Andrew Barr

Last updated

Anthony Toms
​
(m. 2019)​
Andrew Barr
MLA
AndrewBarrportrait (cropped).jpg
Barr in 2019
7th Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory
Elections: 2016, 2020
Assumed office
11 December 2014
Alma mater Australian National University
Website www.andrewbarr.com.au

Andrew James Barr (born 29 April 1973) [2] is an Australian politician who has been serving as the 7th Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory since 2014. He has been an Australian Labor Party member in the ACT Legislative Assembly since 2006, after being elected on a countback to replace former Treasurer Ted Quinlan, who resigned mid-term. Barr was immediately promoted to Cabinet upon his election. [3] On 11 December 2014 he was elected as Chief Minister after his predecessor, Katy Gallagher, resigned and announced her intention to run for the Senate. [4] In addition to being Chief Minister, he holds the portfolios of Treasurer, Social Inclusion and Equality, Tourism and Special Events, and Trade, Industry and Investment.

Contents

Barr is the first openly LGBTI head of government in Australia (from 2014), and was the first openly LGBTI member as well as government cabinet minister in the ACT Legislative Assembly from 2006. [4] [5]

Early life

Barr was born in Lismore, New South Wales, and was raised in Canberra, attending Holt Pre-School, the AME School, Turner Primary School, Lyneham High School and Lake Ginninderra College. [6] He studied political science, economics and economic history at the Australian National University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Policy Studies). [7] Barr became involved in student politics, serving as Treasurer of the Australian National University Students' Association and as a director on the board of the Australian National University Union.

Career

Early career

After graduating in 1995, Barr worked for the Federal parliamentarian Annette Ellis and later the then ACT Opposition Leader Jon Stanhope, before embarking on a career change to the private sector in 1999 as a media analyst and account manager.

During the 1990s Barr became a leading influence within the right faction of ACT Labor (Centre Coalition) and was involved in the successful election of the first non-left faction ACT party secretary, Michael Kerrisk. In 2006, Barr said, "When I came out in the late '90s I had already been in the party for some eight years, so people were already used to me.... But it was at this time though that I decided to step back from front-line politics. It was a big change in my life and it was at this time that I met my partner Anthony, so I just needed time to adjust." [8]

Return to politics

Barr returned to political life in 2002 as a senior adviser to John Hargreaves, the Government Whip. Following Hargreaves' election to the ministry in November 2004, Barr was appointed his chief of staff –a position he held until his election to the Assembly in April 2006. [9]

Barr speaking at a 2015 ceremony at the Australian War Memorial Andrew Barr at the Canberra Operation Slipper Welcome Home Ceremony March 2015.jpg
Barr speaking at a 2015 ceremony at the Australian War Memorial

In early 2004, Barr won pre-selection for the Labor ticket in the seven-member Molonglo electorate, which included Barr's suburb of Dickson and that of his previous residence in Braddon. He campaigned largely on financial management, housing affordability and urban infrastructure issues, such as balanced territory budgets, tax concessions for first home buyers, inner city parking permits and footpath and street lighting upgrades, while also expressing support for gay law reform, the reproductive rights of women, multiculturalism and refugees.[ citation needed ] Barr polled strongly in inner city booths and ultimately found himself in contention for the seventh and final Molonglo seat, along with Liberals Jacqui Burke, Zed Seselja and fellow Labor candidate Mike Hettinger, but narrowly missed out, coming in tenth.

Barr continued working for Hargreaves after the election, but received a second chance at entering the Assembly when the Treasurer, Ted Quinlan, resigned in March 2006. The resulting countback saw the redistribution of Quinlan's primary vote and Barr's election to the ACT Legislative Assembly.

Quinlan's resignation from the Assembly sparked a ministerial reshuffle, with Barr immediately entering the ministry upon taking his seat. He was assigned the Education, Training, Industrial Relations, Sport and Tourism portfolios. Barr dedicated most of his maiden speech to economic management, housing affordability and progressive social reform [10]

Barr was re-elected to the seat of Molonglo for the 2008 and 2012 ACT elections. Following a major redistribution, he was elected to the seat of Kurrajong at the 2016 election and re-elected in 2020.

Treasurer and Chief Minister

Following the resignation of Jon Stanhope in May 2011, Barr was appointed Deputy Chief Minister in the cabinet of new Chief Minister Katy Gallagher. [11] Following Gallagher's resignation to run for the Senate, Barr was elected as Chief Minister on 11 December 2014. As leader, Barr led ACT Labor to a fifth consecutive general election win in October 2016. [12]

As of December 2023, Barr is the longest serving incumbent state or territory leader in Australia, and the last remaining state or territory leader since the commencement of the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia in March 2020. [13]

Economic development and taxation reforms

In 2012, following a review by former Treasurer Ted Quinlan, [14] Barr announced a 20-year program to transform the ACT taxation system, with the intention of making the system fairer, simpler and more efficient. [15] This program includes the abolition of stamp duty on property transfers and insurance premiums, with the foregone revenue replaced through the general rates system—an approach supported by most economists. [16] New South Wales and Victoria have expressed support for similar reforms. [17] [18]

As Treasurer and Chief Minister, Barr has focused on the ACT's economic development, particularly encouraging private sector investment in higher education, trade, tourism, major events, arts and sport. [19] Consequently, the ACT economy and employment has diversified away from its traditional public sector base.

In 2016, the ACT Government secured international flights for Canberra, with Singapore Airlines operating a 'Capital Express' route linking Singapore, Canberra and Wellington, [20] and Qatar Airways operating flights via Sydney. [21] In the same year, he established the Office of the Commissioner for International Engagement, with responsibility for building and cultivating international relationships for the economic, social and cultural benefit of the ACT.

Stage 1 of the Canberra light rail launched in April 2019, connecting Canberra's northern suburbs in Gungahlin with the city's centre via the Northbourne Avenue corridor. In October 2019, Barr launched the ACT Government's Infrastructure Plan outlining key health, transport, education and environmental infrastructure priorities including a new hospital and stadium, Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) campus upgrades and stage 2 of light rail. [22] Subject to Commonwealth approvals, construction of stage 2 to Woden will start in early 2021. [23]

In 2020, Barr announced a major expansion of UNSW Canberra, with the establishment of a new campus in Canberra's centre on the existing CIT site. [24]

Environment and Climate Change

Barr's government has continued its predecessors' environment and climate change policies, including reducing carbon emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy. Under its Climate Change Strategy, the ACT Government has a target of reducing emissions by 50–60% (from 1990 levels) by 2025 and net zero emissions by 2045. [25]

In May 2019, the ACT joined other jurisdictions around the world in declaring a state of climate emergency, and called for urgent action to address climate change. [26] [27]

In September 2019, the ACT Government announced it would be the first major jurisdiction outside of the European Union to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions electricity supply [28] with the commencement of an energy offtake agreement with Hornsdale Wind Farm in South Australia. [29]

LGBTI rights

A Canberra bus with rainbow wrap advertising as support from the ACT Government for the city's LGBTIQ community during the survey period. Rainbow ACTION bus September 2017.jpg
A Canberra bus with rainbow wrap advertising as support from the ACT Government for the city's LGBTIQ community during the survey period.

Barr has been a strong supporter of same-sex marriage and LGBTI rights, [31] voting in favour of anti-discrimination law reform, civil unions, civil partnerships and same-sex marriage laws.

His government has continued to champion measures to remove discrimination and promote inclusion of LGBTI communities. In 2017, Barr was a prominent advocate for the 'Yes' campaign in the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, in which the ACT had the highest Yes result (74%) and participation rate (82.5%) in Australia. The Government of the Australian Capital Territory took official positions supporting the "Yes" campaign. [32] [33] The move to offer official support was criticised by the Liberal Party opposition in the ACT. [34]

In 2018, his government announced its intention to ban gay conversion practices in the ACT, [35] and removed the ability for religious schools to discriminate against LGBTI teachers. [36]

Personal life

Barr married his long-term partner Anthony Toms on 13 November 2019, becoming the first leader of an Australian state or territory government to marry someone of the same-sex. [37]

Barr has admitted to eating a pot brownie before. [38]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly</span> Unicameral legislature of the Australian Capital Territory

The Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory is the unicameral legislature of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). It sits in the Legislative Assembly Building on Civic Square, close to the centre of the city of Canberra.

This is a list of members of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, as elected at 16 October 2004 election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katy Gallagher</span> Australian politician (born 1970)

Katherine Ruth Gallagher is an Australian politician who has been serving as the Minister for Finance, Minister for Women, Minister for the Public Service and Vice-President of the Executive Council in the Albanese Government since 2022, and formerly served as the 6th Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory from 2011 to 2014. She has been a Senator for the Australian Capital Territory since the 2019 federal election, as a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). She previously served in the Senate from 2015 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Quinlan</span> Australian politician

Edward Andrew John Quinlan AM is a former Australian politician. He was a Labor Party member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly from 1998 to 2006, representing the district of Molonglo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Molonglo electorate</span>

The Molonglo electorate was one of the three electorates for the unicameral 17-member Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly between 1995 and 2016. It had seven seats, and was the largest of the three electorates in terms of population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Australian Capital Territory general election</span>

Elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly were held on Saturday, 18 October 2008. The incumbent Labor Party, led by Jon Stanhope, was challenged by the Liberal Party, led by Zed Seselja. Candidates were elected to fill three multi-member electorates using a single transferable vote method, known as the Hare-Clark system. The result was another hung parliament with Labor winning seven seats, the Liberals six seats and the Greens finishing with four seats, giving the Greens the balance of power in the 17-member unicameral Assembly. On 31 October 2008, after almost two weeks of deliberations, the Greens chose to support a Labor minority government. Consequently, Labor was re-elected to a third consecutive term of government in the ACT. Stanhope was elected Chief Minister at the first sitting of the seventh Assembly on 5 November 2008. The election was conducted by the ACT Electoral Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zed Seselja</span> Australian politician

Zdenko Matthew "Zed" Seselja is an Australian politician who was a Senator for the Australian Capital Territory from 2013 to 2022, representing the Liberal Party. He was the Minister for International Development and the Pacific in the Morrison government from December 2020 to May 2022, and previously served as an assistant minister in the Morrison and Turnbull governments since 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Corbell</span> Australian politician

Simon Corbell is a former Australian politician and Deputy Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory. He was also Attorney-General, Minister for Health, Minister for the Environment and Minister for the Capital Metro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane Rattenbury</span> Australian politician

Shane Stephen Rattenbury, is the Attorney-General of the ACT and former Speaker of the ACT Legislative Assembly, and a member of the multi-member district unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Molonglo from 2008 to 2016 and the electorate of Kurrajong since 2016 for the ACT Greens. He was the first Speaker in any Parliament in the world representing a Green political party.

The Second Stanhope Ministry was the ninth ministry of the Government of the Australian Capital Territory, and was led by Labor Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and his deputies Ted Quinlan (2004–2006) and Katy Gallagher (2006–2008). It was sworn in on 4 November 2004, following the Labor government's landslide re-election at the 2004 election. The retirement of veteran member Bill Wood at the election created a vacancy in the ministry, and backbencher John Hargreaves, who had polled exceptionally well at the election, was appointed to fill the position.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Australian Capital Territory general election</span>

Elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly occurred on Saturday, 20 October 2012. The 11-year incumbent Labor Party, led by Chief Minister Katy Gallagher, won a fourth term over the main opposition Liberal Party, led by opposition leader Zed Seselja.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Australian Capital Territory general election</span>

A general election for the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly was held on Saturday, 15 October 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yvette Berry</span> Australian politician

Yvette Simone Berry is an Australian politician and Deputy Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory. She has been a Labor Party member for the seat of Ginninderra in the ACT Legislative Assembly since the 2012 ACT election. Berry is the daughter of Wayne Berry who was a Member of the ACT Assembly for Ginninderra from 1989 to 2008, Deputy Chief Minister from 1991 to 1994, Opposition Leader from 1997 to 1998 and Speaker from 2001 to 2008. Berry is the first family member of a current or previous member to be elected to the ACT assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meegan Fitzharris</span> Australian politician

Meegan Fitzharris is a former Australian politician, who was a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly for the Yerrabi electorate from October 2016 to July 2019, and before that, member for the electorate of Molonglo after she won a countback to fill the Legislative Assembly seat vacated by former Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher, in January 2015. She was the Minister for Transport and Municipal Services, Minister for Higher Education, Training and Research and Minister for Health until her resignation from politics in July 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Australian Capital Territory general election</span> General election

The 2020 Australian Capital Territory general election was held between 28 September and 17 October 2020 to elect all 25 members of the unicameral ACT Legislative Assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suzanne Orr</span> Australian politician

Suzanne Patricia Orr is an Australian politician. She has been a Labor member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly since October 2016, representing the electorate of Yerrabi. She worked as an urban planner before her election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Steel</span> Australian politician

Christopher James Steel is an Australian politician. He has been a Labor member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly since 2016, representing the electorate of Murrumbidgee and currently serves as a Cabinet Minister in the ACT Government. Before his election, Steel was an education advocate working in the early childhood sector.

The Second Barr Ministry was the 14th ministry of the Government of the Australian Capital Territory, led by Labor Chief Minister Andrew Barr and his deputy Yvette Berry. It was appointed on 1 November 2016, following the 2016 general election held two weeks earlier. The Greens signed a new formal Parliamentary Agreement with Labor which continued to maintain Green's leader Shane Rattenbury's position in the Ministry, whilst mandating that the Greens not move or support any motion of no confidence in the Labor Government, except in instances of gross misconduct or corruption.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Australian Capital Territory general election</span>

The 2024 Australian Capital Territory general election will be held on or before Saturday the 19th of October 2024 to elect all 25 members of the unicameral ACT Legislative Assembly.

References

  1. ↑ 2012/2013 Annual Returns Archived 15 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine , Elections ACT, 29 August 2013.
  2. ↑ Lawson, Kirsten (11 October 2016). "Andrew Barr, a lifelong creature of politics". The Canberra Times .
  3. ↑ Australian Capital Territory Ministerial Directory
  4. 1 2 "Andrew Barr elected ACT Chief Minister, seventh in history". ABC News . Australia. 11 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  5. ↑ Gardner, Jorian (15–21 October 2009). "Andrew pops the question". CityNews. Vol. 15, no. 40 (Canberra ed.). p. 3. Openly gay Minister Andrew Barr will enter into a civil union with partner Anthony Toms next month, just as the ACT Legislative assembly attempts another run at putting forward same-sex partnerships legislation similar to that recently passed in Tasmania.
  6. ↑ "Celebrating the Achievements of our Past Students", Education Directorate, ACT Government, archived from the original on 30 January 2017, retrieved 30 January 2017
  7. ↑ "Andrew Barr". Members for Molongolo. Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. 2011.
  8. ↑ Gardner, Jorian (January 2004). "Barr Interview 2006". Canberra City News. Archived from the original on 26 July 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  9. ↑ Manager, Web (28 April 2020). "Barr-Andrew". www.parliament.act.gov.au. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  10. ↑ Barr: Swearing In and Inaugural Speech Archived 7 April 2018 at the Wayback Machine , ACT Legislative Assembly Hansard, 2006 Week 4 Hansard (2 May), accessed 7 November 2009
  11. ↑ Australian Capital Territory (Self Government) Ministerial Appointment 2011 (No 1) Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine (ACT) sch 1
  12. ↑ "Labor claim historic victory in ACT election". Sky News. 16 October 2016.
  13. ↑ Campbell, Eleanor (11 December 2023). "ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr declares he is "energised and ready to go" for 2024". news.com.au. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  14. ↑ "ACT government property reform: what's happening to Canberra rates and land tax". The Canberra Times. 10 June 2019.
  15. ↑ "ACT Budget Speech 2012-13" (PDF). ACT Government. 5 June 2012.
  16. ↑ "Following the ACT land tax approach boosts growth and state budgets". Grattan Institute. 10 October 2016.
  17. ↑ "Now is the time to reform stamp duty". Australian Financial Review. 4 May 2020.
  18. ↑ "Victoria backs reform, stamp duty push". Australian Financial Review. 5 May 2020.
  19. ↑ "Economic Development". Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. 22 August 2022.
  20. ↑ "Canberra international flights: Singapore Airlines launches Capital Express route". The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 January 2016.
  21. ↑ "Canberra gains more international flights as Qatar Airways announces Doha route". ABC News. 29 November 2016.
  22. ↑ "$14 billion plan hinges on Canberra's growth". The Canberra Times. 17 October 2019.
  23. ↑ "Canberra light rail's business plan for Stage 2A approved by ACT Government, London Circuit to be raised". ABC News. 10 September 2019.
  24. ↑ "UNSW to build $1 billion Canberra campus". The Canberra Times. 5 March 2020.
  25. ↑ "ACT Climate Change Strategy". ACT Government. 30 September 2021.
  26. ↑ "ACT parliament declares climate emergency". SBS News. 16 May 2019.
  27. ↑ "Climate Emergency Declaration". ACT Government. 28 June 2022.
  28. ↑ "ACT the first jurisdiction outside of EU to achieve 100% net-zero renewable electricity". ACT Government. 18 September 2019.
  29. ↑ "ACT: First Outside Europe to 100% Renewable Transition". The Australian Institute. 18 September 2019.
  30. ↑ Burgess, Kate (29 August 2017). "The ACT's new rainbow buses revealed to promote same-sex marriage 'yes' case". The Canberra Times . Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  31. ↑ "TimeBase - ACT Bill To Prevent Sexuality And Gender Identity Conversion Practices". www.timebase.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  32. ↑ Burdon, Daniel (24 August 2017). "ACT same-sex marriage campaign to cost $45,000". The Canberra Times . Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  33. ↑ Burgess, Katie (29 August 2017). "The ACT's new rainbow buses revealed to promote same-sex marriage 'yes' case". The Canberra Times . Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  34. ↑ Larouche, Emma (17 August 2017). "Criticism after 'yes' same-sex marriage campaign dips into taxpayer money". 9News. Archived from the original on 18 August 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  35. ↑ "ACT Health Minister commits to banning gay conversion therapy". Star Observer. 21 May 2018.
  36. ↑ "Andrew Barr to start to close discrimination loophole next week". The Canberra Times. 24 October 2018.
  37. ↑ "ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr marries his partner, Anthony Toms, 20 years after they met". ABC News. 14 November 2019.
  38. ↑ "Which ACT politicians have tried cannabis, MDMA and acid?". 24 January 2019.
Political offices
Preceded by Deputy Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory
2011–2014		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory
2014–present		Incumbent
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.