Tony Burke
Encyclopedia
Anthony Stephen 'Tony' Burke (born 4 November 1969) is an Australian politician representing the Labor Party
, and the current Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (Australia). He first entered public office in 2003 as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
. In October 2004 Burke moved from state to federal parliament on being elected to the federal seat of Watson
, New South Wales.
, where he was Vice-Captain, and the University of Sydney
, where he graduated in arts and law. An accomplished debater, he was awarded the Martin Sorensen award for best speaker at the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships
in 1995.
He was a founding director of Aticus Pty Ltd, an advocacy training business across Australia and Asia.
From 1997 until 2003, Burke worked as an organiser for the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association.
On 22 March 2003, he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council
. He chaired the NSW State Development Committee, conducting inquiries into ports infrastructure, and science and its commercialisation. Burke resigned from the NSW state parliament on 24 June 2004 to campaign for the federal parliament division of Watson. He successfully gained the seat at the 2004 federal election.
was elected leader and conducted a further reshuffle, expanding the portfolio to Immigration, Integration and Citizenship. On 29 November 2007, Burke was selected by the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
as the next Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
, and was sworn in on 3 December 2007.
On 2 April 2010, Kevin Rudd announced that Burke was the inaugural federal Minister for Population. The responsibilities of the office were to include planning the growth of the Australian population and coordinating provision of services to the increasing numbers of people living in Australia.
Following the 2010 Australian Election, he was appointed Minister of the new portfolio of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.
Burke is the first Member of Parliament to use an iPad
during Question Time
in the House of Representatives
when answering questions in parliament. Traditionally, in Question Time, ministers use notes on pieces of paper as an aide-mémoire
in responding to questions at the dispatch box.
In early 2011 (after delaying his decision due to Gunns Limited coming to his department and asking for tougher environment standards to be imposed on their proposed pulp mill development – http://www.gunnspulpmill.com.au/iis/default.php) the Federal Environment Minister, Tony Burke, gave final approval for the proposed pulp mill in the Tamar Valley to go ahead . Burke gave the final approval for Gunns' proposed pulp mill, on the basis of tougher environmental conditions requested by the company itself. Minister Burke says many of the demands made by environmental groups opposed to the development have been addressed (http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/gunns/index.html).
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...
, and the current Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (Australia). He first entered public office in 2003 as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
. In October 2004 Burke moved from state to federal parliament on being elected to the federal seat of Watson
Division of Watson
The Division of Watson is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It is located in the southern suburbs of Sydney, and includes the suburbs of Belfield, Belmore, Burwood Heights, Campsie, Chullora, Clemton Park, Enfield, Greenacre, Lakemba, Mount Lewis, Roselands,...
, New South Wales.
Background
Tony Burke was educated at Regina Coeli, then at St Patrick's College, StrathfieldSt Patrick's College, Strathfield
St Patrick's College is an independent, Roman Catholic, day school for boys, located in Strathfield in the inner west of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
, where he was Vice-Captain, and the University of Sydney
University 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 in arts and law. An accomplished debater, he was awarded the Martin Sorensen award for best speaker at the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships
Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships
The Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships is an annual debating tournament for teams from universities in the Australasian region. It is one of the world's largest debating tournaments, second only in size to the World Universities Debating Championship , and one of the largest annual...
in 1995.
He was a founding director of Aticus Pty Ltd, an advocacy training business across Australia and Asia.
From 1997 until 2003, Burke worked as an organiser for the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees' Association.
On 22 March 2003, he was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
. He chaired the NSW State Development Committee, conducting inquiries into ports infrastructure, and science and its commercialisation. Burke resigned from the NSW state parliament on 24 June 2004 to campaign for the federal parliament division of Watson. He successfully gained the seat at the 2004 federal election.
Federal Parliament
Burke was appointed as Shadow Minister for Small Business immediately after his election, and in June 2005 was promoted to Shadow Minister for Immigration. In December 2006 Kevin RuddKevin 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...
was elected leader and conducted a further reshuffle, expanding the portfolio to Immigration, Integration and Citizenship. On 29 November 2007, Burke was selected by the 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...
as the next Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia)
The current Australian Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is Senator the Hon Joe Ludwig.-Portfolio responsibilities:The minister administers his portfolio through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and its component bodies:...
, and was sworn in on 3 December 2007.
On 2 April 2010, Kevin Rudd announced that Burke was the inaugural federal Minister for Population. The responsibilities of the office were to include planning the growth of the Australian population and coordinating provision of services to the increasing numbers of people living in Australia.
Following the 2010 Australian Election, he was appointed Minister of the new portfolio of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities.
Burke is the first Member of Parliament to use an iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
during Question Time
Question Time
Question time in a parliament occurs when members of the parliament ask questions of government ministers , which they are obliged to answer. It usually occurs daily while parliament is sitting, though it can be cancelled in exceptional circumstances...
in the House of Representatives
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....
when answering questions in parliament. Traditionally, in Question Time, ministers use notes on pieces of paper as an aide-mémoire
Aide-mémoire
In international relations, an aide-mémoire is a proposed agreement or negotiating text circulated informally among delegations for discussion without committing the originating delegation's country to the contents. It has no identified source, title, or attribution and no standing in the...
in responding to questions at the dispatch box.
In early 2011 (after delaying his decision due to Gunns Limited coming to his department and asking for tougher environment standards to be imposed on their proposed pulp mill development – http://www.gunnspulpmill.com.au/iis/default.php) the Federal Environment Minister, Tony Burke, gave final approval for the proposed pulp mill in the Tamar Valley to go ahead . Burke gave the final approval for Gunns' proposed pulp mill, on the basis of tougher environmental conditions requested by the company itself. Minister Burke says many of the demands made by environmental groups opposed to the development have been addressed (http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/gunns/index.html).