Bruce Billson

The Honourable
Bruce Billson
MP
Minister for Small Business
Incumbent
Assumed office
18 September 2013
Prime Minister Tony Abbott
Preceded by Gary Gray
Minister for Veterans' Affairs
In office
23 March 2007 – 3 December 2007
Prime Minister John Howard
Preceded by De-Anne Kelly
Succeeded by Alan Griffin
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Dunkley
Incumbent
Assumed office
2 March 1996
Preceded by Bob Chynoweth
Personal details
Born 26 January 1966
Albury, New South Wales, Australia
Political party Liberal Party of Australia
Spouse(s) Kate (née McCahon)
Alma mater Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Occupation Politician

Bruce Frederick Billson (born 26 January 1966) is an Australian politician. He is a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives representing the Division of Dunkley in Victoria since 1996.[1] Billson has been the Minister for Small Business since 18 September 2013.[2]

Early life and education

He was born in Albury, New South Wales, and moved to Seaford (in what is now the Division of Dunkley) as a child. He was educated at Monterey High School in Frankston North and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. He was Manager of Corporate Development, for the Shire of Hastings, a Ministerial Adviser to the Victorian Minister for Natural Resources, and policy adviser to the Shadow Minister for the Environment, Senator Rod Kemp, before entering politics.[1]

Career

Billson was appointed the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs in 2004.[1] In 2005, he was also appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, and, in 2006, he was promoted to Minister for Veterans' Affairs – a position he retained until the defeat of the Howard government in the 2007 federal election.[1]

In 2007, he was appointed Shadow Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. In 2009, he was then appointed the Shadow Minister for Sustainable Development and Cities.[1] and after the 2010 election he was appointed Shadow Minister for Small Business, Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs.[3]

Following the 2013 election he was sworn in to the cabinet as the Minister for Small Business.

Personal life

He is married to Kate and has four children: Alexander, Zoe, Madeline and Isabella.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 About Bruce – Bruce Billson: Member for Dunkley
  2. ↑ "Tony Abbott's cabinet and outer ministry". smh.com.au. AAP. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  3. ↑ http://www.aph.gov.au/Library/parl/43/Shadow/index.htm

External links


Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Bob Chynoweth		 Member for Dunkley
1996–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
De-Anne Kelly		 Minister for Veterans' Affairs
2007 		Succeeded by
Alan Griffin
Preceded by
Gary Gray		 Minister for Small Business
2013–present 		Incumbent