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Michael Sukkar

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The Honourable
Michael Sukkar
MP
File:Michael Sukkar MP profile picture.jpg
Assistant Minister to the Treasurer
Incumbent
Assumed office
24 January 2017
Prime MinisterMalcolm Turnbull
Preceded byAlex Hawke
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Deakin
Incumbent
Assumed office
7 September 2013
Preceded byMike Symon
Personal details
Born (1981-09-11) 11 September 1981 (age 43)
Melbourne, Australia
Political partyLiberal
SpouseAnna Duthie
Alma materDeakin University
University of Melbourne
ProfessionPolitician
Lawyer
WebsiteOfficial website

Michael Sven Sukkar (born 11 September 1981) is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the House of Representatives since September 2013, representing the Division of Deakin in Victoria for the Liberal Party.[1] He has served as the Assistant Minister to the Treasurer since 24 January 2017.[2]

Early life and education

Michael Sukkar was born in Ringwood, Victoria. His father was a Lebanese migrant; his mother's father was a Norwegian migrant. They were small business owners. Sukkar grew up in Ringwood and attended primary school at Sacred Heart in Croydon and then secondary school at Aquinas College in Ringwood. He went on to complete a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce at Deakin University and later a Master of Laws at the University of Melbourne.[3][4]

Preparliamentary Career

Prior to entering the Parliament, Sukkar spent seven years working as a lawyer with the firm, Ashurst Australia (then known as Blake Dawson Waldron) where he was a Senior Associate. In this role, he advised many of Australia's most successful individuals and largest corporate groups. Before this role, he worked as a Senior Consultant with accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers where he specialised in taxation.[4]

Parliamentary career

The seat of Deakin was held by the Liberal Party from 1984-2007 but was lost by Phil Barresi to Labor's Mike Symon in 2007. In 2012, Sukkar was endorsed as the Liberal Party for the seat of Deakin. He won Deakin, then the second most marginal seat in Australia, at the 2013 election with a swing to the Liberal Party of 3.8%.[5]

In his maiden speech, Sukkar declared "strength in our local community is not achieved through government mandate, regulation or handouts, but from the principles of looking after your neighbour and doing unto others as you would have them do unto you."[4]

At the 2016 federal election, Sukkar increased his margin by 2.5% and had the Liberal Party's best result in Victoria.[3] "The Labor Party poured a fortune into their campaign to win Deakin back but, owing to his consistent hard work for the community, Michael Sukkar achieved a positive swing of [2.5] per cent," Michael Kroger, State President of the Victorian Liberal Party said.[3][6]

On 24 January 2017, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull appointed Sukkar to the Ministry as Assistant Minister to the Treasurer.[2] Sukkar has previously served on a number of parliamentary committees, including being the Chairman of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.[4]

Sukkar was also given responsibility for addressing housing affordability.[7] On 20 February 2017, Sukkar told Sky News that "We're also enabling young people to get highly paid jobs which is the first step to buying a house, it's not the only answer but it's the first step". [8] Labor MP Tim Watts said in response that the remarks showed the Coalition was “back to where Joe Hockey started on housing affordability”. [9]

References

  1. ^ "Michael Sukkar Candidate for Deakin". Liberal Party of Australia. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  2. ^ a b "New federal ministers officially sworn in". Sky News. Australia. AAP. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "Electorate: Deakin". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d "First Speech". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Deakin Results". Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  6. ^ "Victorian Liberals should be proud of their results". Herald Sun. 2013. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  7. ^ ""Sukkar to tackle housing affordability"". 21 February 2017.
  8. ^ "Coalition MP tasked with housing affordability says 'highly paid job' is 'first step' to home ownership". Sydney Morning Herald. Australia. 21 February 2017.
  9. ^ "Michael Sukkar: get a highly paid job to buy a house". The Australian. 21 February 2017.
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Member for Deakin
2013–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
vacant
 Assistant Minister to the Treasurer
2017–present 		Incumbent
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