Michael Kroger
Encyclopedia
Michael Norman Kroger is a businessman and a powerbroker within the Victorian division of the Liberal Party of Australia
. He was educated at Wesley College, Melbourne
.
. While president of the campus Liberal Club, Kroger is largely credited with the creation of the still-thriving Sir Robert Menzies Lecture
. With his close friend Peter Costello
he forged an alliance with moderate Australian Labor Party
politicians in an effort to defeat far left-wing forces within the Australian Union of Students
. He became President of the Australian Liberal Students' Federation
in 1978.
case.
In 1987 and at the age of 30, Kroger was elected as the President of the Victorian division of the Liberal Party of Australia
and was President until 1992, becoming the longest serving President in the Victorian Division's history. He instituted a series of reforms, the most important of which was his move to increase the power of the party executive in preselections. While this led to several preselection challenges in 1988 and 1989 (most notably Costello's successful challenge against Roger Shipton
in Higgins
) it has also helped in the election of several young Victorian federal parliamentarians who are widely considered to have bright futures, although this pattern has not been replicated at state level.
Kroger himself has often turned down opportunities to run in blue ribbon Liberal seats, notably Kooyong
in 1994 and in Goldstein
in 2004, preferring to concentrate on family and business interests.
Since the 1990s the Victorian division of the Liberal Party has been factionalized between Kroger's supporters and those of Jeff Kennett
. This has led to some bruising preselections, such as Kennett backed Louise Asher
defeating the Kroger backed Mitch Fifield
in Brighton in 1999. However, both backed Petro Georgiou
when he was challenged for his preselection by Josh Frydenberg in 2006.
In 1993 Kroger established an investment company, JT Campbell & Co in and currently serves as Chairman. Kroger has also spent five years (1998 to 2003) as a Director of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
.
was elected to the Senate
for Victoria at the 2007 Federal Election after being preselected in the safe second position on the Liberal ticket, along with the aforementioned Mitch Fifield and number three candidate Scott Ryan
. Despite their divorce, Michael and Helen remain close friends and are considered to be political allies.
Kroger married Ann Peacock in March 1999 at St Michael's Uniting Church, in Collins St, Melbourne. The marriage produced two sons and the couple separated 2009
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...
. He was educated at Wesley College, Melbourne
Wesley College, Melbourne
Wesley College, Melbourne is an independent, co-educational, Christian day school in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Established in 1866, the college is a school of the Uniting Church in Australia. Wesley is the largest school in Australia by enrolment, with 3,511 students and 564 full-time staff...
.
Early Life
Kroger became politically active while studying at Monash UniversityMonash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
. While president of the campus Liberal Club, Kroger is largely credited with the creation of the still-thriving Sir Robert Menzies Lecture
Sir Robert Menzies Lecture
The Sir Robert Menzies Lecture is an annual lecture delivered in Melbourne, Australia, by a prominent politician, academic or other noteworthy individual, about various aspects of modern liberalism...
. With his close friend Peter Costello
Peter Costello
Peter Howard Costello AC is an Australian politician and lawyer who served as the Treasurer in the Australian government from 1996 to 2007. He is the longest-serving Treasurer in Australian history. Costello was a Member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1990 to 2009, representing...
he forged an alliance with moderate 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...
politicians in an effort to defeat far left-wing forces within the Australian Union of Students
Australian Union of Students
The Australian Union of Students was formed in December 1970 as the successor to the National Union of Australian University Students as a representative body and lobby group for Australian University and College of Advanced Education students. It collapsed in 1984 and was succeeded by the...
. He became President of the Australian Liberal Students' Federation
Australian Liberal Students' Federation
The Australian Liberal Stduents' Federation or ALSF is an Australian students political group. The ALSF is the peak national body for over thirty campus Liberal Clubs. While the ALSF carries similar ideology to the Liberal Party of Australia and works closely with the party it is an Independent...
in 1978.
Professional life
After graduating his association with Costello continued. Working as a solicitor he assisted Costello in winning the 1985 Dollar SweetsDollar Sweets dispute
The Dollar Sweets dispute in 1985 was a small industrial dispute with major legal ramifications in industrial relations where an employer resorted to a common law verdict and damages in a case in the Supreme Court of Victoria to resolve a dispute after industrial courts proved ineffective...
case.
In 1987 and at the age of 30, Kroger was elected as the President of the Victorian division of the Liberal Party of Australia
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...
and was President until 1992, becoming the longest serving President in the Victorian Division's history. He instituted a series of reforms, the most important of which was his move to increase the power of the party executive in preselections. While this led to several preselection challenges in 1988 and 1989 (most notably Costello's successful challenge against Roger Shipton
Roger Shipton
Roger Francis Shipton, OAM was an Australian politician. In 1975 he succeeded former Prime Minister Sir John Gorton as the Liberal Party member of the Australian House of Representatives for the Division of Higgins...
in Higgins
Division of Higgins
The Division of Higgins is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria.The division was created in 1949 and is named after Justice H. B. Higgins , who was a Victorian Member of the legislative assembly , president of the Carlton Football Club , Australian Member of Parliament , and justice of the...
) it has also helped in the election of several young Victorian federal parliamentarians who are widely considered to have bright futures, although this pattern has not been replicated at state level.
Kroger himself has often turned down opportunities to run in blue ribbon Liberal seats, notably Kooyong
Division of Kooyong
The Division of Kooyong is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It is located in the inner eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and encompasses the suburbs of Kew, Hawthorn, Hawthorn East, Balwyn, Canterbury, Camberwell and Surrey Hills. The Division was proclaimed in 1900, and was...
in 1994 and in Goldstein
Division of Goldstein
The Division of Goldstein is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1984, when the former Division of Balaclava was abolished. It is named for Vida Goldstein, an early feminist parliamentary candidate. It is located in the bayside suburbs of Melbourne, including...
in 2004, preferring to concentrate on family and business interests.
Since the 1990s the Victorian division of the Liberal Party has been factionalized between Kroger's supporters and those of 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...
. This has led to some bruising preselections, such as Kennett backed Louise Asher
Louise Asher
Louise Asher is an Australian politician representing the electoral district of Brighton for the Liberal Party of Australia. She is currently the Victorian Minister for Tourism and Major Events as well as Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business since 2 December 2010 in the Baillieu...
defeating the Kroger backed Mitch Fifield
Mitch Fifield
Mitchell Peter "Mitch" Fifield , Australian politician, is member of the Australian Senate since March 2004, representing the state of Victoria for the Liberal Party.-Early years:...
in Brighton in 1999. However, both backed Petro Georgiou
Petro Georgiou
Petro Georgiou , Australian politician, was a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives from November 1994 to July 2010, representing the Division of Kooyong, Victoria.-Early life:...
when he was challenged for his preselection by Josh Frydenberg in 2006.
In 1993 Kroger established an investment company, JT Campbell & Co in and currently serves as Chairman. Kroger has also spent five years (1998 to 2003) as a Director of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
.
Private life
His first wife Helen KrogerHelen Kroger
Helen Kroger is an Australian politician. She has been a Liberal member of the Australian Senate since July 2008, representing the state of Victoria...
was elected to the Senate
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 Victoria at the 2007 Federal Election after being preselected in the safe second position on the Liberal ticket, along with the aforementioned Mitch Fifield and number three candidate Scott Ryan
Scott Ryan (Australian politician)
Scott Michael Ryan is an Australian politician. He has been a Liberal member of the Australian Senate since July 2008, representing the state of Victoria....
. Despite their divorce, Michael and Helen remain close friends and are considered to be political allies.
Kroger married Ann Peacock in March 1999 at St Michael's Uniting Church, in Collins St, Melbourne. The marriage produced two sons and the couple separated 2009