Bruce Atkinson
Encyclopedia
Bruce Norman Atkinson is an Australia
n politician. He has been a Liberal
member of the Victorian Legislative Council
since October 1992, representing Koonung Province
from 1992 to 2006 and Eastern Metropolitan Region since. He is currently the President of the Legislative Council
.
Atkinson was born in Melbourne
, and attended Mitcham High School. He undertook a cadetship with the Leader group of newspapers after graduating, and worked as a journalist for a period. However, he soon made a move into the business world, first into small business, and later into several more prominent operations, including a stint managing a shopping centre. He has also been a writer for the Foodweek and Inside Retailing publications since 1981, and operates his own business consultancy firm, The Atkinson Group.
However, it was through local government that Atkinson made a name for himself in the political arena. He was elected to the City of Nunawading
(now part of the City of Whitehorse
) in 1975, and served as a councillor for seventeen years. This also included two terms as mayor in 1981–1982 and 1990–1991.
In the leadup to the 1992 election, Atkinson succeeded in winning Liberal pre-selection for the moderately safe Liberal seat of Koonung Province. He was ultimately elected, and soon nominated for the Family and Community Development Committee, which he served on from 1992 to 1996. In 1996, he was promoted to his first ministerial position, as Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and Local Government by then-Premier Jeff Kennett
.
Atkinson subsequently spent four years on the backbenches, neither serving in any ministerial portfolios or any committees. However, when the party's devastating defeat at the 2002 election (after first losing government three years earlier) wiped out a significant portion of the shadow ministry, the party was suddenly forced to reconsider Atkinson as a ministerial prospect. When the Liberal Party regrouped after the election, Atkinson was appointed as the party's spokesperson for small business. He also began serving on the House and Economic Development Committees, and was appointed as the Deputy Chair of the latter. He was also appointed spokesman for sport and recreation in January 2004. In December 2006 he was elected Deputy President of the Legislative Council and relinquished his shadow ministry positions. He was Shadow Parliamentary Secretary, Business Development from November 2009.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician. He has been a Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member of the Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
since October 1992, representing Koonung Province
Koonung Province
Koonung Province was an electorate of the Victorian Legislative Council. It existed as a two-member electorate from 1992 to 2006, with members serving alternating eight-year terms. It replaced the abolished Boronia Province...
from 1992 to 2006 and Eastern Metropolitan Region since. He is currently the President of the Legislative Council
President of the Victorian Legislative Council
The President of the Victorian Legislative Council, also known as the Presiding Officer of the Council, is the presiding officer of the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house of the Parliament of Victoria and equivalent to the President of the Australian Senate...
.
Atkinson was born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, and attended Mitcham High School. He undertook a cadetship with the Leader group of newspapers after graduating, and worked as a journalist for a period. However, he soon made a move into the business world, first into small business, and later into several more prominent operations, including a stint managing a shopping centre. He has also been a writer for the Foodweek and Inside Retailing publications since 1981, and operates his own business consultancy firm, The Atkinson Group.
However, it was through local government that Atkinson made a name for himself in the political arena. He was elected to the City of Nunawading
City of Nunawading
The City of Nunawading was a Local Government Area located about east of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The city covered an area of , and existed from 1925 until 1994.-History:...
(now part of the City of Whitehorse
City of Whitehorse
The City of Whitehorse is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. It has an area of and has a estimated population of 155,725 people....
) in 1975, and served as a councillor for seventeen years. This also included two terms as mayor in 1981–1982 and 1990–1991.
In the leadup to the 1992 election, Atkinson succeeded in winning Liberal pre-selection for the moderately safe Liberal seat of Koonung Province. He was ultimately elected, and soon nominated for the Family and Community Development Committee, which he served on from 1992 to 1996. In 1996, he was promoted to his first ministerial position, as Parliamentary Secretary for Planning and Local Government by then-Premier Jeff Kennett
Jeff Kennett
Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC , a former Australian politician, was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999. He is currently the President of Hawthorn Football Club. He is the founding Chairman of beyondblue, a national depression initiative.- Early life :Kennett was born in Melbourne on 2 March...
.
Atkinson subsequently spent four years on the backbenches, neither serving in any ministerial portfolios or any committees. However, when the party's devastating defeat at the 2002 election (after first losing government three years earlier) wiped out a significant portion of the shadow ministry, the party was suddenly forced to reconsider Atkinson as a ministerial prospect. When the Liberal Party regrouped after the election, Atkinson was appointed as the party's spokesperson for small business. He also began serving on the House and Economic Development Committees, and was appointed as the Deputy Chair of the latter. He was also appointed spokesman for sport and recreation in January 2004. In December 2006 he was elected Deputy President of the Legislative Council and relinquished his shadow ministry positions. He was Shadow Parliamentary Secretary, Business Development from November 2009.