761.html. Retrieved 25 November 2007.
- ^ Millar, Royce; Nicholson, Brendan (26 March 2007). "Combet rejects rumours of standing for safe seat". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/combet-rejects-rumours-of-standing-for-safe-seat/2007/03/25/1174761282580.html. Retrieved 25 November 2007.
- ^ Combet confirms he'll stand for ALP, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 4 May 2007.
- ^ Combet painted as Charlton outsider, The 7:30 Report, 31 May 2007
- ^ Shaw, Meaghan (13 June 2007). "Little-known Lawrence confirmed as ACTU head". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/littleknown-lawrence-confirmed-as-actu-head/2007/06/13/1181414376500.html. Retrieved 25 November 2007.
- ^ "NSW Division – Charlton". Australian Electoral Commission. 13 December 2007. http://results.aec.gov.au/13745/website/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-13745-110.htm. Retrieved 27 January 2008.
- ^ "Rudd Ministry" (PDF). Government of Australia. Archived from the original on 14 April 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080414012112/http://www.pmc.gov.au/parliamentary/docs/ministry_list_2007.pdf. Retrieved 27 January 2008.
- ^ Parliament of Australia, House of Representatives 2 July 2010.
- ^ Combet moved out of Defence portfolio, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 1 April 2010.
- ^ Combet defends insulation backflip, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 22 April 2010.
- ^ Charlton 2010 election results: AEC
- ^ It's an Honour – Member of the Order of Australia – 12 June 2006
Citation: For service to industrial relations and through advocacy for the improved health and safety of workers, including people affected by asbestos-related diseases, and to the community. - ^ mps-greg-combet-and-melissa-parke-forced-to-deny-baby-talk/story-e6frfkvr-1225793184884
- ^ Pollies in the no-God squad, Sydney Morning Herald, 14 March 2010
[edit] External links
- Hon Greg Combet AM, MP official Parliament of Australia site
- The Hon Greg Combet AM MP official Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency site
- Greg Combet AM MP official constituency site
- Profile at NSW Labor Party
- Search or browse Hansard for Greg Combet at OpenAustralia.org
- Greg Combet at OurCampaigns.com
- Greg Combet on Myspace
- Profile at ABC News
- The Hon Greg Combet AM MP speech to the National Press Club of Australia
- Profile[dead link] at ACTU
- Your Rights At Work
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Warren Snowdon |
Minister for Defence Materiel and Science 2009–2010 |
Succeeded by Jason Clare |
| Preceded by Penny Wong |
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency 2010–present |
Incumbent |
| Parliament of Australia | ||
| Preceded by Kelly Hoare |
Member for Charlton 2007–present |
Incumbent |
|
|
|||||
|
||||||||||||||
|
|||||
- 1958 births
- Living people
- People from Sydney
- Australian atheists
- Australian Labor Party politicians
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Charlton
- Australian trade unionists
- Australian labour movement
- Members of the Order of Australia
- University of New South Wales alumni
- Government ministers of Australia
- University of Sydney alumni
