Tony Burke
Tony Burke, Federal Member for Watson, has a background in Small Business and in Industrial Relations. He was a founding director of Aticus Pty Ltd and later worked as a union official for the SDA.
Tony was appointed as Shadow Minister for Small Business on election to the Australian Parliament in 2004. He then became the Shadow Minister for Immigration in June 2005.
In December 2006 Tony’s portfolio was expanded. He was the Shadow Minister for Immigration, Integration and Citizenship until the 2007 election.
Following election of a new Labor Government in November 2007, the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd named Tony as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in the Rudd Government’s first cabinet.He then had Population added to his portfolios.
He is now the Environment Minister in the Gillard Government. Before entering Federal Parliament, Tony served as a member of the NSW Legislative Council. During his time there Tony chaired the NSW State Development Committee, conducting inquiries into Ports Infrastructure and into Science and its Commercialisation in NSW.
Tony has degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Sydney and is a former National President of Australian Young Labor.
Articles by Tony Burke
All league is local: a day of joy in Belmore
All league is local. That’s what was forgotten 15 years ago, when the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs dropped the local area…... Read more
Protecting the Barrier Reef is the Fin end of the wedge
When you take on a job like being Environment Minister there’s some hits you can see coming. You expect you’ll…... Read more
We can’t keep the country running at two speeds
Today there will be thousands of Australians losing an hour of time with their kids for the privilege of sitting…... Read more
Swearing for a good cause
Last night I attended the launch of National Swearing Day without realising it. Attending functions as a politician can be…... Read more
Who’s funding wacko PETA?
When the extreme animal rights group PETA complained about President Barack Obama swatting a fly, the penny finally dropped for…... Read more
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From: Hasbro, go straight to gaol, do not pass go
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