John Faulkner
| Senator The Honourable John Faulkner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister for Defence | |
| In office 9 June 2009 – 13 September 2010 | |
| Prime Minister | Kevin Rudd Julia Gillard |
| Preceded by | Joel Fitzgibbon |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Smith |
| Vice-President of the Executive Council | |
| In office 3 December 2007 – 13 September 2010 | |
| Prime Minister | Kevin Rudd Julia Gillard |
| Preceded by | Nick Minchin |
| Succeeded by | Robert McClelland |
| Special Minister of State | |
| In office 3 December 2007 – 9 June 2009 | |
| Prime Minister | Kevin Rudd |
| Preceded by | Gary Nairn |
| Succeeded by | Joe Ludwig |
| Minister for the Environment, Sport and Territories | |
| In office 25 March 1994 – 11 March 1996 | |
| Prime Minister | Paul Keating |
| Preceded by | Graham Richardson |
| Succeeded by | Robert Hill (Environment) Warwick Smith (Sport, Territories and Local Government) |
| Minister for Defence Science and Personnel | |
| In office 24 March 1993 – 25 March 1994 | |
| Prime Minister | Paul Keating |
| Preceded by | Gordon Bilney |
| Succeeded by | Gary Punch |
| Minister for Veterans' Affairs | |
| In office 24 March 1993 – 25 March 1994 | |
| Prime Minister | Paul Keating |
| Preceded by | Ben Humphreys |
| Succeeded by | Con Sciacca |
| Senator for New South Wales | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 4 April 1989 | |
| Preceded by | Arthur Gietzelt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 April 1954 Leeton, Australia |
| Political party | Labor Party |
| Alma mater | Macquarie University |
| Website | Official website |
John Philip Faulkner (born 12 April 1954) is an Australian politician. He has been a Labor member of the Australian Senate since 1989, representing the state of New South Wales. Following a period serving on various Senate Committees and as Deputy Whip, he was a Minister in the Keating Labor government 1993–96. Following several years in opposition as a Shadow Minister, he was appointed in 2007 as Vice-President of the Executive Council and Special Minister of State in the First Rudd Government. He was Minister for Defence from June 2009 to September 2010.[1]
He announced in July 2010 that he would return to the backbench after the 2010 election,[2] and subsequently was replaced as Defence Minister by Stephen Smith on 13 September 2010.[3]
Within Labor circles, Faulkner's elder statesman status is virtually unrivalled by any presently active politician.[4]
Early career
Faulkner was born in Leeton, New South Wales on 12 April 1954, and was educated at Macquarie University, Sydney, where he graduated in Arts and Education (BA, DipEd). He worked as a Special Education teacher in government schools before entering politics from 1977 to 1979. In 1980 he was employed as a Research officer to the New South Wales Minister for Sport and Recreation, Ken Booth. Gaining prominence within the ALP, he was made Assistant General Secretary of the NSW party in 1980, serving for nine years and became a member of the ALP National Executive in 1989.[1]
A leading member of the Socialist Left faction of the ALP, Faulkner was appointed to the Senate in 1989 to succeed the former left-wing minister Arthur Gietzelt, who had resigned mid-term. In the Keating Labor government, Faulkner was Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister for Defence Science and Personnel 1993–94, and Minister for the Environment, Sport and Territories, with a seat in the Cabinet, 1994–96.
After the defeat of the Keating government in 1996, Faulkner became Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, and was a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry 1996–2004. He was at various times Shadow Minister for Social Security, Public Administration and Home Affairs. He was a key Labor strategist in the 1998, 2001 and 2004 federal elections, and was a particularly close advisor to Mark Latham during the 2004 election. In the wake of Labor's defeat in that election, he resigned his positions. [5] In October 2006 John Faulkner was elected as the National President of the Australian Labor Party until February 2008. Three people are elected to the rotating position of Party President every three years, each serving one year. Faulkner chaired the ALP's National Conference in 2007, and each of the rotating Presidents will chair the National Executive for one year.
Government minister
John Faulkner was the Vice-President of the Executive Council, Special Minister of State and Cabinet Secretary in the First Rudd Ministry. In his role he introduced new rules for ministerial conduct and fundraising aimed at reducing the influence of lobbyists on government decisions. He also introduced new guidelines reducing the overt political control of government funded advertising.[6]
On 5 June 2009, John Faulkner was announced as the new Minister for Defence, replacing Joel Fitzgibbon, who had stepped down the previous day. He was sworn in on 9 June.[7][8] He has retained this portfolio in the First Gillard Government.
On 7 July 2010 Faulkner announced that he would step down as Defence Minister and return to the backbench after the next election.[9]
Personal life
Faulkner was formerly married to fellow Labor politician Sandra Nori and they have two children.[10] He is also known for his distinctive glasses.[11]
Publications
John Faulkner has authored or co-authored several books on the subject of representative government and the history of the Australian Labor Party.
- Costar, Brian; Meg Lees, Helen Coonan, John Faulkner, Harry Evans (2000). Deadlock or Democracy? The Future of the Senate. Sydney: UNSW Press. 57 pages. ISBN 0-86840-570-1.
- Faulkner, John; Stuart Macintyre (2001). True believers: the story of the federal parliamentary Labor Party. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin. 328 pages. ISBN 1-86508-609-6.
- Faulkner, John (2005). Parliamentary privilege: precedents, procedure and practice in the Australian Senate 1966–2005. Canberra: Senate Committee of Privileges. 201 pages. ISBN 0-642-71601-3.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Biography for FAULKNER, the Hon. John Philip". Parlinfo. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 21 April 2007.
- ↑ Gillard minister to quit: Faulkner to go to backbench – The Age 7 July 2010
- ↑
- ↑ Enough is enough – it's time to name the date as election climate heats up: Brisbane Times 11 July 2010
- ↑ No bluff, Faulkner just resigns
- ↑ Liberals play spot the hypocrite on political accountability
- ↑ Inside Story, 1 September 2009
- ↑ SBS World News, 9 June 2009
- ↑ Faulkner to step down
- ↑ "Nori, Sandra (1953 – )". Australian Women's Archives Project. National Foundation for Australian Women & University of Melbourne. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ↑ John Faulkner: the probing, relentless politician, Australian Associated Press via The Sydney Morning Herald, 5 June 2009
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Faulkner. |
- Personal website
- Senator The Hon. John Faulkner – Parliament of Australia
- John Faulkner – Senator for New South Wales – ALP profile
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ben Humphreys |
Minister for Veterans' Affairs 1993–1994 |
Succeeded by Con Sciacca |
| Preceded by Gordon Bilney |
Minister for Defence Science and Personnel 1993–1994 |
Succeeded by Gary Punch |
| Preceded by Graham Richardson |
Minister for the Environment, Sport and Territories 1994–1996 |
Succeeded by Robert Hill as Minister for the Environment |
| Succeeded by Warwick Smith as Minister for Sport, Territories and Local Government | ||
| Preceded by Gary Nairn |
Special Minister of State 2007–2009 |
Succeeded by Joe Ludwig |
| Preceded by Nick Minchin |
Vice-President of the Executive Council 2007–2010 |
Succeeded by Robert McClelland |
| Preceded by Joel Fitzgibbon |
Minister for Defence 2009–2010 |
Succeeded by Stephen Smith |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Gareth Evans |
Leader of the Labor Party in the Senate 1996–2004 |
Succeeded by Chris Evans |
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