Stephen Smith (Australian politician)
The Honourable Stephen Smith |
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File:Stephen Smith.jpg | |
Minister for Defence | |
In office 13 September 2010 – 18 September 2013 |
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Prime Minister | Julia Gillard Kevin Rudd |
Preceded by | John Faulkner |
Succeeded by | David Johnston |
Minister for Trade | |
In office 28 June 2010 – 13 September 2010 |
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Prime Minister | Julia Gillard |
Preceded by | Simon Crean |
Succeeded by | Craig Emerson |
Minister for Foreign Affairs | |
In office 3 December 2007 – 13 September 2010 |
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Prime Minister | Kevin Rudd Julia Gillard |
Preceded by | Alexander Downer |
Succeeded by | Kevin Rudd |
Member of the Australian Parliament for Perth |
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In office 13 March 1993 – 7 September 2013 |
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Preceded by | Ric Charlesworth |
Succeeded by | Alannah MacTiernan |
Personal details | |
Born | Stephen Francis Smith 12 December 1946 Narrogin, Western Australia, Australia |
Political party | Labor Party |
Spouse(s) | Jane Seymour |
Children | 2 |
Alma mater | University of Western Australia University of London |
Stephen Francis Smith (born 12 December 1946) is a former Australian politician who was a Labor member of the Australian House of Representatives from March 1993 to August 2013, representing the Division of Perth in Western Australia. His last ministerial appointment was Minister for Defence, and he also served as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Trade at various stages.
Smith was born in Narrogin, Western Australia, and was educated at CBC Highgate, the University of Western Australia and the University of London, where he earned a master's degree in law. He was a solicitor, lecturer and tutor before entering politics. He was Principal Private Secretary to the Western Australian Attorney-General, Joe Berinson 1983–87 and State Secretary of the Western Australian Labor Party 1987–90[1] From 1990 to 1993 he was an adviser to Paul Keating, first as Treasurer, then as Prime Minister. He was instrumental in securing caucus support in order for Keating to defeat Bob Hawke for the Labor Party leadership in 1991 and thereby allowing Keating to ascend to the prime ministership.[2]
He has been a University of Western Australia professor of international law since early 2014.[3][4]
Career
Stephen Smith was a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry from March 1996 until the November 2007 elections, which were won by the Labor party. He was Shadow Minister for Trade 1996–97, for Resources and Energy 1997–98, for Communications 1998–2001, Health and Ageing 2001–03 and Immigration 2003–04. He was Shadow Minister for Industry, Infrastructure and Industrial Relations from October 2004 until December 2006, when he was appointed to the position of Shadow Minister for Education and Training.
During the leadership crisis in the Labor Party in 2003, Smith was a prominent supporter of his fellow Western Australian, Kim Beazley. As early as 2002 his name had been mentioned as a possible future leader.[5] He again supported Beazley in the leadership contest which followed the resignation of Mark Latham in January 2005, which saw Beazley return to the leadership.
Smith was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs in Kevin Rudd's cabinet on 3 December following Labor's win in the 2007 election,[6] and when Julia Gillard took over from Kevin Rudd as prime minister in June 2010, she added Minister for Trade to Smith's portfolio.[7] After the 2010 Federal election Smith was appointed to the vacant Defence portfolio, while Rudd and Craig Emerson were appointed to the Foreign Affairs and Trade ministries, respectively.[8]
Following Kevin Rudd's return to the leadership of the ALP and as prime minister, on 27 June 2013 Smith announced he would not be a candidate at the 2013 federal election.[9]
Smith was appointed Winthrop Professor of International Law at the University of Western Australia on 29 April 2014.[10]
Photo gallery
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Stephensmith.jpg
Stephen Smith in early 2005
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StephenSmith2008.jpg
Stephen Smith in early 2008
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SS2008-2.jpg
Robert Gates meets face-to-face with Stephen Smith
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SS2008-1.jpg
US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (2nd from left, Debra Cagan to his left) hosts a Pentagon meeting with Stephen Smith (right) in the Pentagon on 28 January 2008
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RiceSmith08.jpg
Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (centre) and Stephen Smith (right) with students from Wesley College during a visit to Kings Park State War Memorial in Perth
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Stephen Smith (right) meets Hillary Rodham Clinton (centre) and Katsuya Okada (left) at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on 21 September 2009.
See also
References
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Further reading
- Stephen Smith – biographical information, appointed senior adviser to Paul Keating Labor voice, Vol.12, no.4 (Dec 1990), p. 1–2.
- Stephen Smith – former W.A. A.L.P. state secretary moves to Paul Keating's staff Australian Business, 5 Dec. 1990, p. 30
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stephen Francis Smith. |
- Search or browse Hansard for Stephen Smith at OpenAustralia.org
Parliament of Australia | ||
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Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Perth 1993–2013 |
Succeeded by Alannah MacTiernan |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by | Minister for Foreign Affairs 2007–2010 |
Succeeded by Kevin Rudd |
Preceded by | Minister for Trade 2010 |
Succeeded by Craig Emerson |
Preceded by | Minister for Defence 2010–2013 |
Succeeded by David Johnston |
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- ↑ Stephen Smith – elected secretary of the WA branch of ALP Labor voice, Vol.9, no.4 (July/Aug 1987), p.1,
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- ↑ Rudd hands out portfolios, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 29 November 2007.
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