Tim Owen
| Air Commodore Tim Owen AM MSS MP | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Newcastle | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 26 March 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Jodi McKay |
| Majority | 2.6% (2011) |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia |
| Spouse(s) | Charlotte Owen |
| Children | 3 (m) |
| Residence | Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | dickhead |
| Website | Parliamentary webpage |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Australia |
| Service/branch | Royal Australian Air Force |
| Years of service | 1984–2008 |
| Rank | Air Commodore |
| Unit | Surveillance and Response Group |
| Battles/wars | Iraq War Afghanistan war |
Timothy Francis "Tim" Owen AM MSS MP, is an Australian politician and a former deputy commander of the Australian forces. He is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing the electoral district of Newcastle for the Liberal Party of Australia since the 2011 New South Wales State election.[1]
Air Force career
Owen served in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), commencing in 1984, and rising to the rank of Air Commodore and Deputy Commander of the Australian Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Owen's career in the RAAF consisted of him holding various ranks and positions including:[2]
- 1984 Flight Commander, No 114 Mobile Control and Reporting Unit
- 1985 Three year exchange with USAF - responsible for Counter Air Tactics and Joint Battle Management courses at Tyndall AFB, completed abbreviated AWACS conversion
- 1990 Completed RAAF Command and Staff College
- 1992 Commander No 2 Control and Reporting Unit in Darwin
- 1995 Chief of Staff - Air Defence 41 Wing HQ
- 1998 Joint Air Plans, Strategic Command Division
- 1999 Director of Joint Plans
- 2000 Commander Surveillance and Control Group at RAAF Williamtown
- 2005 Commander Surveillance and Response Group
In 1978, Owen moved to Williamtown - the site of a large RAAF military base and has lived in the region, when not on active duty, for 15 years.[3][4] He completed a Masters in Strategic Studies (MSS) in 1999 and resigned from the Air Force and the Australian Defence Force in 2009 and became Chief Executive Officer of CI Agent Solutions,[1] a company that provides oil-spill solutions to the defence and aerospace industry sector.
He is married to Charlotte and they live in Newcastle with three adult sons.
Political career
In October 2010 Owen joined the Liberal Party and on 11 December 2010 was endorsed as the party's candidate for Newcastle at the 2011 state election.[4] Whilst it was widely reported[5] that Labor's chances were running low in the historically safe seat it was expected[6] that the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, John Tate who was running as an independent candidate, was most likely to defeat Jodi McKay, the incumbent Labor member and Minister. Bookies had Owen placed at odds of $5.25 for a win, as an outside chance.[6]
Leaked Labor Party internal polling on the eve of the election showed that Owen and the Liberal Party were well placed to defeat McKay and Tate. The polling showed Owen's primary support at 30 per cent; McKay (Labor) was at 25 per cent; and Tate's vote had "collapsed" to 16 per cent.[7] At the election, Owen achieved a swing of 26.9% and won the seat with 52.6% of the vote on a two party preferred basis.[3]
McKay conceded in a statement to the press that: "The people have had their say... I accept the decision of the Newcastle community that they do not want me to continue in this role."[8] The seat of Newcastle had been held by the Labor Party for its 84 years of existence as a single member electorate, except being held by an independent between 1988 and 1991.[3]
Honours and awards
Owen became a Member of the Order of Australia (Military Division) (AM) on 26 January 2007.[9] He received the Australian Active Service Medal and the Iraq and Afghanistan campaign medals in 2009.[1]
| Ribbon | Description | Notes | Date awarded | Citation |
_ribbon.png){kind=small} | Order of Australia (Military Division) | 26 January 2007 | for exceptional service in the development of the Royal Australian Air Force's surveillance and response capability | |
 | Australian Active Service Medal[1] | with ICAT clasp | 2009 | |
_ribbon.png){kind=small} | Afghanistan Medal[1] | 2009 | ||
_ribbon.png){kind=small} | Iraq Medal[1] | 2009 |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Mr (Tim) Timothy Francis Owen, AM, MSS MP". Members of the NSW Legislative Assembly. Parliament of New South Wales. 21 April 2011. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
- ↑ "AIRCDRE Tim Owen, Commander, RAAF Surveillance and Response Group". Australian Defence Magazine (Yaffa Publishing Group). 10 January 2008. ISSN 1324-6550. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Green, Antony (5 April 2011). "Newcastle". NSW Votes 2011 (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 30 April 2011.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Liberal Party Selects Candidate for Newcastle". Media release. Liberal Party of Australia. 11 December 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
- ↑ Norrie, Justin (25 March 2011). "Tide turns in city taken for granted". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 30 April 2011.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Wood, Alicia (27 February 2011). "Bookies bet on Labor rout". The Border Mail (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ↑ Harris, Michelle (25 March 2011). "ALP polling shows Liberals set for win". The Newcastle Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ↑ "Jodi McKay concedes defeat". The Newcastle Herald (Fairfax Media). 31 March 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ↑ "Search Australian honours: OWEN, Timothy Francis". Commonwealth of Australia. 26 January 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
| Parliament of New South Wales | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jodi McKay |
Member for Newcastle 2011 – present |
Incumbent |