Richard Di Natale
Encyclopedia
Richard Di Natale is an Australia
n politician and member of the Victorian Greens. Di Natale was elected to the Australian Senate
in the 2010 Australian federal election. He was the lead Senate Candidate in the 2007 federal election but was narrowly defeated, despite achieving a primary vote above 10 percent.
Di Natale is a public health specialist and drug and alcohol clinician. He has worked on HIV prevention and drug treatment in developing countries, as a general practitioner in remote indigenous communities and in a number of different public health settings.
in 1970 to Italian immigrant parents and grew up in Melbourne's northern suburbs. He graduated with a medical degree from Monash University
and has a Masters in Public Health, a Masters in Health Sciences and is a Fellow of the Australian Faculty of Public Health Medicine.
, who missed out on winning a Senate spot.
In both 2002 and 2006, Di Natale was narrowly defeated in the seat of Melbourne in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, almost de-seating the Labor health minister Bronwyn Pike. Richard received 48% of the two party preferred vote in both elections, missing out on a win. Di Natale has acted as health spokesperson for the Greens in Victoria and in 2002 spoke about the Greens support for harm reduction policies to manage illicit drug use.
Di Natale also ran for the position of Lord Mayor of Melbourne
in 2004, coming second to the elected John So
.
In April 2007, Di Natale spoke out about the health implications of climate change, and later that year voiced concerns about terror laws in relation to the then suspect Dr Mohamed Haneef
.
Dr Di Natale was nominated as the Australian Greens lead senate candidate for Victoria for the 2010 federal election. Greens leader Senator Bob Brown
described Dr Di Natale as the Greens "next strongest hope" at this election.
At the 2010 Australian Federal Election held on 21 August 2010, Dr. Di Natale successfully won a Senate seat representing Victoria. His term began on 1 July 2011. Upon taking up his seat in the Senate Di Natale became the Greens' Federal spokesperson for Health, including preventive; Dental Health; Sport; Gambling; Multiculturalism; East Timor; and West Papua.
He is a supporter of the Richmond Tigers
AFL team.
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 and member of the Victorian Greens. Di Natale was elected to the Australian 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,...
in the 2010 Australian federal election. He was the lead Senate Candidate in the 2007 federal election but was narrowly defeated, despite achieving a primary vote above 10 percent.
Di Natale is a public health specialist and drug and alcohol clinician. He has worked on HIV prevention and drug treatment in developing countries, as a general practitioner in remote indigenous communities and in a number of different public health settings.
Early life and education
Di Natale was born in MelbourneMelbourne
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...
in 1970 to Italian immigrant parents and grew up in Melbourne's northern suburbs. He graduated with a medical degree from Monash University
Monash 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....
and has a Masters in Public Health, a Masters in Health Sciences and is a Fellow of the Australian Faculty of Public Health Medicine.
Political career
In 2004, Di Natale was the Greens second Senate candidate, behind David RisstromDavid Risstrom
David Risstrom is a Melbourne barrister, a former Melbourne City Councillor, and a former Australian Greens candidate for the Australian Senate....
, who missed out on winning a Senate spot.
In both 2002 and 2006, Di Natale was narrowly defeated in the seat of Melbourne in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, almost de-seating the Labor health minister Bronwyn Pike. Richard received 48% of the two party preferred vote in both elections, missing out on a win. Di Natale has acted as health spokesperson for the Greens in Victoria and in 2002 spoke about the Greens support for harm reduction policies to manage illicit drug use.
Di Natale also ran for the position of Lord Mayor of Melbourne
City of Melbourne
The City of Melbourne is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the central city area of Melbourne. The city has an area of 36 square kilometres and has an estimated population of 93,105 people. The city's motto is "Vires acquirit eundo" which means "She gathers strength as she...
in 2004, coming second to the elected John So
John So
John Chun Sai So JP is a Chinese-Australian businessman who served as the 102nd Lord Mayor of Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, Australia. He was the first Lord Mayor in the city's history to be directly elected by the people; previously, Lord Mayors were elected by the Councillors.First elected...
.
In April 2007, Di Natale spoke out about the health implications of climate change, and later that year voiced concerns about terror laws in relation to the then suspect Dr Mohamed Haneef
Mohamed Haneef
Muhamed Haneef is an Indian doctor who was wrongly accused of aiding terrorists, and left Australia upon cancellation of his visa amid great political controversy....
.
Dr Di Natale was nominated as the Australian Greens lead senate candidate for Victoria for the 2010 federal election. Greens leader Senator Bob Brown
Bob Brown
Robert James Brown is an Australian senator, the inaugural Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Greens and was the first openly gay member of the Parliament of Australia...
described Dr Di Natale as the Greens "next strongest hope" at this election.
At the 2010 Australian Federal Election held on 21 August 2010, Dr. Di Natale successfully won a Senate seat representing Victoria. His term began on 1 July 2011. Upon taking up his seat in the Senate Di Natale became the Greens' Federal spokesperson for Health, including preventive; Dental Health; Sport; Gambling; Multiculturalism; East Timor; and West Papua.
Personal life
Di Natale lives in the Otway Ranges with partner Lucy and two children.He is a supporter of the Richmond Tigers
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
AFL team.