Tony Burke

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with Anthony D. Burke or Tony Bourke (Australian politician).
For the British trade unionist, see Tony Burke (British trade unionist).

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
In office
3 December 2007 – 14 September 2010
Prime MinisterKevin Rudd
Julia Gillard
Preceded byPeter McGauran
Succeeded byJoe Ludwig
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Watson
Assumed office
9 October 2004
Preceded byLeo McLeay
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
In office
22 March 2003 – 24 June 2004
Succeeded byEric Roozendaal
Personal details
Born
Anthony Stephen Burke

(1969-11-04) 4 November 1969 (age 54)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Political partyLabor
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
Signature
Websitewww.tonyburke.com.au

Anthony Stephen Burke (born 4 November 1969) is an Australian politician serving as Leader of the House, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for the Arts since 2022. He is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), and has served as member of parliament (MP) for Watson since 2004. He held cabinet positions in the governments of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard from 2007 to 2013.

Burke is a graduate of the

Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship in his subsequent government. He held these positions for less than three months, as Labor was defeated in the 2013 federal election
.

In opposition, Burke served as the Manager of Opposition Business under Bill Shorten and Anthony Albanese, and held various positions in the shadow cabinet. After Labor's victory in the 2022 election, Burke would become Leader of the House, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for the Arts in the Albanese government.

Early life

Burke was raised in a

Catholic family of Irish descent.[1] He attended Catholic schools, Regina Coeli (Beverly Hills, NSW) and St Patrick's College (Strathfield, NSW), where he was Vice-Captain.[2] He attended the University of Sydney where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws. He was also awarded the Martin Sorensen Trophy for Best Speaker at the 1994 Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships.[3]

From 1993 to 1995, Burke worked as a staffer to Labor senators

Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association (SDA) as a union organiser.[4] He left the SDA in 2003 to run for the New South Wales Legislative Council.[5]

State politics

At the 2003 state election, Burke was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council. He chaired the NSW State Development Committee, conducting inquiries into ports infrastructure and science commercialisation.[5] A view gradually formed that Burke's talents were wasted in the NSW Legislative Council and he resigned from state parliament on 24 June 2004 to campaign for the New South Wales division of Watson. He won the seat at the 2004 federal election.[4]

Federal politics

A member of

2006 leadership spill, the new leader Kevin Rudd expanded Burke's portfolio to Immigration, Integration and Citizenship.[4]

Rudd and Gillard governments

Burke at a 2005 protest against the Howard government's industrial relations policy

After the

the horse flu in Australia after the 2007 equine influenza outbreak.[8]

On 2 April 2010, Rudd appointed Burke as

Minister for Population.[4] The appointment came after Rudd stated he was in favour of a "big Australia" in response to demographic projections in the Government's Intergenerational Report showing the population of Australia would increase from 22 million in 2010 to 35 million in 2050.[9]
Burke's responsibilities included planning for the growth in Australia's population and coordinating the provision of services accordingly.

Following the

ALP leadership spill, Burke was also appointed Vice-President of the Executive Council.[4]

As

Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Burke established the Commonwealth Marine Reserve Network, the largest network of marine protected areas anywhere in the World and the world's second largest conservation determination after the preservation of Antarctica.[10]

Burke also added koalas to the threatened species list in Queensland, NSW and the ACT.[11] He also placed a ban on a controversial Dutch "super trawler" fishing vessel operating in waters off Tasmania.[12]

He acted as a mediator in the long-running dispute between environmental groups and the Tasmanian forestry industry, culminating in the signing of the historic Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement in 2011.[13]

Burke often cites Labor's environmental credentials and the campaign to protect the

World Heritage Sites. In 2014, the Abbott government’s application to undo Burke's Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage listing was rejected by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.[14] The Portuguese delegation called the delisting attempt "feeble".[14]

In early 2011, Burke gave approval for the 100 per cent plantation timber

Gunns Limited.[15] Burke said many of the demands made by environmental groups opposed to the development had been addressed.[16]

Burke in a 2014 protest against the Abbott government's proposed changes to section 18(c) of the Racial Discrimination Act

On 22 November 2012, Burke developed, negotiated and signed into law the

Murray Darling Basin Plan, a process more than 100 years in the making, after extensive consultation with irrigators, environmental groups and state governments.[17]

On 25 March 2013, Burke was appointed

June 2013 Labor leadership spill, which saw Gillard lose the Labor leadership, Rudd rejected Burke's offer to resign from the ministry.[19] Burke, a Gillard supporter, had been critical of Rudd's performance during his previous tenure.[19]

Rudd subsequently appointed Burke as

Second Rudd Ministry. In this role he oversaw Rudd's resettlement plans with Papua New Guinea and Nauru, which saw an immediate and dramatic reduction in the number of people arriving by boat. During his short time as Minister for Immigration he also sought to release every unaccompanied minor who was in immigration detention.[20]

Opposition (2013–2022)

Following Labor's 2013 election loss, Burke was appointed Shadow Finance Minister and Manager of Opposition Business.[4]

After the 2016 federal election, Burke was appointed Shadow Minister for Environment and Water, Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Australia, Shadow Minister for the Arts, in addition to his duties as the Manager of Opposition Business.[4]

In 2019, he became Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, ending his roles in Environment and Water, and Citizenship and Multicultural Australia, but retaining the Arts.[21]

Albanese government (2022–present)

Following the 2022 federal election, Burke was appointed Leader of the House, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister for the Arts in the Albanese ministry.[4]

Other political issues

Death penalty

While in opposition, Burke led an unsuccessful bipartisan appeal for

SBS Better Man miniseries about Nguyen's case. At the launch, Burke referred to the meeting with the Singapore High Commissioner as "the worst day" of his political career and "potentially the most troubling day" of his life.[22]

Racial Discrimination Act

Burke has been a vocal opponent of the Liberal National government's attempts to repeal Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.[23][24] In May 2014, Burke held a march against the changes to Section 18C in the Sydney suburb of Lakemba. The event was attended by more than 1,000 people protesting against the changes, which were subsequently dropped by the Abbott government.[23]

The "Walk for Respect" was held again in 2017 in Lakemba when the Turnbull government again sought to remove certain protections against speech potentially considered to be racially offensive. The Walk was held on the same day the senate rejected the government amendments, this time with 3000 in attendance.[1]

Euthanasia

Burke is opposed to the legalisation of euthanasia. He has said his opposition stems from the case of a friend who was incorrectly diagnosed with a terminal illness.[25] In the 1990s, Burke served as the executive director of Euthanasia No!, a group that lobbied state and federal governments against altering the status quo on euthanasia. In 1996, he and a pro-euthanasia campaigner, Peter Baume, were invited to address the New South Wales Legislative Assembly before a debate on the subject, one of only a handful of occasions on which non-MPs have been invited to speak in parliament.[26][27] He was later tasked with lobbying Labor senators to vote for what became the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997, which voided the Northern Territory's euthanasia laws.[28][29]

Same-sex marriage

Burke publicly announced his support of marriage equality in May 2015,[30] and voted in favour of the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017.[31] He had previously voted against the Marriage Amendment Bill 2012, citing opposition within his constituency.[32] His division had the second-highest percentage of "No" responses in the 2017 Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, with 69.64% of the electorate's respondents to the survey responding "No".[33]

Personal life

Burke married Cathy Bresnan in 1994; after commencing their relationship in 1989. She subsequently took the surname "Bresnan-Burke". The couple had three daughters together, but separated at the end of December 2012, the separation was not disclosed until the completion of the Federal Election in September 2013. In February 2014, The Australian reported that Burke had recently commenced a relationship with Skye Laris, his former chief of staff.[34] Burke and Laris married in December 2015.[citation needed]

He is also known for his love of music and keeps musical instruments in his Parliament House office.[35]

Burke has coeliac disease.[36]

See also

  • Rudd Government (2007–10)
  • Gillard Government
  • Rudd Government (2013)
  • Albanese Government

References

  1. ^ a b c d Davis, Mark (30 December 2006). "The fine art of persuasion". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 March 2011.
  2. ^ "St Pat's old boys making their mark". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 December 2007. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  3. ^ "Tony Burke likely to be next Labor PM". The Sydney Morning Herald. 30 December 2013. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Hon Tony Burke MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  5. ^ a b "The Hon. (Tony) Anthony Stephen Burke (1969– )". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  6. ^ "Labor's new-look shadow ministry". SBS News. Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Taking apart Australia". ipa.org.au. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  8. ^ "Horse flu crackdown easing". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 4 February 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  9. ^ "Rudd welcomes 'big Australia'". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 October 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  10. ^ "Gillard government creates the world's biggest marine reserves network". environment.gov.au. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  11. ^ "Koalas added to threatened species list - ABC News". ABC News. 30 April 2012.
  12. ^ "Super trawler banned for two years | Observer". Archived from the original on 18 October 2020.
  13. ^ "Landmark conservation agreement signed to protect Tasmania's native forests". environment.gov.au. 13 January 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  14. ^ a b "UNESCO rejects 'feeble' Abbott government bid to wind back protection of Tasmanian forests". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  15. ^ "Gunns Bell Bay Pulp Mill". deh.gov.au. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  16. ^ "Tasmanian pulp mill gets green light". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  17. ^ "Murray-Darling Basin Plan signed into law at last". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  18. ^ "Meet the New Arts Minister Tony Burke". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 17 April 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  19. ^ a b "Tony Burke's resignation rejected by Rudd". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  20. ^ "Minister Tony Burke's sneaky stance on asylum seekers". Mamamia. 11 September 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  21. ^ "Hon Tony Burke MP". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  22. ^ "Burke recalls failed plea as 'worst day' of his career". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 July 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  23. ^ a b "Racial Discrimination Act: Protesters march in Lakemba against changes to Section 18c". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  24. ^ "Interview: Shadow Finance Minister Tony Burke". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  25. ^ Patricia Karvelas (19 August 2016). "Euthanasia debate: Tony Burke cites friend's HIV as reason against laws, rejects 'Catholic force' claims". ABC News. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  26. ^ NSW PARLIAMENT: VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA (1996). Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  27. ^ Address of Mr Tony Burke, Executive Director of Euthanasia No! to the NSW Legislative Assembly, ACT Right to Life. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  28. ^ Jodie Brough (29 March 1997). "The last rights". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
  29. ^ Michael Edwards (10 August 2016). "Andrew Denton lashes out at 'subterranean Catholic force' blocking voluntary euthanasia laws". ABC News. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  30. ^ Tony Burke (25 May 2015). "Tony Burke: why I will now vote for gay marriage". ABC News. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  31. SBS News
    . 15 November 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  32. ^ Dan Harrison (24 May 2015). "Labor's Tony Burke becomes latest MP to back same sex marriage". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  33. ^ "Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey 2017 Response Final". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 15 November 2017.
  34. ^ Sharri Markson; David Davidson (24 February 2014). "Burke makes big move to Skye". The Australian. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  35. ^ Alex, ABC News; Beech, ra (5 May 2017). "Tony Burke keeps a collection of guitars in his office at Parliament House. (April 2017)". ABC News. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  36. ^ Savva, Niki (2 March 2022). "Albanese's eclectic entourage could make or break him at the polls". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 28 March 2022.

External links

 

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Member of Parliament for
Watson
2004–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

2007–2010 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities

2010–2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice-President of the Executive Council
2013 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Arts
2013
Preceded by
Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship

2013 		Succeeded byas Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
Preceded by Leader of the House
2022–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
2022–present
Preceded by Minister for the Arts
2022–present
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