Matt Birney
Encyclopedia
Matthew John Birney (born 10 June 1969) is an Australia
n politician. He was a Liberal
member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
from 2001 to 2008, serving as Leader of the Opposition
from 2005 to 2006.
Birney was born in Sydney
but comes from a family long established on the Western Australian goldfields, and has lived in the regional city of Kalgoorlie since childhood. His father, Jack Birney
, was a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives
from 1975 until his defeat in 1983.
The younger Birney was educated at North Kalgoorlie Primary and Eastern Goldfields Senior High School. He was a small business proprietor and a board member of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry, before being elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
for the seat of Kalgoorlie in February 2001. He is the first Liberal ever to win Kalgoorlie
defeating Megan Anwyl
, which for many years was held by the Australian Labor Party
.
Birney was Shadow Minister for Youth and the Goldfields-Esperance region from 2001 to 2002, Shadow Minister for Police, Goldfields-Esperance and Communication Services from 2002 to 2004 and Shadow Minister for Police, Commerce, Communications and Goldfields-Esperance from 2004 to 2005.
Despite his relative lack of experience, Birney was widely seen as one of the Liberal Party's better performers in Opposition during the 2001 to 2005 parliament. After the Liberal Party under Colin Barnett
was defeated at the 2005 elections by the Labor Party
government of Geoff Gallop
, Barnett resigned and Birney was elected unopposed as party Leader.
After becoming leader, Birney came under consistent criticism from both inside and outside his party. A number of public gaffes, including implying that the Pope
had a partner and taking his girlfriend on a tax-payer funded tour of Europe, reduced his effectiveness as Opposition Leader. Within the party he was criticised for his lack of inclusiveness in policy formation. These problems led former deputy leader, Paul Omodei
, to challenge Birney for the leadership. The party-room ballot held on 24 March 2006 was won by Omodei. Omodei stated he would consider offering Birney a position on the Liberal front bench, but Birney remained on the back bench thereafter.
Birney's demise as WA Liberal leader was later echoed by that of South Australia
n Liberal leader Iain Evans
a year later in 2007. Both Birney and Evans became their party's leaders following its defeat in the respective state elections only to be dumped a year later in a leadership coup.
On 3 January 2008, Birney announced that he would be quitting politics for the corporate world, and duly retired at the 2008 state election
.
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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 was 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 Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
from 2001 to 2008, serving as Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (Western Australia)
The Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia is the leader of the largest minority political party or coalition of parties in the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of Western Australia. By convention, he or she is generally a member of the Legislative Assembly...
from 2005 to 2006.
Birney was born in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
but comes from a family long established on the Western Australian goldfields, and has lived in the regional city of Kalgoorlie since childhood. His father, Jack Birney
Jack Birney
Reginald John "Jack" Birney was an Australian politician. Born in Sydney, he was a barrister before entering politics. In 1975, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Liberal member for Phillip. He held the seat until his defeat in 1983 by Jeannette McHugh. Birney died in...
, was a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
from 1975 until his defeat in 1983.
The younger Birney was educated at North Kalgoorlie Primary and Eastern Goldfields Senior High School. He was a small business proprietor and a board member of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry, before being elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
for the seat of Kalgoorlie in February 2001. He is the first Liberal ever to win Kalgoorlie
Electoral district of Kalgoorlie
Kalgoorlie is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia.The district includes not only the town of Kalgoorlie, but significant parts of the outback in central and eastern Western Australia....
defeating Megan Anwyl
Megan Anwyl
Megan Irene Anwyl is a former Australian politician. She was a Labor member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, representing Kalgoorlie from 1996 to 2001....
, which for many years was held by 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...
.
Birney was Shadow Minister for Youth and the Goldfields-Esperance region from 2001 to 2002, Shadow Minister for Police, Goldfields-Esperance and Communication Services from 2002 to 2004 and Shadow Minister for Police, Commerce, Communications and Goldfields-Esperance from 2004 to 2005.
Despite his relative lack of experience, Birney was widely seen as one of the Liberal Party's better performers in Opposition during the 2001 to 2005 parliament. After the Liberal Party under Colin Barnett
Colin Barnett
Colin James Barnett , Australian politician, is the leader of the Western Australian Liberal Party, the 29th and current Premier of Western Australia since the 2008 election and served as the Treasurer of Western Australia in 2010. He was sworn into office by Governor Ken Michael on 23 September 2008...
was defeated at the 2005 elections by the 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...
government of Geoff Gallop
Geoff Gallop
Geoffrey Ian Gallop, AC is an Australian academic and former politician. He was the Premier of Western Australia from 2001 to 2006. He currently resides in Sydney.-Early life and education:...
, Barnett resigned and Birney was elected unopposed as party Leader.
After becoming leader, Birney came under consistent criticism from both inside and outside his party. A number of public gaffes, including implying that the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
had a partner and taking his girlfriend on a tax-payer funded tour of Europe, reduced his effectiveness as Opposition Leader. Within the party he was criticised for his lack of inclusiveness in policy formation. These problems led former deputy leader, Paul Omodei
Paul Omodei
Paul Domenic Omodei , Australian politician, was the leader of the Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia from 24 March 2006 until 17 January 2008....
, to challenge Birney for the leadership. The party-room ballot held on 24 March 2006 was won by Omodei. Omodei stated he would consider offering Birney a position on the Liberal front bench, but Birney remained on the back bench thereafter.
Birney's demise as WA Liberal leader was later echoed by that of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
n Liberal leader Iain Evans
Iain Evans
Iain Frederick Evans is a South Australian Liberal Party politician. He studied at Heathfield High School and gained a Bachelor Degree for Building Technology from the SA Institute of Technology . Prior to entering politics he managed a family-owned building and retailing business...
a year later in 2007. Both Birney and Evans became their party's leaders following its defeat in the respective state elections only to be dumped a year later in a leadership coup.
On 3 January 2008, Birney announced that he would be quitting politics for the corporate world, and duly retired at the 2008 state election
Western Australian state election, 2008
A general election was held in the state of Western Australia on Saturday 6 September 2008 to elect 59 members to the Legislative Assembly and 36 members to the Legislative Council...
.
External links
- Goldfield larrikin's rapid rise up ranks
- A name to look out for rather than recall
- Birney takes stand on schoolyard bullies
- Inaugural speech (PDF)
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