Nigel Scullion
Senator The Honourable Nigel Scullion | |
---|---|
| |
Minister for Indigenous Affairs | |
Assumed office 18 September 2013 | |
Prime Minister |
Tony Abbott Malcolm Turnbull Scott Morrison |
Preceded by | Jenny Macklin |
Minister for Community Services | |
In office 9 October 2003 – 3 December 2007 | |
Prime Minister | John Howard |
Preceded by | John Cobb |
Succeeded by | Jenny Macklin |
Senator for the Northern Territory | |
Assumed office 10 November 2001 | |
Preceded by | Grant Tambling |
Personal details | |
Born |
Nigel Gregory Scullion 4 May 1956 London, England, United Kingdom |
Citizenship |
Australian British (1956–2001)[1] |
Political party | Country Liberal Party |
Other political affiliations |
The Nationals (federal caucus) Coalition |
Spouse(s) |
Jenny Scullion (divorced) Carol Sexton |
Children | 3 |
Occupation | Fisherman |
Nigel Gregory Scullion (born 4 May 1956 in London, England) is an English-born Australian politician. He has been a Country Liberal Party member of the Australian Senate for the Northern Territory since November 2001. He sits with the National Party in the Senate, and has been the Leader of the Nationals in the Senate since 2013; having previously served in that role between 2007 and 2008; and as Deputy Leader of the National Party between 2007 and 2013. Scullion has served as the Minister for Indigenous Affairs since 18 September 2013, first in the Abbott Government and then the Turnbull Government.[2]
Early years and background
He was born in London, England then lived in Deakin, Canberra, during high school. He is married with 3 children.[3] Before entering the Senate he was a professional fisherman and graduated from the Australian Rural Leadership Program.[4]
Career
Scullion received media attention early in his career when questions arose over how his business relationships with government bodies might have affected his eligibility to sit in the Parliament.[5][6] Investigations continued for some time, but in the end did not affect his membership of Parliament.[7][8]
On 30 January 2007, he was appointed Minister for Community Services in the Australian Government. He held office for only 10 months before the Howard Government was defeated in an election.
In February 2007, Scullion was elected to the position of deputy Senate leader of the federal National Party and was subsequently promoted to the positions of deputy parliamentary leader of the National Party and leader of the party in the Senate on 3 December 2007, following the coalition's defeat.[9] On 6 December 2007 he was named as Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the shadow ministry chosen by new Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson.[10] In 2008, he was defeated by Barnaby Joyce for the Senate leadership,[11] but retained the deputy leadership of the National Party.[12]
Scullion was re-elected at the 2010 election and appointed Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs by Opposition leader, Tony Abbott.[13] In February 2012, Scullion appeared in the second episode of Kitchen Cabinet with Annabel Crabb, when they went into the mud flats for crustaceans, which she has recalled as the most memorable show.[14] Following Joyce's move to the House of Representatives in 2013, Scullion reclaimed his position of Senate leader but lost the deputy parliamentary leadership to Joyce.
On February 11, 2016, Joyce was elected leader of the Nationals with Fiona Nash as his deputy. As Nash is a Senator like Scullion, it looks like Scullion would have to relinquish the Senate leadership to deputy parliamentary leader Senator Nash. In fact Senator Nash had been Senator Scullion's Senate deputy prior to her election as deputy leader of the parliamentary party.
After the High Court ruled that Joyce and Nash were ineligible during the 2017 Australian parliamentary eligibility crisis, Scullion was appointed interim parliamentary leader of the National Party.[15]
References
- ↑ Crabb, Annabel (29 July 2017). "Section 44 forcing politicians into extraordinary feats of intrepidity". Radio Australia. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
- ↑ "Tony Abbott's cabinet and outer ministry". smh.com.au. AAP. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
- ↑ "Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
- ↑ "Biography for SCULLION, the Hon. Nigel Gregory". Parliament of Australia – Parlinfo Search. 8 December 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2010.
- ↑ Loizou, John; Hinde, Suellen (7 May 2002). "Senator faces spotlight". Northern Territory News.
- ↑ Faulkner, John; et al. (14 May 2002), "Senate Debates", Hansard, Parliament of Australia, pp. 1393–1398
- ↑ "Senator probe". Northern Territory News. 25 September 2003.
- ↑ Maharaj, Rajiv (17 February 2004). "Funds inquiry clears Territory senator". Northern Territory News.
- ↑ "Truss wins Nationals leadership". ABC News. 3 December 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
- ↑ Parliament of Australia, Shadow Ministry list, 6 December 2007 Archived 25 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine., retrieved January 2008.
- ↑ "Nationals won't toe Libs' line: Joyce". Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ↑ Barnaby Joyce promoted to Nats Senate leader: Fairfax 17/9/2008 Archived 17 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 September 2010. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
- ↑ Leys, Nick (2 September 2013). "Ten questions for Annabel Crabb". The Australian. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
- ↑ Knaus, Christopher (28 October 2017). "Turnbull: Nationals happy for Julie Bishop to be acting prime minister". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
External links
- Nigel Scullion, Senate Biography
- Nigel Scullion's personal home page
- Summary of parliamentary voting for Senator Nigel Scullion on TheyVoteForYou.org.au
Parliament of Australia | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Grant Tambling |
Senator for the Northern Territory 2001–present Served alongside: Trish Crossin, Nova Peris |
Incumbent |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by John Cobb |
Minister for Community Services 2003–2007 |
Succeeded by Jenny Macklin |
Preceded by Jenny Macklin as Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs |
Minister for Indigenous Affairs 2013–present |
Incumbent |
Party political offices | ||
Preceded by Sandy Macdonald |
Deputy Leader of the National Party of Australia in the Senate 2007 |
Succeeded by Ron Boswell |
Preceded by Ron Boswell |
Leader of the National Party of Australia in the Senate 2007–2008 |
Succeeded by Barnaby Joyce |
Preceded by Warren Truss |
Deputy Leader of the National Party of Australia 2007–2013 | |
Preceded by Barnaby Joyce |
Leader of the National Party of Australia in the Senate 2013–present |
Incumbent |