Chris Bowen

The Honourable Chris Bowen MP
Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research
Incumbent
Assumed office 4 February 2013
Prime Minister	Julia Gillard
Preceded by	Chris Evans
Minister for Small Business
Incumbent
Assumed office 4 February 2013
Preceded by	Brendan O'Connor
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
In office 14 September 2010 – 4 February 2013
Prime Minister	Julia Gillard
Preceded by	Chris Evans
Succeeded by	Brendan O'Connor
Minister for Financial Services, Superannuation and Corporate Law
Prime Minister	Kevin Rudd Julia Gillard
Preceded by	Nick Sherry
Succeeded by	Bill Shorten
Member of the Australian Parliament for Prospect
In office 9 October 2004 – 21 August 2010
Preceded by	Janice Crosio
Succeeded by	seat abolished
Member of the Australian Parliament for McMahon
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 August 2010
Preceded by	new seat
Personal details
Born	(1973-01-17) 17 January 1973 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Political party	Australian Labor Party
Spouse	Rebecca Mifsud
Residence	Smithfield
Alma mater	The University of Sydney (USYD)
Occupation	Politician

Christopher Eyles "Chris" Bowen (born 17 January 1973), an Australian federal politician, is a member of the Australian House of Representatives, initially elected to represent the seat of Prospect in western Sydney for the Australian Labor Party at the 2004 federal election. Bowen was re-elected at the 2007 federal election and, at the 2010 federal election, elected to represent the seat of McMahon, following the abolition of the seat of Prospect.

Early years and background

Bowen was educated at Smithfield Public School, St Johns Park High School and the University of Sydney, where he graduated with an undergraduate degree in Economics. He was elected to Fairfield City Council in 1995 and was Mayor of Fairfield in 1998 and 1999. He was elected President of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) in 1999 and served as President until 2001.

Political career

In 2004, Bowen was elected to the House of Representatives replacing Janice Crosio after she retired after 25 years in both state and federal politics.

In 2006, Bowen was appointed to the Labor front bench as Shadow Assistant Treasurer and Shadow Minister for Revenue and Competition Policy. In December 2007 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd appointed him Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs. In June 2009 Bowen was promoted to cabinet as Minister for Financial Services, Superannuation and Corporate Law and Minister for Human Services.

In April 2010 Bowen announced significant reforms to the financial services sector including banning of commissions for financial planners giving advice on retail investment products including superannuation, managed investments and margin loans; instituting a statutory fiduciary duty so that financial advisers must act in the best interests of their clients, and increasing the powers of the corporate regulator; the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. The reforms were partially a response to the high profile collapse of Storm Financial, Westpoint and Opes Prime and the resultant losses for retail investors, but also reflected global concerns with financial governance following the Global Financial crisis of 2007–2010. The reforms are due to be fully implemented on 1 July 2012.

In September 2010, Bowen was appointed Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, succeeding Senator Chris Evans. On 2 February 2013 Bowen replaced Evans as Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research. Evans is also Minister for Small Business.

See also

• Members of the Australian House of Representatives, 2004–2007
• Members of the Australian House of Representatives, 2007–2010
• Rudd Ministry
• First Gillard Ministry
• Second Gillard Ministry

External links

• Chris Bowen's official website
• Search or browse Hansard for Chris Bowen at OpenAustralia.org
• Profile on the Parliament of Australia website