Craig Laundy

The Honourable
Craig Laundy
MP
Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation
Assumed office
20 December 2017 (2017-12-20)
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull
Scott Morrison
Preceded by Michael McCormack
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Reid
Assumed office
7 September 2013
Preceded by John Murphy
Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science
In office
19 July 2016 – 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20)
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by
Succeeded by Zed Seselja
Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs
In office
18 February 2016 (2016-02-18) – 19 July 2016
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded by Concetta Fierravanti-Wells
Succeeded by Zed Seselja
Personal details
Born (1971-02-16) 16 February 1971
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Political party Liberal Party
Spouse(s) Suzie Crowe
Children 3
Alma mater University of New South Wales
Profession Hotelier, politician
Website craiglaundy.com.au

Craig Arthur Samuel Laundy (born 16 February 1971) is an Australian politician. He is the Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation since 20 December 2017, serving in the Second Turnbull Ministry.[1] Laundy has been the Liberal member for the House of Representatives seat of Reid since the 2013 election.

Early years and background

Laundy is the son of pub baron Arthur Laundy, and his wife Margaret. The family owns more than 30 pubs across New South Wales.[2] He was born in Sydney and educated at St Patrick's College, Strathfield, St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill, and the University of New South Wales where he graduated with a Bachelor of Economics.[3]

Prior to his election to parliament at the 2013 federal election, Laundy worked in the family hotel business.[4]

Political career

Laundy served as the Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs between February and July 2016 following a rearrangement in the First Turnbull Ministry[5][6] and served as the Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science between July 2016 and December 2017 in the Second Turnbull Ministry, until a subsequent rearrangement of the ministry in December 2017 when he was appointed as the Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation.[1]

Fringe benefits tax

As a candidate during the 2013 federal election campaign, Laundy argued that the removal of the fringe benefits tax concession on motor vehicles would be "another kick in the pants to Australia's automotive industry."[7]

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

In January 2014, public broadcaster, the ABC received criticism from senior members of the Coalition government, including the Defence Minister, David Johnston and the Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who said that he feels that sometimes the ABC acts in a way that "instinctively takes everyone's side but Australia's." Laundy defended the ABC, responding that he does not defend their content, but their right to "say what they want." He said that "the beauty of living in a democracy is that if you don't like what you're hearing, what you're watching, or what you're looking at on the internet, choose another channel." He also said that it is not the role of the ABC to be patriotic.[8]

Racial discrimination

In March 2014, the Attorney-General George Brandis proposed draft legislative amendments to the Racial Discrimination Act, 1975, seeking to remove sections that made it unlawful "to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or a group of people" on the basis of their "race, colour or national or ethnic origin."[9] Laundy, a Liberal backbencher at the time, spoke out against the changes, saying that it was "important that we support a legislative system that reflects the diverse and multicultural country that modern Australia has become today."[10] The changes were dropped after widespread public outrage, and opposition from some Liberal backbenchers, including Laundy, Phillip Ruddock, and Ken Wyatt, an indigenous Member of Parliament.

On 3 October 2014, Laundy joined with Labor MPs Tony Burke, Anthony Albanese, and Michelle Rowland in supporting the #NotinMyName campaign, which condemns racism, hatred, and bigotry.[11]

Palestine

Laundy is co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Palestine Group.[12] On 5 June 2014, the Abbott Government announced the term "occupied" would no longer be used to describe East Jerusalem. Laundy publicly opposed the shift in language, saying that the area was occupied by armed Israeli forces.[13]

Same-sex marriage

Laundy does not support same-sex marriage, but had previously supported a conscience vote on the issue. In September 2014, he declared that he no longer supported a free vote.[14] After his constituency voted in favour of same-sex marriage in the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, Laundy voted for the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017, which legalised same-sex marriage in Australia.[15]

In 2015, pro same-sex marriage activists sent unmarked letters filled with glitter to the offices of several Federal Coalition MPs. Laundy's office was briefly locked down until police determined the packages were harmless, and the activist group GetUp! issued an official apology for the stunt. Laundy labelled it a grossly irresponsible act noting that to 'send any undeclared substance through the mail to the office of a Member of Parliament will inevitably cause alarm'.[16]

Refugee intake

Laundy was shown photographs of a dead Syrian toddler fleeing the Syrian civil war by his daughter at the dinner table, which brought him and the rest of his family to tears.[17] [18] Moved by the images and the unfolding crisis, Laundy called the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop, and Immigration and Border Protection, Peter Dutton, canvassing an increase in the humanitarian refugee intake by Australia, especially in relation to refugees from Syria.[19] Speaking to the media afterwards about the decision to seek asylum in the face of intense suffering and persecution, Laundy drew parallels between refugees and all of humanity, saying: "There but for the grace of God go any of us. Put yourself in the position of those people and tell me you wouldn’t do the same."[20] Laundy was subsequently appointed as the Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Turnbull, Malcolm (19 December 2017). "Ministerial Arrangements" (Press release). Government of Australia. Retrieved 3 February 2018. Craig Laundy is promoted to the role of Minister for Small & Family Business, Workplaces and Deregulation. Craig spent two decades in private business before joining Parliament so will bring unique insight into the challenges faced by small businesses. He will take direct responsibility for workplace relations and will work closely with Senator Cash in her new role to ensure the Government is doing everything possible to give companies the confidence they need to invest and create jobs, and to give Australians the confidence they can get the skills and opportunities they need to find a job or land a better paying job.
  2. ↑ "About Laundy Hotels". Laundy Hotel Group. 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  3. ↑ "Hon Craig Laundy MP". Members. Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  4. ↑ "Craig Laundy Liberal for Reid". Liberal Party of Australia – New South Wales. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  5. 1 2 Massola, James (13 February 2016). "Cabinet reshuffle: Malcolm Turnbull announces new frontbench as Mal Brough resigns". The Age. Retrieved 13 February 2016.
  6. ↑ "Ministerial Swearing-in Ceremony". Events. Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. 18 February 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  7. ↑ Carey, Alexis. "Dealers slam FBT 'tax grab'". Cars Guide. News Limited. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "ABC has 'a contract with the Australian people' says Liberal MP". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  9. ↑ "Racial Discrimination Act, 1975". Commonwealth Consolidated Acts. Commonwealth Government of Australia. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  10. ↑ Laundy, Craig. "In Defence of Section 18C". Craig Laundy Website. emedia creative. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  11. ↑ Bourke, Latika. "MPs throw support behind Not in My Name campaign condemning racism and bigotry". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  12. ↑ "Parliament honors UN Year of Solidarity". Australian Palestine Advocacy Network. Australian Palestine Advocacy Network. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  13. ↑ Borrello, Eliza. "Rural Liberals criticise Attorney-General George Brandis over East Jerusalem remarks". www.abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  14. ↑ Ireland, Judith. "Same-sex marriage: Liberal MP Craig Laundy changes stance on free vote". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  15. ↑ "HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - Hansard". Record of Proceedings (Hansard). Australia: Australian House of Representatives. 7 December 2017. p. 13143-13145.
  16. ↑ http://www.outinperth.com/get-up-glitter-mail-causes-distruptions/
  17. ↑ Weise, Zia (2 September 2015). "Refugee crisis: Aylan's life was full of fear – in death, he is part of 'humanity washed ashore'". Independent New Limited. The Independent. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  18. ↑ Butterly, Nick; Probyn, Andrew (September 4, 2015). "Australia To Act On Refugees". The West Australian. Seven West Media Limited. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  19. ↑ Gordon, Michael (September 5, 2015). "Liberal MPs impassioned plea for refugees". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
  20. ↑ Butterly, Nick; Probyn, Andrew (September 4, 2015). "Australia To Act On Refugees". Seven West Media Limited. The West Australian. Retrieved 6 September 2015.


Parliament of Australia
Preceded by
John Murphy		 Member for Reid
2013–present		 Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Michael McCormack
as Minister for Small Business		 Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation
2017–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Karen Andrews
as Assistant Minister for Science		 Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science
2016–2017		 Succeeded by
Zed Seselja
Preceded by
Wyatt Roy
as Assistant Minister for Innovation
New ministerial post Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs
2016		 Succeeded by
Zed Seselja
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