Tony Smith
Encyclopedia
Anthony David Hawthorn Smith (born 13 March 1967) is an Australia
n politician who has been a Liberal
member of the Australian House of Representatives
since 2001, representing the Division of Casey
, Victoria. He was born in Melbourne
Victoria, to parents Alan Smith, a Chemistry teacher, and Noel Smith, a medical secretary. Smith was the youngest child, with two older sisters: Christine (born 1960) and Heather (born 1962). He was educated first at Kerrimuir Primary School in Box Hill North before attending Carey Baptist Grammar School in Kew, and then later at the University of Melbourne
, where he was president of the Melbourne University Liberal Club, and is now an honorary life member. Along with Sophie Mirabella
he has been one of the strongest advocates for Voluntary Student Unionism
in the Parliament.
After completing his education, he was a Research Assistant at the Institute of Public Affairs
, a conservative think-tank, before becoming first a Media Adviser and then a Senior Political Adviser to Peter Costello
, the then Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and Treasurer.
He was interviewed extensively in the ABC documentary The Howard Years
.
. Smith had previously been Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training. He was appointed Shadow Minister for Communications in a reshuffle which took place on 8 December 2009.
In the new Abbott shadow ministry announced after the August 2010 election, Smith was appointed to the position of Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Tax Reform and Deputy Chairman, Coalition Policy Development Committee.
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 who 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 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....
since 2001, representing the Division of Casey
Division of Casey
The Division of Casey is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1969 and is named for Richard Casey, who was Governor-General of Australia 1965-69. It is located in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne and includes the suburbs of Croydon, Montrose and Olinda...
, Victoria. He 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...
Victoria, to parents Alan Smith, a Chemistry teacher, and Noel Smith, a medical secretary. Smith was the youngest child, with two older sisters: Christine (born 1960) and Heather (born 1962). He was educated first at Kerrimuir Primary School in Box Hill North before attending Carey Baptist Grammar School in Kew, and then later at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, where he was president of the Melbourne University Liberal Club, and is now an honorary life member. Along with Sophie Mirabella
Sophie Mirabella
Sophie Mirabella is an Australian federal politician. She has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2001, representing the Division of Indi, Victoria...
he has been one of the strongest advocates for Voluntary Student Unionism
Voluntary student unionism
Voluntary student unionism is a policy, notable in Australia, under which membership of – and payment of membership fees to – university student organisations is voluntary....
in the Parliament.
After completing his education, he was a Research Assistant at the Institute of Public Affairs
Institute of Public Affairs
The Institute of Public Affairs is a public policy think tank based in Melbourne, Australia. It advocates free market economic policies such as privatisation and deregulation of state-owned enterprises, trade liberalisation and deregulated workplaces, climate change skepticism , and the...
, a conservative think-tank, before becoming first a Media Adviser and then a Senior Political Adviser to 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...
, the then Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and Treasurer.
He was interviewed extensively in the ABC documentary The Howard Years
The Howard Years
The Howard Years was a documentary series about the prime ministership of John Howard produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It was divided into four one-hour episodes - one episode for each term Howard served as Prime Minister of Australia - and originally broadcast on ABC1 from 17...
.
In parliament
On 23 January 2007, Smith was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, John Howard. He managed to hold his seat of Casey by a considerable margin at the federal election in November of that year, although the Liberal-National Coalition was defeated. On 22 September 2008, Smith was appointed Shadow Assistant Treasurer by Opposition Leader Malcolm TurnbullMalcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Bligh Turnbull is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2004, and was Leader of the Opposition and parliamentary leader of the Liberal Party from 16 September 2008 to 1 December 2009.Turnbull has represented the Division...
. Smith had previously been Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training. He was appointed Shadow Minister for Communications in a reshuffle which took place on 8 December 2009.
In the new Abbott shadow ministry announced after the August 2010 election, Smith was appointed to the position of Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Tax Reform and Deputy Chairman, Coalition Policy Development Committee.