Simon John Birmingham (born 14 June 1974) is an Australian politician who has been a Senator for South Australia since 2007. A member of the Liberal Party, he served in the Morrison government as Minister for Finance from 2020 to 2022 and as Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment from 2018 to 2020. He previously served as Minister for Education and Training in the Turnbull government from 2015 to 2018, and as a parliamentary secretary and assistant minister in the Abbott government.
Simon Birmingham | |
|---|---|
 Birmingham in 2015 | |
| Leader of the Opposition in the Senate | |
| Assumed office 23 May 2022 | |
| Deputy | Michaelia Cash |
| Leader | Peter Dutton |
| Preceded by | Penny Wong |
| Leader of the Government in the Senate | |
| In office 30 October 2020 – 23 May 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Mathias Cormann |
| Succeeded by | Penny Wong |
Acting | |
| In office 23 August 2018 – 24 August 2018 | |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Deputy | Marise Payne (acting) |
| Preceded by | Mathias Cormann |
| Succeeded by | Mathias Cormann |
| Minister for Finance | |
| In office 30 October 2020 – 23 May 2022 Serving with Scott Morrison | |
| Prime Minister | Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Mathias Cormann |
| Succeeded by | Katy Gallagher |
| Vice-President of the Executive Council | |
| In office 30 October 2020 – 23 May 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Mathias Cormann |
| Succeeded by | Katy Gallagher |
| Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment | |
| In office 28 August 2018 – 22 December 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Steven Ciobo |
| Succeeded by | Dan Tehan |
| Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate | |
| In office 28 August 2018 – 30 October 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Scott Morrison |
| Leader | Mathias Cormann |
| Preceded by | Mitch Fifield |
| Succeeded by | Michaelia Cash |
| Minister for Education and Training | |
| In office 21 September 2015 – 28 August 2018 | |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Christopher Pyne |
| Succeeded by | Dan Tehan |
| Assistant Minister for Education and Training | |
| In office 23 December 2014 – 21 September 2015 | |
| Prime Minister | Tony Abbott Malcolm Turnbull |
| Preceded by | Sussan Ley |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Senator for South Australia | |
| Assumed office 3 May 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Jeannie Ferris |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Simon John Birmingham 14 June 1974 Ashford, Adelaide, South Australia[1] |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Alma mater | University of Adelaide (MBA) |
| Website | senatorbirmingham.com.au |
On 30 October 2020, Birmingham was sworn in as Minister for Finance and became Leader of the Government in the Senate following the resignation of Mathias Cormann.[2]
Following the change of government at the 21 May 2022 election, Birmingham's Senate role became Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, as well as becoming Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs in the shadow ministry of Peter Dutton.
Early life and career
editBirmingham was born in Adelaide on 14 June 1974.[3] He grew up on his family's horse agistment property near Gawler, South Australia.[4] He was educated at Gawler High School and the University of Adelaide; neither of his parents had attended university. He has cited his grandmother Madge Herde, a school principal, as a key influence in his decision to enter politics.[5]
Birmingham was named South Australia's Lions Club Youth of the Year in 1992[6] and awarded the Town of Gawler's Australia Day Young Citizen of the Year Award in 1993. He commenced studying an economics degree, but left his course to work for Senator Robert Hill.[7] He later returned to study and completed a Master of Business Administration from the Adelaide Graduate School of Business, University of Adelaide.[3]
He began his career working as an electorate officer for Senator Robert Hill. In 1997 Birmingham moved from federal to state politics, working as a ministerial advisor to Joan Hall.
Early in 2000 Birmingham moved to Canberra to become the national manager of public affairs for the Australian Hotels Association.[8] In late 2001, Birmingham was appointed chief of staff to the South Australian state minister for tourism and innovation, Martin Hamilton-Smith. Following a change of government in 2002, Birmingham began work with the Winemakers' Federation of Australia where he remained until his appointment to the Senate in 2007.[9]
Political career
editAt the age of 29, Birmingham won Liberal Party preselection for the marginal seat of Hindmarsh at the 2004 federal election following the retirement of sitting member Chris Gallus. The seat was narrowly won by Labor's Steve Georganas.[10]
After an unsuccessful attempt to fill the vacancy created by Robert Hill's retirement from the Senate in 2006, Birmingham won Liberal Party preselection as a Senate candidate in 2007 federal election and was elected for a six-year term. However, he entered the Senate earlier, being appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Senator Jeannie Ferris.[11] At the time of his appointment on 3 May 2007, Birmingham was the youngest member of the Australian Senate. He is identified with the moderate wing of the Liberal Party.[12]
Birmingham served on Senate Environment, Communications, and Arts Committees from May 2007 to February 2010, the Senate Select Committee on the National Broadband Network as well as the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties from 2007 to September 2012. He was also the Chair of the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee (from September 2012), the Deputy Chair of the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee (from September 2012), a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters (from February 2008) and a member of the Joint Committee on the National Broadband Network (from March 2011).[3]
Birmingham is also deputy chair of the Parliamentary Association for UNICEF. Birmingham has a keen interest in water issues including the health and future of the Murray Darling Basin,[13][permanent dead link][14][15] and in December 2008 introduced a Private Member's Bill, Water Amendment (Saving the Goulburn and Murray Rivers) Bill 2008. In December 2009 Birmingham was appointed to the Coalition frontbench as Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Murray Darling Basin and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Action.[16] After the 2010 election he was re-appointed Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Murray Darling Basin and appointed Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment. He also represented the Shadow Minister for Communications and Broadband, Hon Malcolm Turnbull, in the Senate.[17]
In December 2023, he travelled to Israel following the October 7 attacks.[18] His travel and hospitality were funded by AIJAC.[19] He also opposes Australia's vote in favour of United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-10/22 calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip during Israel-Hamas war and called it "woefully inadequate" and "weak and appalling”.[20][21]
In November 2024, Birmingham announced his intention to retire and resign from the Senate around the time of the 2025 federal election.[22] Birmingham's term was not due to expire until 2028 and would not have contested the 2025 election anyway.[23] His upcoming resignation would result in a casual vacancy.
Ministerial appointments
editFollowing the 2013 federal election, Birmingham served in the Abbott Ministry as a parliamentary secretary to the Minister for the Environment and from September 2013 until December 2014;[24] when he was appointed as the Assistant Minister for Education and Training.[25][26] He became the Minister for Education and Training in the First Turnbull Ministry following the Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill, September 2015. Upon the installment of the Morrison Ministry in August 2018, he became the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment.[3]
On 30 October 2020, Birmingham was further appointed as Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister for Finance.[27][28]
Political views
editBirmingham is a member of the moderate or liberal wing of the Liberal Party,[29] and was regarded as a key backer of Malcolm Turnbull in the 2015 leadership contest.[5] According to Andrew Tillett, writing in The Australian Financial Review in August 2019, the retirement of Christopher Pyne saw Birmingham "assume the mantle as the most senior moderate" in the party.[30] In 2021, Nine Entertainment journalist James Massola identified Birmingham as the leader of the party's "Moderate/Modern Liberal" faction in the Morrison government.[31]
Personal life
editBirmingham is married to his former campaign manager Courtney Morcombe, who was the chief of staff to former South Australian premier Steven Marshall.[32] The couple have two daughters.[4]
In a 2013 survey of Australian federal politics, Birmingham was one of only four MPs and senators to publicly identify as atheist.[33]
Birmingham supports the Adelaide Crows in the Australian Football League.[34]
References
edit- ^ "Citizenship Register". Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 18 May 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
- ^ Gailberger, Jade. "Simon Birmingham sworn in as finance minister". The Australian. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Biography". Simon Birmingham. Archived from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ a b Dodd, Tim (5 May 2017). "Simon Birmingham: The man behind Turnbull's stunning Gonski political strike". The Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ "South Australia: Lions Club Youth of the Year". Lions Clubs of Australia. Archived from the original on 22 July 2008.
- ^ "Alumni stars of the Senate". University of Adelaide. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "Building industry tips job losses". The Age. 4 January 2001.[dead link]
- ^ "Simon BirninghamP profile". Q&A. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 29 January 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
- ^ "SA Division - Hindmarsh". Australian Electoral Commission. 9 November 2005. Archived from the original on 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ "Senator Simon John Birmingham". Members and Senators. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 15 May 2009.
- ^ "Loss for Hill's faction in Senate". The Australian. 11 April 2006.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Victoria Slurps Murray as SA Dams". The Independent Weekly. 18 April 2009. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2009.
- ^ "Opinion: Government giving up on our Lower Lakes". The Advertiser. 14 August 2008.
{{cite news}}: Check|url=value (help)[permanent dead link] - ^ "Lack of action is leaving us high and dry". The Advertiser. 25 January 2008.
{{cite news}}: Check|url=value (help)[permanent dead link] - ^ "A Reshaped Coalition Team for Australia's Future". Liberal Party of Australia. 8 December 2009. Archived from the original on 20 February 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2009.
- ^ "Department of the Parliamentary Library - Shadow Ministry". Archived from the original on 17 September 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
- ^ "Simon Birmingham to lead cross-party delegation to Israel". ABC News. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ "The private interests of Senator Simon Birmingham". openpolitics.au. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ "Shadow foreign minister criticises Yes vote for ceasefire". www.abc.net.au. 13 December 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ Knott, Matthew (13 December 2023). "Australia angers Israel with surprise UN ceasefire vote". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
- ^ Speers, David; Evans, Jake; Truu, Maani (28 November 2024). "Liberal senator Simon Birmingham to retire from politics at the next election". ABC News. Archived from the original on 28 November 2024. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ "Senators—service expiry dates". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
- ^ "Abbott Ministry" (PDF). Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Commonwealth of Australia. 18 September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
- ^ "Tony Abbott's revamped Ministry sworn in at Government House". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. 23 December 2014. Archived from the original on 14 September 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
- ^ Taylor, Lenore (21 December 2014). "Tony Abbott cabinet reshuffle moves Scott Morrison out of immigration". Guardian Australia. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2014.
- ^ "Appointment as Minister for Finance". Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. 30 October 2020. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ "Minister for Finance and Senate leadership". Prime Minister of Australia. 8 October 2020. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
- ^ Massola, James (8 April 2023). "How Morrison's shattering defeat gave Dutton a seismic shift in factional power". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ^ Tillett, Andrew (23 August 2019). "The rise of the next generation of factional leaders". The Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ Massola, James (20 March 2021). "Who's who in the Liberals' left, right and centre factions?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
- ^ "Simon Birmingham and Courtney Morcombe: Adelaide's ultimate power couple". The Advertiser. 25 October 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ Sutton, Candace (31 March 2013). "Do Australian MPs believe in God?". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ "Each AFL Teams Biggest Political Fan". Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.