Paul Fletcher (politician)

The Honourable
Paul Fletcher
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Bradfield
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 December 2009
Preceded by Brendan Nelson
Personal details
Born 16 January 1965
Devizes, United Kingdom
Political party Liberal
Spouse(s) Manuela
Children 2
Residence Roseville
Alma mater University of Sydney
Columbia Business School
Website Personal Website

Paul William Fletcher (born 16 January 1965) is an Australian politician. He has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of Bradfield, since his election to parliament at the 2009 Bradfield by-election.[1] Fletcher has served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications since September 2013.

Pre-political life and career

Fletcher was born in the English town of Devizes, and came to Australia with his family at age two, before becoming an Australian citizen in the 1980s.[2] He attended Sydney Grammar School, before going on to earn First Class honours degrees in economics and law from the University of Sydney. He later completed a Master of Business Administration degree at Columbia University's Graduate School of Business in New York City as a Fulbright Scholar. In his early career, Fletcher worked as a management consultant, a corporate lawyer for Mallesons Stephen Jaques, and a corporate strategist for TNT Limited. From 1996 to 2000, he worked as Chief of Staff to Minister for Communications Richard Alston, a Liberal Party politician. Fletcher joined Optus in 2000 and worked as Director of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs until 2008. He then founded Fletchergroup Advisers, a strategy consultancy focusing on the communications industry.[3] He also wrote a book entitled Wired Brown Land? Telstra's Battle for Broadband that was published in 2009, discussing Telstra's bid to operate the Australian Government's proposed National Broadband Network.[4]

Candidacy

Fletcher was selected from a field of 17 people to be the Liberal Party candidate, following the retirement of former Liberal Party leader Brendan Nelson. Bradfield, a seat located in the North Shore area of Sydney, has been held continuously by the Liberal Party since its creation in 1949, and is one of the safest Liberal Party seats in Parliament. He was required to renounce his dual British citizenship prior to entering Parliament, as required by Section 44 of the Constitution of Australia.[5] Fletcher had previously unsuccessfully sought Liberal Party pre-selection in the Division of Cook in 2007.[6]

Personal life

Fletcher is married with two children.[7]

References

  1. ↑ NSW DIVISION – BRADFIELD, Australian Electoral Commission, 15 December 2009.
  2. ↑ Salusinszky, Imre (28 September 2009). "Ex-Optus exec enters politics". Australian IT.
  3. ↑ Network Insight Institute (2009). Paul Fletcher. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  4. ↑ New South Books (2009). Wired Brown Land? Telstra's Battle for Broadband. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  5. ↑ Cranston, Belinda (27 September 2009). "UK executive pre-selected for Bradfield". Sydney Morning Herald.
  6. ↑ BrisbaneTimes.com.au (2007). NSW Liberals reject Cook candidate Towke. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  7. ↑ ABC News (2009). Fletcher an outstanding choice for Bradfield: Nelson. Retrieved 27 September 2009.

External links

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
Brendan Nelson		 Member for Bradfield
2009–present 		Incumbent