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Greg Combet

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The Honourable
Greg Combet
AM MP
Minister for Climate Change, Industry and Innovation[1]
In office
14 September 2010 – 26 June 2013
Prime MinisterJulia Gillard
Preceded byPenny Wong
Minister for Industry and Innovation
In office
25 March 2013 – 26 June 2013
Prime MinisterJulia Gillard
Preceded byKim Carr
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Charlton
Incumbent
Assumed office
24 November 2007
Preceded byKelly Hoare
Personal details
Born (1958-04-28) 28 April 1958 (age 66)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Political partyAustralian Labor Party
Children1 daughter, 1 stepdaughter, 1 stepson
Alma materUniversity of New South Wales
University of Sydney
ProfessionMining engineer and trade unionist
Websitehttp://www.gregcombet.com.au/

Gregory Ivan Combet AM MP /ˈkɒmbeɪ/ (born 28 April 1958) is an Australian politician and trade unionist. He was Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) between 2000 and 2007. He was elected member for the New South Wales seat of Charlton for the Australian Labor Party at the 2007 election and was immediately appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement in the First Rudd Ministry on 3 December 2007. Combet is currently the Minister for Climate Change, Industry and Innovation in the Second Gillard Ministry.[2] He previously served as Parliamentary Secretary of the Department of Climate Change, when Penny Wong was the Minister.

Early life

Greg Combet was born in Sydney and attended Eastern Creek Primary school, then Rooty Hill High School from years 7 to 10.[3] He completed his secondary education at Baulkham Hills High School.[3] He was later educated at the University of New South Wales where he studied mining engineering,[4] and then graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Economics, and a Graduate Diploma in Labour Relations and the Law. He was a project officer for the New South Wales Tenants' Union, before working for the Lidcombe Workers' Health Centre. In 1987, he was employed by the Waterside Workers' Federation, now part of the Maritime Union of Australia.

Union activity

Combet's association with the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) began in 1993 when he became a Senior Industrial Officer. In 1996 he was elected Assistant Secretary and in 2000, following the retirement of Bill Kelty, he became Secretary. Over his time at the ACTU, Combet has co-ordinated many union campaigns, including the 'Cavalcade to Canberra' of 19 August 1996. He rose to further prominence during the 1998 Australian waterfront dispute. Combet also participated in campaigns to secure entitlements and compensation for the staff of the collapsed airline Ansett Australia and asbestos victims of the James Hardie company. In his capacity as Secretary of the ACTU, Combet led the campaign against the Howard Government's WorkChoices industrial relations law changes.

Parliament

On 25 March 2007, The Sunday Age reported that senior Australian Labor Party figures had announced that Combet would run for election representing the ALP in the safe seat of Charlton in New South Wales.[5] However, later that day Combet told The Age newspaper that he was not planning an entry into federal politics at the 2007 election, preferring instead to continue leading the ACTU's campaign against the industrial relations law changes.[6] On 4 May 2007, Combet confirmed his intention to run for Charlton.[7] The sitting member for Charlton, Kelly Hoare, expressed anger at losing preselection for her seat,[8] and for a time considered running as an independent.

Greg Combet speaking in November 2005, shortly after the Government introduced its WorkChoices legislation

Combet stood down as ACTU Secretary to campaign full time in Charlton in the lead up to the federal election. On 14 June 2007 Jeff Lawrence, National Secretary of the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (LHMU) was elected unopposed as the next Secretary of the ACTU.[9]

Greg Combet speaking at the Your Rights at Work rally in Melbourne, 15 November 2005
Combet explaining the effects of the proposed carbon tax in 2011 during a public forum at Petersham town hall.

Combet was elected as the new member for Charlton on 24 November 2007 as part of the ALP's victory in the 2007 Australian federal election, achieving a two party preferred swing of 4.47 percent, winning 62.87 percent of the two party vote.[10] Following the election, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd appointed Combet as Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement in the First Rudd Ministry. He was sworn in on 3 December 2007.[11] In February 2009, Combet was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change, with a focus on emissions trading, to assist Climate Change Minister Senator Penny Wong.

As a result of the resignation of Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon and the subsequent ministerial reshuffle, Combet was promoted to the outer ministry on 6 June 2009, as Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science and Minister Assisting the Minister for Climate Change. Combet's portfolio was amended in April 2010 to Minister Assisting the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency and Minister for Defence Materiel and Science[12] and to help him focus on the Government's energy efficiency programs, he axed part of this scheme – Home Insulation Program (HIP) in late April due to the safety risks and the blow out in funding.[13][14]

Combet was re-elected to Charlton at the 2010 federal election, suffering a post-redistribution two party swing of 0.24 percent, winning 62.67 percent of the two party vote.[15] After Labor was returned to government in this election, Combet entered Cabinet, succeeding Wong as Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. Following the passage of the government's Clean Energy Bill, the portfolio of Industry and Innovation was added to Combet's responsibilities.

Personal

Combet is a director of the Chifley Research Centre.

On 12 June 2006, in the Queen's Birthday Honours List, he was made a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia.[16]

Combet is separated from Petra Hilsen and has one daughter, one stepdaughter and one stepson.

Combet has stated that he is an atheist.[17]

In 2012, Combet began a relationship with high-profile ABC newsreader, Juanita Phillips.[18]

In the 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation television series Bastard Boys, dramatising the 1998 Australian waterfront dispute, in which Combet was heavily involved, the role of Combet was played by Daniel Frederiksen.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/member.asp?id=YW6
  2. ^ http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/gillard-announces-her-team-20100911-155ou.html.
  3. ^ a b Stavrou, Nikolaos (21 July 2010). "Shining Star - Tireless Pursuit of Justice". Mt Druitt St Marys Standard. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
  4. ^ Greg Combet's MP website, 27 June 2010.
  5. ^ Koutsoukis, Jason (25 March 2007). "Rudd drafts another star recruit to his team". The Age. Retrieved 25 November 2007.
  6. ^ Millar, Royce (26 March 2007). "Combet rejects rumours of standing for safe seat". The Age. Retrieved 25 November 2007. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Combet confirms he'll stand for ALP, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 4 May 2007.
  8. ^ Combet painted as Charlton outsider, The 7:30 Report, 31 May 2007
  9. ^ Shaw, Meaghan (13 June 2007). "Little-known Lawrence confirmed as ACTU head". The Age. Retrieved 25 November 2007.
  10. ^ "NSW Division – Charlton". Australian Electoral Commission. 13 December 2007. Retrieved 27 January 2008. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  11. ^ "Rudd Ministry" (PDF). Government of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 April 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2008.
  12. ^ Parliament of Australia, House of Representatives 2 July 2010.
  13. ^ Combet moved out of Defence portfolio, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 1 April 2010.
  14. ^ Combet defends insulation backflip, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 22 April 2010.
  15. ^ Charlton 2010 election results: AEC
  16. ^ It's an Honour – Member of the Order of Australia – 12 June 2006
    Citation: For service to industrial relations and through advocacy for the improved health and safety of workers, including people affected by asbestos-related diseases, and to the community.
  17. ^ Pollies in the no-God squad, Sydney Morning Herald, 14 March 2010
  18. ^ Australia's newest power couple, The_Daily_Telegraph_(Australia), 29 September 2012
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Greg Combet.
Template:Incumbent succession box
Preceded by Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
2000 - 2007 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Defence Materiel and Science
2009–2010 		Succeeded by
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Member for Charlton
2007–present 		Incumbent

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