Chris Bowen
Encyclopedia
Christopher Eyles "Chris" Bowen (born 17 January 1973), an Australian federal politician, is a member of the Australian House of Representatives
, initially elected to represent the seat of Prospect
in western Sydney for the Australian Labor Party
at the 2004 federal election. Bowen was re-elected at the 2007 federal election and, at the 2010 federal election, elected to represent the seat of McMahon
, following the abolition of the seat of Prospect.
, where he graduated with an undergraduate degree in Economics. He was elected to Fairfield City Council
in 1995 and was Mayor of Fairfield in 1998 and 1999. He was elected President of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils
(WSROC) in 1999 and served as President until 2001. Bowen has openly stated that he is an atheist.
after she retired after 25 years in both state and federal politics.
In 2006, Bowen was appointed to the Labor front bench as Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Revenue and Competition Policy. In December 2007 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
appointed him Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs. In June 2009 Bowen was promoted to cabinet as Minister for Financial Services, Superannuation and Corporate Law and Minister for Human Services.
In April 2010 Bowen announced significant reforms to the financial services sector including banning of commissions for financial planners giving advice on retail investment products including superannuation, managed investments and margin loans; instituting a statutory fiduciary duty so that financial advisers must act in the best interests of their clients, and increasing the powers of the corporate regulator; the Australian Securities and Investments Commission
. The reforms were partially a response to the high profile collapse of Storm Financial
, Westpoint and Opes Prime and the resultant losses for retail investors, but also reflected global concerns with financial governance following the Global Financial crisis of 2007–2010. The reforms are due to be fully implemented on 1 July 2012.
In September 2010, Bowen was appointed Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, succeeding Senator Chris Evans
.
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
, initially elected to represent the seat of Prospect
Division of Prospect
The Division of Prospect was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales from 1969 to 2010. It was located in the western suburbs of Sydney, and included the suburbs of Fairfield, Smithfield, Kemps Creek, St Clair, Horsley Park and those parts of the suburb of Prospect south of...
in western Sydney for the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
at the 2004 federal election. Bowen was re-elected at the 2007 federal election and, at the 2010 federal election, elected to represent the seat of McMahon
Division of McMahon
The Division of McMahon is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It is located in the western suburbs of Sydney, and includes the suburbs of Abbotsbury, Blacktown , Bossley Park, Canley Vale, Cecil Park, Eastern Creek, Edensor Park, Erskine Park, Fairfield, Fairfield...
, following the abolition of the seat of Prospect.
Early years and background
Bowen was educated at Smithfield Public School, St Johns Park High School and the University of SydneyUniversity of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, where he graduated with an undergraduate degree in Economics. He was elected to Fairfield City Council
City of Fairfield
The City of Fairfield is a Local Government Area in the south-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia.- Suburbs in the local government area :Suburbs in the City of Fairfield are:* Abbotsbury* Bonnyrigg* Bonnyrigg Heights* Bossley Park...
in 1995 and was Mayor of Fairfield in 1998 and 1999. He was elected President of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils
Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils
Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils is one of the oldest Regional Organisations of Councils or ROCs in NSW, Australia. It was formed in November 1973 to represent the councils of Western Sydney and to advocate for the people of the region...
(WSROC) in 1999 and served as President until 2001. Bowen has openly stated that he is an atheist.
Political career
In 2004, Bowen was elected to the House of Representatives replacing Janice CrosioJanice Crosio
Janice Ann Crosio, AM, MBE , Australian politician, was an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives.-Early life:...
after she retired after 25 years in both state and federal politics.
In 2006, Bowen was appointed to the Labor front bench as Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Revenue and Competition Policy. In December 2007 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
appointed him Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs. In June 2009 Bowen was promoted to cabinet as Minister for Financial Services, Superannuation and Corporate Law and Minister for Human Services.
In April 2010 Bowen announced significant reforms to the financial services sector including banning of commissions for financial planners giving advice on retail investment products including superannuation, managed investments and margin loans; instituting a statutory fiduciary duty so that financial advisers must act in the best interests of their clients, and increasing the powers of the corporate regulator; the Australian Securities and Investments Commission
Australian Securities and Investments Commission
The Australian Securities & Investments Commission is an independent Australian government body that acts as Australia's corporate regulator...
. The reforms were partially a response to the high profile collapse of Storm Financial
Storm Financial
Storm Financial Limited was a financial advice company, based in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. The company was founded by Emmanual Cassimatis and his wife Julie Cassimatis in 2004. It went into administration in January 2009 and was placed in liquidation on 26 March 2009...
, Westpoint and Opes Prime and the resultant losses for retail investors, but also reflected global concerns with financial governance following the Global Financial crisis of 2007–2010. The reforms are due to be fully implemented on 1 July 2012.
In September 2010, Bowen was appointed Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, succeeding Senator Chris Evans
Chris Evans (Australian politician)
Christopher Vaughan Evans is an Australian politician and a member of the Australian Senate for the state of Western Australia, representing the Australian Labor Party.-Early life:...
.
See also
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives, 2004–2007
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives, 2007–2010
- Rudd Ministry
- Gillard MinistryGillard MinistryThe First Gillard Ministry was the 66th Australian ministry. It was led by Julia Gillard of the Australian Labor Party.The Gillard Ministry took effect on 24 June 2010 with the swearing in of Julia Gillard as Prime Minister and Wayne Swan as Deputy Prime Minister. All the members of former Prime...