Bruce Billson
Bruce Billson | |
|---|---|
 Billson in 2014 | |
| Minister for Small Business | |
| In office 18 September 2013 – 21 September 2015 | |
| Prime Minister | Tony Abbott Malcolm Turnbull |
| Preceded by | Gary Gray |
| Succeeded by | Kelly O'Dwyer |
| Minister for Veterans' Affairs | |
| In office 23 March 2007 – 3 December 2007 | |
| Prime Minister | John Howard |
| Preceded by | De-Anne Kelly |
| Succeeded by | Alan Griffin |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Dunkley | |
| In office 2 March 1996 – 9 May 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Chynoweth |
| Succeeded by | Chris Crewther |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bruce Billson 26 January 1966 Albury, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
| Spouse | Kate Ranken |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Website | Official website |
Bruce Frederick Billson (born 26 January 1966) is a former politician who was a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives representing the Division of Dunkley in Victoria from 1996 to 2016.[1] Billson served as the Minister for Small Business from September 2013 to September 2015.[2]
Early life and education
He was born in Albury, New South Wales, and moved to Seaford as a child. He was educated at Monterey High School in Frankston North and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. He was Manager of Corporate Development, for the Shire of Hastings, a Ministerial Adviser to the Victorian Minister for Natural Resources, and policy adviser to the Shadow Minister for the Environment, Senator Rod Kemp, before entering politics.[1]
Career
Ministerial roles
Billson was appointed the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2004.[1] In 2005, he was also appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, and, in 2006, he was promoted to Minister for Veterans' Affairs – a position he retained until the defeat of the Howard government in the 2007 federal election.[1]
In 2007, he was appointed Shadow Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. In 2009, he was then appointed the Shadow Minister for Sustainable Development and Cities.[1] and after the 2010 election he was appointed Shadow Minister for Small Business, Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs.[3]
Following the 2013 election he was sworn in to the cabinet as the Minister for Small Business.
Retirement from politics
Following the leadership spill that saw Malcolm Turnbull become Prime Minister, Billson was dropped from the new Ministry upon the ascension of the Turnbull Government. On 24 November 2015, he announced he would retire from politics at the 2016 federal election.[4]
He is currently serving as the executive chairman of the Franchise Council of Australia.[5]
Personal life
He is married to Kate and has four children: Alexander, Zoe, Madeline and Isabella.
References
- ^ a b c d e About Bruce – Bruce Billson: Member for Dunkley
- ^ "Tony Abbott's cabinet and outer ministry". smh.com.au. AAP. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
- ^ http://www.aph.gov.au/Library/parl/43/Shadow/index.htm
- ^ "Former small business minister Bruce Billson to retire at next federal election". Nine News. Nine Network. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ^ Waters, Cara (23 March 2016). "Bruce Billson to head Franchise Council of Australia". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
External links
- Official website
- Bruce Billson on Facebook
- Search or browse Hansard for Bruce Billson at OpenAustralia.org
Prime Minister: Tony Abbott | ||
| Cabinet |  | |
| Outer Ministry | ||
| Parliamentary Secretaries | ||
| Dismissed/resigned | ||
- 1966 births
- Abbott Government
- Government ministers of Australia
- Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia
- Living people
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Dunkley
- Members of the Cabinet of Australia
- People from Albury, New South Wales
- RMIT University alumni