Warren Snowdon
Encyclopedia
Warren Edward Snowdon (born 20 March 1950) is an Australian politician. He is an Australian Labor Party
member of the Australian House of Representatives
. He represented the Division of Northern Territory
from July 1987 to March 1996, and from October 1998 to November 2001.
Since November 2001 he has represented the Division of Lingiari
. This electorate includes all of the towns and communities in the Northern Territory outside Darwin, as well as Christmas Island
and the Cocos Islands (Keeling Islands) in the Indian Ocean. He is a member of the Socialist Left faction of the Australian Labor Party and of the hard left of the faction.
, Australian Capital Territory
, and was educated at the Australian National University
and the University of Western Australia
.
in Alice Springs 1983–87 and was founding President of the Central Australian Regional Trades and Labour Council, then Assistant Secretary of the Northern Territory Trades and Labour Council.
Snowdon was Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Regional and Urban Development, Transport and Infrastructure (Northern Australia and the Territories) 2001–04. He was Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia and Indigenous Affairs from October 2004.
On 29 November 2007, Kevin Rudd
announced Snowdon would be part of his new outer ministry, as Minister for Defence Science and Personnel
in the Rudd Ministry sworn in on 3 December 2007. Following a reshuffle of the Ministry on 9 June 2009 as a result of the resignation of the Defence Minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, Snowdon was promoted to Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Service Delivery. On 14 September 2010, he gained the portfolio of Veterans' Affairs
and regained Defence Science and Personnel, while losing responsibility for Rural and Regional Health and Regional Service Delivery, but retaining Indigenous Health.
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...
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....
. He represented the Division of Northern Territory
Division of Northern Territory
The Division of Northern Territory was an Australian Electoral Division in the Northern Territory. Throughout its existence, it was the only Division in the Territory....
from July 1987 to March 1996, and from October 1998 to November 2001.
Since November 2001 he has represented the Division of Lingiari
Division of Lingiari
The Division of Lingiari is an Australian Electoral Division in the Northern Territory. It was created in 2000, out of the former Division of Northern Territory. It covers almost the entire Territory , an area of , making it the second largest electorate in terms of area in Australia...
. This electorate includes all of the towns and communities in the Northern Territory outside Darwin, as well as Christmas Island
Christmas Island
The Territory of Christmas Island is a territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean. It is located northwest of the Western Australian city of Perth, south of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, and ENE of the Cocos Islands....
and the Cocos Islands (Keeling Islands) in the Indian Ocean. He is a member of the Socialist Left faction of the Australian Labor Party and of the hard left of the faction.
Early life
He was born in CanberraCanberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
, and was educated at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
and 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...
.
Pre-election career
Snowdon was a teacher with the Northern Territory Teaching Service before entering politics. He was a Senior Project Officer with the Central Land CouncilCentral Land Council
The Central Land Council is an Indigenous Land Council that represents the indigenous people of the southern half of the Northern Territory of Australia, predominantly in land issues...
in Alice Springs 1983–87 and was founding President of the Central Australian Regional Trades and Labour Council, then Assistant Secretary of the Northern Territory Trades and Labour Council.
Parliamentary history
Snowdon was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Communications 1990–92, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Employment, Education and Training 1992–96, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment, Sport and Territories 1993 and 1994–96 and Parliamentary Secretary (Territories) 1993–94.Snowdon was Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Regional and Urban Development, Transport and Infrastructure (Northern Australia and the Territories) 2001–04. He was Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia and Indigenous Affairs from October 2004.
On 29 November 2007, Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
announced Snowdon would be part of his new outer ministry, as Minister for Defence Science and Personnel
Minister for Defence Science and Personnel (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Defence Science and Personnel is Warren Snowdon, who was appointed on 14 September 2010, following the 2010 election. The ministry is part of the porfolio of the Minister for Defence and is administered through the Department of Defence.-Ministers for Defence Personnel:...
in the Rudd Ministry sworn in on 3 December 2007. Following a reshuffle of the Ministry on 9 June 2009 as a result of the resignation of the Defence Minister, Joel Fitzgibbon, Snowdon was promoted to Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Service Delivery. On 14 September 2010, he gained the portfolio of Veterans' Affairs
Minister for Veterans' Affairs (Australia)
The Australian Minister for Veterans' Affairs oversees income support, compensation, care and commemoration programs for more than 400,000 veterans and their widows, widowers and dependants....
and regained Defence Science and Personnel, while losing responsibility for Rural and Regional Health and Regional Service Delivery, but retaining Indigenous Health.