Wayne Swan

Last updated

Swan in 2008 WayneSwan.jpg
Swan in 2008

Following Labor's landslide win in the 2007 federal election, Swan was appointed Treasurer of Australia by Kevin Rudd on 3 December 2007. [16]

Swan's first budget concentrated on inflationary pressures in the economy, with substantially reduced spending that exceeded the A$11 billion outlaid for tax cuts. The policy debate shifted around August 2008 after mortgage lending banks in the United States began to collapse and economic activity faltered as American investments were written off. In response to the resulting global downturn, Swan coordinated an "economic security strategy" worth $10 billion in October 2008. Designed as a stimulus package and directed towards retail sales, it was largely supported by the International Monetary Fund. When the December quarterly growth report showed the economy contracting, he moved ahead with the Nation Building and Jobs Plan to provide government-sponsored work worth A$42 billion. This action was widely credited with preventing Australia from following much of the world into recession, as the March 2009 quarterly growth report showed that the economy had returned to growth.

On 20 September 2011, Swan was named Finance Minister of the Year by Euromoney magazine, joining Paul Keating as the only Australian Treasurer to have been conferred that title. [2] [3]

In March 2012, Swan became the first treasurer or deputy prime minister to be ejected from the House of Representatives, after he referred to Andrew Robb, the then-opposition finance spokesperson, as "Curly", in reference to The Three Stooges. [17] [18] [19] [20]

In an essay published in The Monthly magazine in March 2012, Swan criticised the rising influence of vested interests, in particular paying attention to mining entrepreneurs Clive Palmer, Gina Rinehart and Andrew Forrest, and how Swan believed they are threatening Australia's egalitarian social contract. [21] and a subsequent address to the National Press Club, [22] In The Monthly essay he opined:

The latest example of this is the foray by Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, into Fairfax Media, reportedly in an attempt to wield greater influence on public opinion and further her commercial interests at a time when the overwhelming economic consensus is that it's critical to use the economic weight of the resources boom to strengthen the entire economy.

Politicians have a choice: between exploiting divisions by promoting fear and appealing to the sense of fairness and decency that is the foundation of our middle-class society; between standing up for workers and kneeling down at the feet of the Gina Rineharts and the Clive Palmers.

For every Andrew Forrest who wails about high company taxes and then admits to not paying any, there are a hundred Australian businesspeople who held on to their employees and worked with government to keep the doors of Australian business open during the GFC. Despite the howling of a small minority, the vast bulk of the resources industry is in the cart for more efficient profits-based resource taxation which serves to strengthen our entire economy. The vast majority of our miners accept that they have a social obligation to pay their fair share of tax on the resources Australians own.

Deputy Prime Minister

Wayne Swan, Barack Obama and Julia Gillard toast at a dinner at Parliament House in 2011 Barack Obama and Julia Gillard toast Nov 16 2011.jpg
Wayne Swan, Barack Obama and Julia Gillard toast at a dinner at Parliament House in 2011

On 23 June 2010, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard challenged Kevin Rudd for the leadership of the Labor Party. Realising that he no longer had enough support to retain his position, Rudd resigned the following day, allowing Gillard to be elected unopposed. Swan stood to fill the vacant position of Deputy Leader, and was also elected unopposed. He was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister of Australia later that day. Days later, Swan attended the G20 Toronto Summit in Gillard's place. [23] He would regularly stand in for Gillard as Acting Prime Minister for the next three years.

Resignation and retirement

Swan resigned from his positions to return to the backbench following the return of Kevin Rudd to the leadership in June 2013. After Labor lost the 2013 federal election, he remained in Parliament and retained his seat at the 2016 federal election. On 10 February 2018, he announced that he would not contest the 2019 federal election and that he would retire from politics. [24]

Personal collection

Swan donated his personal collection [25] of records to the State Library of Queensland's John Oxley Library. The collection reflects the history of Swan's time in public office and in particular is a record of his experience as: Secretary of the Queensland Labor Party (1991–1993) Federal MP and Member for the seat of Lilley from 1993–1996, 1998–2019, Treasurer of Australia (2007–2013), Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of the ALP (2010–2013) and National President of the Australian Labor Party (2018–present). A substantial part of the collection relates to the Global Financial Crisis of 2008–2009 and is highly significant given that Australia was a key contributor to G20 discussions. The collection includes photographs, correspondence, campaign materials and political documents. [26] In 2021 the State Library produced a digital story with Swan. [27] The interview by Dennis Atkins covers Swan's time in public office and his life before and after politics as well as the Global Financial Crisis of 2008–09 and Swan's role in the implementation of an effective domestic stimulus response to the crisis. [28]

Books

Personal life

Swan is married to Kim and has three children. [31] An earlier marriage, when he was 21, lasted for one year. [31]

At age 48, Swan was diagnosed with prostate cancer but has since fully recovered. He has become an advocate for the prostate cancer public awareness campaign. [32]

Swan has admitted to smoking cannabis. [33]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simon Crean</span> Australian politician (1949–2023)

Simon Findlay Crean was an Australian politician and trade unionist. He was the leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and leader of the opposition from 2001 to 2003. He represented the seat of Hotham in the House of Representatives from 1990 to 2013 and was a cabinet minister in the Hawke, Keating, Rudd and Gillard governments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim Beazley</span> Australian politician (born 1948)

Kim Christian Beazley is an Australian former politician and diplomat. Since 2022 he has served as the Chairman of the Australian War Memorial. Previously, he was leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and leader of the opposition from 1996 to 2001 and 2005 to 2006, having previously been a cabinet minister in the Hawke and Keating governments. After leaving parliament, he served as ambassador to the United States from 2010 to 2016 and 33rd governor of Western Australia from 2018 to 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Rudd</span> Prime Minister of Australia (2006–2010; 2013)

Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian diplomat and former politician who served as the 26th prime minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010 and June 2013 to September 2013. He held office as the leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). Rudd has been the 23rd and current ambassador of Australia to the United States since 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julia Gillard</span> Prime Minister of Australia from 2010 to 2013

Julia Eileen Gillard is an Australian former politician who served as the 27th prime minister of Australia from 2010 to 2013. She held office as leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), having previously served as the 13th deputy prime minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010, under Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. She is the first and only woman to hold either office in Australian history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jenny Macklin</span> Australian politician

Jennifer Louise Macklin is an Australian former politician. She was elected to federal parliament at the 1996 federal election and served as the deputy leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) from 2001 to 2006, under opposition leaders Simon Crean, Mark Latham and Kim Beazley. After the ALP won government at the 2007 election, she held ministerial office under Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, serving as Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (2007–2013) and Minister for Disability Reform (2011–2013). She retired from parliament at the 2019 election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Emerson</span> Australian politician

Craig Anthony Emerson is an Australian economist and former Australian Labor Party politician. He served as the Australian House of Representatives Member for the Division of Rankin in Queensland from 1998 until 2013. Emerson also served as Minister for Trade and Competitiveness, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research and Minister for Competition Policy, Small Business and Consumer Affairs in the Rudd and Gillard Governments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Smith (Australian politician)</span> Australian politician

Stephen Francis Smith is an Australian former politician and diplomat serving as the 26th and current high commissioner of Australia to the United Kingdom since 2023. A member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), he was the federal member of Parliament (MP) for the division of Perth from 1993 to 2013, serving in the Rudd and Gillard governments as minister for Foreign Affairs from 2007 to 2010, minister for Trade in 2010 and minister for Defence from 2010 to 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim Carr</span> Australian politician

Kim John Carr is an Australian former politician who served as a Senator for Victoria between 1993 and 2022. Representing the Labor Party, he was a minister in the Rudd and Gillard governments.

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

Christopher Eyles Guy Bowen is an Australian politician who has been Minister for Climate Change and Energy in the Albanese government since June 2022. He is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and was first elected to parliament at the 2004 federal election. He held ministerial office in the Rudd and Gillard governments from 2007 to 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Ludwig</span> Australian politician

Joseph William Ludwig is an Australian barrister and retired politician. He was a member of the Australian Senate for the state of Queensland from July 1999 to May 2016, representing the Australian Labor Party. Ludwig served in a range of portfolios in the first Rudd and the second Gillard ministries until his resignation from Cabinet as the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister Assisting the Attorney-General on Queensland Floods Recovery, in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Australian Labor Party leadership spill</span> Leadership spill

A leadership spill occurred in the Australian Labor Party on 24 June 2010. Kevin Rudd, the prime minister of Australia, was challenged by Julia Gillard, the deputy prime minister of Australia, for the leadership of the Australian Labor Party. Gillard won the election unopposed after Rudd declined to contest, choosing instead to resign. Gillard was duly sworn in as prime minister by Quentin Bryce, the Governor-General, on 24 June 2010 at Government House, becoming Australia's first female prime minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gillard government</span> Australian government led by Julia Gillard (2010–2013)

The Gillard government was the Government of Australia led by the 27th Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, of the Australian Labor Party. The Gillard government succeeded the first Rudd government by way of the Labor Party leadership spill, and began on 24 June 2010, with Gillard sworn in as Prime Minister by the Governor-General of Australia, Quentin Bryce. The Gillard government ended when Kevin Rudd won back the leadership of the Australian Labor Party on 26 June 2013 and commenced the second Rudd government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Australian Labor Party leadership spill</span>

A leadership spill of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) was held on 4 December 2006. Opposition Leader Kim Beazley was challenged by Shadow Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, while Deputy Opposition Leader Jenny Macklin was challenged by Shadow Health Minister Julia Gillard in a joint-ticket. Rudd defeated Beazley, after which Macklin resigned, leaving Gillard to become Deputy Leader unopposed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Australian Labor Party leadership spill</span>

A leadership spill in the Australian Labor Party, the party of government in the Parliament of Australia, was held on 27 February 2012 at 10 am AEDT, followed by a ballot. The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, announced the spill at a press conference on 23 February 2012, following the resignation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kevin Rudd, from his cabinet position after months of speculation that he intended to challenge Gillard for the leadership. Rudd announced his intention to seek the leadership at a press conference on 24 February.

Two leadership spills of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), the official opposition party in the Parliament of Australia, were held on 16 June 2003 and 2 December 2003, respectively. The Opposition Leader, Simon Crean, won the ballot in June against former opposition leader Kim Beazley, but resigned as leader in late November after losing support from his colleagues and did not contest the December ballot which Mark Latham won against Kim Beazley.

The Strategic Priorities Budget Committee (SPBC), better known as the Gang of Four, was a political strategic grouping within the Australian Labor Party, comprising then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, his deputy Julia Gillard, Treasurer Wayne Swan and Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner. This name refers to the tightly held concentration of political power between the group throughout the First Rudd government (2007–10), which deliberated on various political issues concerning the Global Financial Crisis to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">June 2013 Australian Labor Party leadership spill</span>

A leadership spill in the Australian Labor Party, the party then forming the Government of Australia, took place on 26 June 2013 at 7:00pm AEST. Prime Minister Julia Gillard called a ballot for Leader and Deputy Leader of the Labor Party live on Sky News Australia at 4:00pm, following persistent leadership tensions. She stated that she would retire from politics if she lost the vote, while calling on any would-be challengers to pledge to do the same if they lost. In a press conference held shortly after Gillard's announcement, backbencher and former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced that he would challenge Gillard, whilst also pledging to step down if he did not win the vote. At the ALP caucus meeting, Rudd was elected Leader of the Labor Party, with the caucus voting 57–45 in his favour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudd government (2013)</span> 2nd Rudd government of Australia

The second Rudd government was the federal executive Government of Australia led by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of the Australian Labor Party. It commenced on 27 June 2013 and ceased on 18 September 2013. Rudd had previously served a term as Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010 and been replaced by his deputy Julia Gillard, following an internal party spill. Rudd regained the Labor Party leadership by successfully re-challenging Gillard in a June 2013 party spill. On 5 August, Rudd called an election for 7 September 2013, which resulted in the defeat of his government by the Liberal/National Coalition led by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">October 2013 Australian Labor Party leadership election</span> Election

A leadership election was held in October 2013 to select Kevin Rudd's replacement as leader of the Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition. Bill Shorten was elected party leader, and Tanya Plibersek was later confirmed as deputy leader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Chalmers</span> Australian politician (born 1978)

James Edward Chalmers is an Australian politician. He has been Treasurer of Australia in the Albanese government since May 2022. He is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and has served as a member of parliament for the division of Rankin since 2013.

References

  1. ↑ Rodgers, Emma (24 June 2010). "Gillard ousts Rudd in bloodless coup". ABC News. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Press release: Australia's Wayne Swan named Euromoney's finance minister of the year". Euromoney. 20 September 2011. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023.
  3. 1 2 Uren, David (21 September 2011). "Wayne Swan named world's best Treasurer by Euromoney magazine". The Australian. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  4. ↑ Thompson, Jeremy (21 September 2011). "Swan named world's best treasurer". ABC News. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023.
  5. ↑ Griffiths, Emma (26 June 2013). "Kevin Rudd defeats Julia Gillard 57–45 in Labor leadership ballot, paving way for a return to PM". ABC News . Australia. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  6. ↑ Fraser, Andrew (5 December 2006). "Genesis of an ideas man" . The Australian. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  7. ↑ Atkins, Dennis (2 August 2008). "Wayne Swan and Kevin Rudd seek government reform". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 21 August 2008.[ dead link ]
  8. ↑ Swan, Wayne (21 August 2007). "Australian Treasurer". Sunday (Interview: transcript). Interviewed by Laurie Oakes. Nine Network. Retrieved 21 August 2008.[ dead link ]
  9. ↑ Karvelas, Patricia (14 August 2007). "'Kick Swan out' for Democrats donation" . The Australian. Archived from the original on 3 December 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  10. ↑ Sanderson, Wayne (27 November 2000). "Preferential treatment". 7.30 Report. Australia. Archived from the original (transcript) on 7 April 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  11. ↑ Royal, Simon (29 November 2000). "Tracking the money path of the Swan donation". 7.30 Report. Australia. Archived from the original (transcript) on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  12. ↑ Pearson, Christopher (23 July 2002). "Why Wayne Swan will not realise the ALP leadership" . The Age. Australia. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  13. ↑ Schubert, Misha (14 August 2007). "Costello attacks Swan over Democrats money" . The Age. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  14. ↑ Toohey, Paul (17 April 2007). "Swan's Song". The Bulletin. pp. 17–23. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2008.
  15. ↑ Donald, Peta; Colvin, Mark (13 November 2007). "Labor says Coalition spending will raise inflation". PM (ABC Radio). Australia. Archived from the original (transcript) on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  16. ↑ "Rudd hands out portfolios". Australia: ABC News. 29 November 2007. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  17. ↑ "Swan removed after 'Curly' call". YouTube. ABC News. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  18. ↑ Daley, Gemma (21 March 2012). "Nyuk-nyuk: Swan's out" . Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  19. ↑ Hudson, Phillip. "Wayne Swan kicked out of Parliament". The Australian. News Corp. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  20. ↑ Hudson, Phillip. "Swan gets the boot from Slipper". The Advertiser. News Corp. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
  21. ↑ Swan, Wayne (2 March 2012). "The 0.01 Per Cent: The Rising Influence of Vested Interests in Australia" . The Monthly. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  22. ↑ "Swan launches second assault on mining billionaires". PM (ABC Radio). Australia. 5 March 2012. Archived from the original (transcript) on 13 June 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  23. ↑ O'Malley, Sandra (26 June 2010). "Swan to take International Stage at G20" . The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  24. ↑ Dziedzic, Stephen; Doran, Matthew (10 February 2018). "Former treasurer Wayne Swan to bow out of federal politics". ABC News. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  25. ↑ CC BY icon-80x15.png This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "32178 Wayne Swan Papers". State Library of Queensland Catalogue. State Library of Queensland . Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  26. ↑ CC BY icon-80x15.png This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "32178 Wayne Swan Papers". State Library of Queensland Catalogue. State Library of Queensland . Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  27. ↑ CC BY icon-80x15.png This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Wayne Swan in conversation with Dennis Atkins digital story and oral history". State Library of Queensland. 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  28. ↑ CC BY icon-80x15.png This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Wayne Swan in conversation with Dennis Atkins digital story and oral history". State Library of Queensland Catalogue. State Library of Queensland . Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  29. ↑ Swan, Wayne (2005). Postcode: the splintering of a nation. North Melbourne: Pluto Press. ISBN   1-86403-360-6.
  30. ↑ Swan, Wayne (2014). The Good Fight: Six years, two prime ministers and staring down the Great Recession. East Melbourne: Allen & Unwin. p. 416. ISBN   9781743319352.
  31. 1 2 Hall, Louise (2 March 2008). "Treasurer Wayne Swan's first marriage didn't last long it went for about one year 'no secret'" . The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 May 2008.
  32. ↑ Scott, Sophie (27 February 2003). "The prostate debate". 7:30 Report. Australia: ABC News. Archived from the original (transcript) on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2010.
  33. ↑ Nicholson, Brendan (26 September 2008). "Turnbull's pot admission makes a whiff of history" . The Sydney Morning Herald.
The Honourable
Wayne Swan
Treasurer Wayne Swan, 2009, crop.jpg
Swan in 2009
25th National President of the Labor Party
Assumed office
18 June 2018
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Lilley
1993–1996		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Lilley
1998–2019		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Treasurer of Australia
2007–2013		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
2010–2013		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Deputy Leader of the Labor Party
2010–2013		Succeeded by
Preceded by National President of the Labor Party
2018–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.