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Chris Evans (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Vaughan Evans (born 14 May 1958) is an Australian politician and a member of the Australian Senate
for the state of Western Australia, representing the Australian Labor Party
.
, England. He was educated at the University of Western Australia
, where he graduated in Arts and was President of the University Labor Club. Evans was an industrial officer with the Federated Miscellaneous Workers' Union during 1982–87 and State Secretary of the Fire Brigade Union of Western Australia during 1987–90. He was Western Australian State Secretary of the Labor Party during 1991–93.
He was a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry October 1998 until December 2007 when Labor won the election. In that period he held various Shadow Ministries including Shadow Minister for Family Services and the Aged (October 2008 – December 2001); Defence (November 2001 to August 2004); Reconciliation, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (December 2002 to February 2003); Defence Procurement, Science and Personnel (August 2004 – Ocxtober 2004); Social Security (October 2004 – June 2005); Indigenous Affairs (June 2005 – December 2006); Family and Community Services (June 2005 – December 2006) and National Development, Resources and Energy (December 2006 to December 2007).
Evans was appointed Leader of the Opposition in the Senate in October 2004 and Leader of the Government in the Senate after the 2007 election.
He was appointed Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
in the Rudd Ministry and retained this portfolio in the First Gillard Ministry. On 14 September 2010, following the 2010 election, Evans was sworn in as Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations in the Second Gillard Ministry
.
Evans was the Acting Prime Minister
for around 30 hours in June 2008, the first Labor senator to have been acting PM for nearly 100 years.
in the AFL.
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
for the state of Western Australia, representing the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
.
Early life
Evans was born in CuckfieldCuckfield
Cuckfield is a large village and civil parish in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England, on the southern slopes of the Weald. It lies south of London, north of Brighton, and east northeast of the county town of Chichester. Nearby towns include Haywards Heath to the southeast and Burgess...
, England. He was educated at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
, where he graduated in Arts and was President of the University Labor Club. Evans was an industrial officer with the Federated Miscellaneous Workers' Union during 1982–87 and State Secretary of the Fire Brigade Union of Western Australia during 1987–90. He was Western Australian State Secretary of the Labor Party during 1991–93.
Political career
Evans was elected to the Senate at the 1993 election and was re-elected in 1998, 2004 and 2010.He was a member of the Opposition Shadow Ministry October 1998 until December 2007 when Labor won the election. In that period he held various Shadow Ministries including Shadow Minister for Family Services and the Aged (October 2008 – December 2001); Defence (November 2001 to August 2004); Reconciliation, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (December 2002 to February 2003); Defence Procurement, Science and Personnel (August 2004 – Ocxtober 2004); Social Security (October 2004 – June 2005); Indigenous Affairs (June 2005 – December 2006); Family and Community Services (June 2005 – December 2006) and National Development, Resources and Energy (December 2006 to December 2007).
Evans was appointed Leader of the Opposition in the Senate in October 2004 and Leader of the Government in the Senate after the 2007 election.
He was appointed Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Australia)
In the Government of Australia, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship is responsible for overseeing the Department of Immigration and Citizenship....
in the Rudd Ministry and retained this portfolio in the First Gillard Ministry. On 14 September 2010, following the 2010 election, Evans was sworn in as Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations in the Second Gillard Ministry
Second Gillard Ministry
The Second Gillard Ministry is the 67th Australian ministry. It is led by Julia Gillard of the Australian Labor Party. On 11 September 2010 she announced the makeup of her ministry, following the 2010 Federal election...
.
Evans was the Acting Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
for around 30 hours in June 2008, the first Labor senator to have been acting PM for nearly 100 years.
Personal life
Evans is married with two sons. He supports Fremantle Football ClubFremantle Football Club
The Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed The Dockers, is an Australian rules football team which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in the port city of Fremantle at the mouth of the Swan River in Western Australia...
in the AFL.
See also
- Rudd Ministry
- First Gillard Ministry
- Second Gillard MinistrySecond Gillard MinistryThe Second Gillard Ministry is the 67th Australian ministry. It is led by Julia Gillard of the Australian Labor Party. On 11 September 2010 she announced the makeup of her ministry, following the 2010 Federal election...