Georgina Downer

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Georgina Downer
Born
Georgina Mary Beatrice Downer [1]

(1979-09-29) 29 September 1979 (age 45)
Brussels
NationalityAustralian
OccupationLawyer
Known forMember of the Downer family, political candidate
SpouseWill Heath
Children2
Parents

Georgina Mary Beatrice Downer (born 29 September 1979 in Brussels, Belgium) [2] is an Australian political figure and Director of the Robert Menzies Institute. She has unsuccessfully contested several elections, and is a lawyer and former diplomat. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents

Early life and education

Downer was born in Brussels in 1979 to Nicky and Alexander Downer. Her father, later leader of the opposition, was based in Belgium as a diplomat. Nicky had been a journalist for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). [7] [8] She is a member of the Downer political family, with several family members active in political life. [9]

After graduating from Seymour College in 1997, Downer moved from Adelaide to study law at the University of Melbourne. [10] [11] In 2005, Downer won a Chevening Scholarship to study at the London School of Economics, where she graduated with a master's degree. [12] [13] [14] [15]

Working life

Downer joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as a graduate trainee in 2007, later spending four years in Japan. Working at the Australian Embassy, she reached the position of second secretary. [14] [11] [16]

Politics

In 2015, Downer was linked in the media to the Senate seat vacated by Michael Ronaldson; and as a possible replacement for Kevin Andrews in the seat of Menzies. In 2016, she was mooted as a possible replacement for Bruce Billson in the seat of Dunkley. [17] [18] [19]

Downer contested the Liberal pre-selection for the seat of Goldstein in 2016, but was defeated by Tim Wilson. [20] [21] [22]

She was the endorsed Liberal candidate for the seat of Mayo in the Australian House of Representatives in the 2018 by-election and in the 2019 general election, but both times was unsuccessful. [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] Her promotion of the funding of a sports grant while a candidate, instead of the current member for the seat, Rebekha Sharkie, was a key initiating factor in the public coverage of the sports rorts affair of 2020. [29] [30] Downer returned to Melbourne shortly after her 2019 defeat.

Personal life

Downer married Will Heath, a lawyer with King & Wood Mallesons, in 2009. The couple had met at university in 2000. They have two children. [28] [31] [32]

Electoral history

Federal

Election yearElectoratePartyVotesFP%2PP%Result
2018 Mayo Liberal 33,21937.44%Decrease2.svg 0.3242.47%Decrease2.svg 2.56Second
2019 42,42637.65%Increase2.svg 1.0344.86%Decrease2.svg 2.22Second

References

  1. ↑ Downer, Alick (2012). The Downers of South Australia (PDF). p. vii. ISBN   978-1-74305-199-3 . Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  2. ↑ "Family Notices". The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 3 October 1979. p. 28. Retrieved 9 April 2020– via Trove.
  3. ↑ Castello, Renato; Pisani, Ashleigh (19 May 2019). "Australia Decides 2019 - Curtain falls on Downer dynasty". Sunday Mail. p. 14.
  4. ↑ Green, Antony (16 August 2018). "2018 Mayo by-election". July 2018 Federal By-elections. ABC News. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  5. ↑ "Downer to sever ties with state". The Advertiser. 6 November 2019. p. 13.
  6. ↑ Starick, Paul (25 May 2019). "Two failed shots at Mayo, now for Game of Thrones, family and deadlifting". The Advertiser. p. 31.
  7. ↑ Tom, McIlroy (17 May 2018). "Georgina Downer: Dyed in the wool Tory from the age of 6". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  8. ↑ Jean, Peter (18 July 2018). "Howard warns of Sharkie vote 'risk'". The Advertiser.
  9. ↑ "Why some children of famous people succeed while others 'fall from grace'". ABC News. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  10. ↑ "A perfect Downer". Herald Sun. 7 January 1998. p. 12.
  11. 1 2 "Adelaide to Tokyo no Downer for Georgina". The Advertiser. 7 November 2016. p. 21.
  12. ↑ "Up for Downer". Financial Times. 11 August 2005.
  13. ↑ Maynard, Roger (11 August 2005). "Scholarship for minister's daughter causes uproar". The Times. p. 34.
  14. 1 2 Wallace, Rick (30 March 2015). "Downer dynasty set for another go". The Australian.
  15. ↑ Burke, Nicolette (10 August 2005). "Downer defends grant". The Age. p. 2.
  16. ↑ "Leg-up for a Downer". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 March 2007. p. 24.
  17. ↑ Hudson, Phillip (19 December 2015). "Retiring Lib senator opens way for women". The Weekend Australian. p. 4.
  18. ↑ van Onselen, Peter (12 March 2016). "Diminishing sparkle of the jewel in the Liberals' crown". The Weekend Australian.
  19. ↑ "Fight's on for seats". Herald Sun. 19 February 2016. p. 8.
  20. ↑ Coorey, Philip (12 February 2016). "Downer scion leads race for Robb's seat". Australian Financial Review. p. 6.
  21. ↑ Aston, Joe; Glasgow, Will (17 February 2016). "Kennett backs Downer in Goldstein seat". Australian Financial Review.
  22. ↑ "Tim Wilson, former Human Rights Commissioner, wins Liberal preselection in seat of Goldstein". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Australian Associated Press. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  23. ↑ Smith, Matt (30 July 2018). "Bullying claims as Mayo battle ends on a Downer". The Advertiser. p. 5.
  24. ↑ Wright, Tony (14 July 2018). "Sharks circling for a homecoming queen". The Age. p. 22.
  25. ↑ Wright, Tony (28 July 2018). "Downer slams 'abuse and hatred' aimed at aspiring politician daughter". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  26. ↑ "Downer's savouring Mayo". The Advertiser. 28 January 2017. p. 35.
  27. ↑ ABC radio, Adelaide (6 November 2019). "Liberal candidate Georgina Downer to return to Victoria after twice failing to win SA seat of Mayo". ABC News. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  28. 1 2 Penberthy, David (6 November 2019). "Georgina Downer gives up on Mayo, returns to Victoria" . The Australian . Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  29. ↑ Remeikis, Amy; Karp, Paul (12 March 2020). "From novelty cheque to full-blown scandal: a timeline of the sports rorts saga". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  30. ↑ MacLennan, Leah (16 May 2019). "Is a high profile a help or a hindrance for candidates in an election?". ABC News. Retrieved 14 May 2021.
  31. ↑ Black, Elisa (26 April 2009). "Downer daughter's delight". Sunday Mail.
  32. ↑ Devlin, Rebekah (25 April 2009). "Geese in on act". The Advertiser. p. 28.
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