The Honourable
Christopher Pyne
Pyne in 2015
Minister for Defence
In office
28 August 2018 – 26 May 2019
Prime MinisterScott Morrison
Preceded byMarise Payne
Succeeded byLinda Reynolds
Minister for Defence Industry
In office
19 July 2016 – 27 August 2018
Prime MinisterMalcolm Turnbull
Scott Morrison
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded bySteven Ciobo
Leader of the House
In office
18 September 2013 – 26 May 2019
Prime MinisterTony Abbott
Malcolm Turnbull
Scott Morrison
DeputyDarren Chester
Preceded byAnthony Albanese
Succeeded byChristian Porter
Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science
In office
21 September 2015 – 19 July 2016
Prime MinisterMalcolm Turnbull
Preceded byIan Macfarlane
Succeeded byGreg Hunt
Minister for Education and Training
In office
18 September 2013 – 21 September 2015
Prime MinisterTony Abbott
Malcolm Turnbull
Preceded byBill Shorten
Succeeded bySimon Birmingham
Manager of Opposition Business in the House
In office
16 February 2009 – 18 September 2013
DeputyLuke Hartsuyker
LeaderMalcolm Turnbull
Tony Abbott
Preceded byJoe Hockey
Succeeded byTony Burke
Minister for Ageing
In office
21 March 2007 – 3 December 2007
Prime MinisterJohn Howard
Preceded bySanto Santoro
Succeeded byJustine Elliot
Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing
In office
30 January 2007 – 21 March 2007
Prime MinisterJohn Howard
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byFiona Nash
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Sturt
In office
13 March 1993 – 11 April 2019
Preceded byIan Wilson
Succeeded byJames Stevens
Personal details
Born
Christopher Maurice Pyne

(1967-08-13) 13 August 1967
Adelaide, South Australia
Political partyLiberal
SpouseCarolyn Pyne
Children4
Alma materUniversity of Adelaide
University of South Australia
ProfessionLawyer, politician and author
WebsiteOfficial website

Christopher Maurice Pyne (born 13 August 1967) is a retired Australian politician. As a member of the Liberal Party, he held several ministerial positions in the Howard, Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison governments, and served as a member of parliament (MP) for the division of Sturt from 1993 until his retirement in 2019.

Pyne was elected to the Australian House of Representatives at the 1993 federal election, winning the seat of Sturt in South Australia. In 2007, Pyne was given the portfolios of Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing and Minister for Ageing while serving in the Howard government, which he held until the Liberal-National Coalition's loss at the 2007 election. While in opposition, Pyne was appointed Manager of Opposition Business in the House. After the Coalition's victory at the 2013 election, Pyne entered the Cabinet of Australia and became Leader of the House and Minister for Education. Upon the election of the Turnbull government at the 2015 Liberal leadership ballot, he remained Leader of the House and became Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science. With the reelection of the government in 2016, he became the Minister for Defence Industry. Upon the installment of the First Morrison ministry in August 2018, he became the Minister for Defence.

Pyne retired from politics at the 2019 Australian federal election.[1][2][3] In June 2019, he was appointed as an industry professor at the University of South Australia.[4] In the same month Pyne started a new defence industry consulting job, prompting a Senate investigation into a potential breach of Ministerial Standards.[5]

Early years and education

The fifth and youngest child of ophthalmic surgeon, Remington Pyne and his wife Margaret,[6] Pyne was born in Adelaide, South Australia in 1967. He was educated at Saint Ignatius' College and the University of Adelaide, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws and was President of Adelaide University Liberal Club from 1987 to 1988.[7][8][9]

Pyne attained a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of South Australia in 1991.[10] In 2022, he was granted an Honorary Doctorate in the School of the Professions from his alma mater, the University of Adelaide.[11]

Background

Pyne was a research assistant to Senator Amanda Vanstone and later became President of the South Australian Young Liberals from 1988 to 1990. He was pre-selected as the Liberal candidate for the safe Labor seat of Ross Smith at the 1989 state election but was defeated by the sitting member and Premier of South Australia, John Bannon.[12] He earned a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice at the University of South Australia and began practising as a solicitor in 1991.

Parliament

At the 1993 election, aged 25, Pyne was elected to the South Australian Division of Sturt in the House of Representatives. He had earlier defeated Sturt incumbent Ian Wilson in a Liberal pre-selection ballot for the seat. Wilson had held the seat for all but one term since the 1966 election. Between them, he and his father, Keith, had held the seat for all but four years since its creation in 1949. Wilson was 35 years Pyne's senior; indeed, he had won his first election a year before Pyne was born.[13]

Election in Sturt199319961998200120042007201020132016
First preference %39.454.147.850.751.747.248.154.444.4
Two-party-preferred %55.760.057.358.256.850.953.460.155.9

Pyne is a republican[14] and established himself as a member of the moderate, "small-l liberal" faction of the Liberal Party, supporting then Deputy Leader Peter Costello. Pyne remains a close ally of state Liberal Vickie Chapman.[15]

In 1994, after serving as a backbencher for a period, Pyne was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Social Security. He retained this position after John Howard was elected as leader, and up to the 1996 election.[8]

Howard government

After the 1996 Coalition victory Pyne sat as a backbencher. Pyne chaired the Australia Israel Parliamentary group from 1996 to 2004.[12] In 2003, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Family and Community Services, where he remained until 2004, when named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing.[8] As Parliamentary Secretary, he defended the government's "War on drugs" and established his strong support of illicit drug prohibition, as opposed to harm minimisation.[16] He launched the youth mental health initiative Headspace.[17]

Pyne in 2006

Pyne served as a Parliamentary Secretary until 30 January 2007 when he was appointed Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing. He held this portfolio until 21 March, when he was elevated to the outer ministry as Minister for Ageing, succeeding resigning Minister, Senator Santo Santoro.[13]

In Opposition

Pyne came close to losing Sturt at the 2007 election to Labor candidate Mia Handshin, after suffering a 5.9 percent two-party swing to finish with a 0.9 percent two-party margin (856 votes), which made Sturt the most marginal seat in South Australia. Following the election in which the John Howard-led Coalition government was defeated by the Kevin Rudd-led Labor opposition, Pyne put himself forward as a candidate for Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party at the 2007 Liberal leadership ballot. Julie Bishop prevailed with 44 votes, ahead of Andrew Robb who won 25 votes, while Pyne came third with 18 votes.[18] Following the election of Brendan Nelson as party leader, Pyne was appointed Shadow Minister for Justice and Border Protection.[19]

Following Malcolm Turnbull's ascension at the 2008 Liberal leadership ballot, Pyne was elevated to Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training.[20] After Bishop stepped down from the portfolio of Shadow Treasurer, Joe Hockey took up the portfolio, with Pyne replacing Hockey as Manager of Opposition Business in the House on 16 February 2009.

Pyne was reappointed as Manager of Opposition Business in the House and Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training by Tony Abbott after he deposed Turnbull at the 2009 Liberal leadership ballot.[21] Pyne was re-elected at the 2010 election, receiving a 2.5 percent two-party swing to finish with a marginal 53.4 percent two-party vote,[22] which made neighbouring Boothby the most marginal seat in South Australia. Pyne was re-appointed as Manager of Opposition Business in the House and Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training.[23]

Abbott government

Pyne being sworn in as Minister for Education and Training by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove, 2014

Pyne was re-elected to Sturt at the 2013 election, receiving a 6.5 percent two-party swing to finish with a 60.1 percent two-party vote, making Sturt a safe Liberal seat on paper. Pyne was elevated to the Cabinet of Australia on 18 September 2013 as Leader of the House and Minister for Education in the Abbott government.[24] In December 2014, his portfolio was renamed to Minister for Education and Training.[25]

As Minister for Education and Training, Pyne enacted changes to the education system to provide minimum standards for teachers,[26] promoted independent public schooling,[27] expanded phonics teaching,[28] and created a new national curriculum.[29] Pyne also attempted to reform the university sector to introduce market principles but was rejected by the Senate.[30]

In May 2014, Pyne suggested that HECS debts should be reclaimed from the estates of deceased students.[31]

Turnbull government

Pyne with Jim Mattis, the United States Secretary of Defense, in April 2017

Despite much speculation Pyne would be appointed as Defence Minister,[32] he remained Leader of the House and was appointed as Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science in the Turnbull government following Malcolm Turnbull's re-ascension at the 2015 Liberal leadership ballot. As Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Pyne was credited with creating and implementing the National Innovation and Science Agenda (NISA).[33]

With the reelection of the Government in 2016, Pyne became the Minister for Defence Industry in the Second Turnbull Ministry.[34] As Minister for Defence Industry, Pyne was given responsibility for implementing the largest modernisation of the Australian Defence Force since the Second World War, increasing the Australian Government's investment in defence capability to almost $200 billion.[35][36]

Between February 2016 and March 2019, Pyne co-hosted weekly television program Pyne & Marles on Sky News Live with Labor MP Richard Marles.[37]

Pyne retained Sturt at the 2016 election for the Liberals with a 55.9 percent two-party vote from a 4.2 percent two-party swing, reducing the seat from a safe to marginal status.

Pyne has stated he has always been in favour of same-sex marriage.[38] In November, the Australian Federal Police investigated claims that his Twitter account was compromised after the account had been found to have liked a pornographic image depicting a gay sexual act.[39]

Morrison government

Following the change of Prime Minister on 24 August 2018, Pyne was promoted to Minister for Defence.[40]

On 2 March 2019 Pyne announced that he would not recontest the seat of Sturt at the next federal election; and would retire from politics.[1][2][3] The House of Representatives was dissolved on 11 April 2019.

Lobbying

Pyne was listed on the South Australian lobbyist register on 26 July 2019 as a co-owner of GC Advisory Pty Ltd, which he co-owns with Adam Howard. The firm's many clients include Duxton Capital, Hickinbotham Group, Polites Group, RacingSA, the City of Burnside and Thomson Geer Lawyers.[41]

In 2021, Pyne was interviewed[42] by Christopher Lim and Kendall O'Donnell, contributors for The Bruges Group, on CANZUK, Australia's COVID policy, the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement, and Australia's role in the Indo-Pacific. Pyne praised Prime Minister Scott Morrison's leadership and COVID policy, as well as the Foreign Relations Act (2020). Pyne was praised for "accurately depicting the Australian perspective on the Indo-Pacific and Australia's national security interests". Kendall O'Donnell's performance was praised for his "steadfast questioning and pertinent points made around national security issues", and Lim's questions were described as "demonstrating incredible awareness of Australia's domestic debate and constitutional issues."

Post-political career

Since retiring from Parliament in April 2019, Pyne has chaired the strategic advisory and public affairs firm, Pyne and Partners operating offices in Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide.[43] He also chairs Vision2020 Australia,[44] the national peak eye health body and the Australia United Arab Emirates Business Council.[45]

Since late 2020, Pyne has taken on roles in the Australian defence industry. He is chairman of the advisory board of Australia's largest Australian owned small arms and munitions company Nioa,[46] and chairman of the advisory board of the Australian Missile Corporation.[47] He also sits on the board of ASX Listed, Xtek Ltd, a Canberra-based body armour and unmanned Vehicle manufacturer and supplier globally.[48]

Apart from not for profit, Vision2020Australia,[49] Pyne is the Chairman of the SA Governors of the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia,[50] and an Ambassador of the Adelaide Football Club.[51]

Personal life

Pyne and his wife Carolyn have four children. He currently resides in Adelaide.[8]

Bibliography

  • A Letter To My Children (2015), non-fiction[52]
  • The Insider (2020), non-fiction[53]

References

  1. 1 2 Henriques-Gomes, Luke (2 March 2019). "'Not a life sentence': Christopher Pyne plots next move after 26 years in parliament". Guardian Australia. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  2. 1 2 Belot, Henry (2 March 2019). "Scott Morrison insists he's not distracted by ministerial exodus as Christopher Pyne bows out of politics". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  3. 1 2 Livingston, Angus (2 March 2019). "Pyne's new chapter after 26 Canberra years". Blue Mountains Gazette. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  4. ↑ "Christopher Pyne appointed professor by University of South Australia". The Australian. Retrieved 11 June 2019. Christopher Pyne discussed defence industry job while still a member of Cabinet, consultancy firm confirms
  5. ↑ "Christopher Pyne discussed defence industry job while still a member of Cabinet, consultancy firm confirms". ABC News. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  6. ↑ "RANZCO - Home". RANZCO.edu. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  7. ↑ "Hon Christopher Pyne MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Chris Pyne Online". Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  9. ↑ Warhurst, John (16 October 2013). "Jesuit influence overplayed". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  10. ↑ "15 Famous Alumni From The University Of South Australia". Society19. 17 January 2017. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  11. ↑ "Uni of Adelaide celebrates outstanding leaders with honorary doctorates". University of Adelaide. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  12. 1 2 "Christopher Pyne online biography". Retrieved 20 October 2009.
  13. 1 2 "Costello backer gets his reward". The Age. Melbourne. 19 March 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  14. ↑ Political debate on ABC between Pyne, Mark Latham and moderator Tony Jones, Lateline, ABC, 6 April 2001
  15. ↑ "South Australia's 10 most poisonous political feuds". The Advertiser. 21 May 2014.
  16. ↑ "Government defends drugs policy". ABC News. Australia. 28 September 2006. Retrieved 3 December 2007.
  17. ↑ "Pyne launches youth mental health initiative". Department of Health and Ageing. 18 July 2006. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  18. ↑ "Nelson's victory puts Turnbull on deck". The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 November 2007.
  19. ↑ "Brendan Nelson announces shadow ministry". The Courier-Mail. 6 December 2007. Archived from the original on 7 December 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2008.
  20. ↑ "SA's Chris Pyne named Education Spokesman in new Coalition frontbench". The Advertiser. Archived from the original on 23 September 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  21. ↑ "Shock result as Abbott wins Liberal leadership by one vote ... ETS dead". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 December 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2012.
  22. ↑ "Sturt results – 2010 federal election: AEC". Archived from the original on 12 October 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  23. ↑ Parliamentary Handbook excerpt, aph.gov.au; accessed 26 December 2014.
  24. ↑ "Tony Abbott's cabinet and outer ministry". The Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 16 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  25. ↑ "Parliament House Canberra press conference" (Press release). Prime Minister of Australia. 21 December 2014. Archived from the original (transcript) on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  26. ↑ Borrello, Eliza (13 February 2015). "Student teachers will need to pass literacy and numeracy test before being allowed to graduate". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  27. ↑ Griffiths, Emma. "Christopher Pyne announces $70 million fund to help public schools go it alone". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  28. ↑ Bita, Natasha. "Phonics, faith and coding for primary school kids". The Australian. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  29. ↑ Pyne, Christopher (18 September 2015). "A new national curriculum from 2016". Department of Education. Retrieved 20 September 2015.
  30. ↑ Kenny, Mark (2 December 2014). "Degrees of failure: university reforms fail to pass Senate". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  31. ↑ Knott, Matthew (28 May 2014). "Christopher Pyne suggests collecting HECS debts from dead students as way to help budget". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  32. ↑ Glasgow, Will (16 September 2015). "The gossip on Hockey, Pyne, Defence and Communications". Australian Financial Review.
  33. ↑ Borrello, Eliza (7 December 2015). "Innovation statement: PM Malcolm Turnbull calls for 'ideas boom' as he unveils $1b vision for Australia's future". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  34. ↑ Anderson, Stephanie (20 July 2016). "Election 2016: Malcolm Turnbull unveils ministry with Christopher Pyne, Greg Hunt on the move". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  35. ↑ Burgess, Verona (19 July 2016). "Why Pyne is the real Defence Minister". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  36. ↑ "Defence White Paper 2016" (PDF). Department of Defence. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
  37. ↑ Molloy, Shannon (28 January 2016). "Christopher Pyne ... the TV star? The colourful MP lands his own weekly show, alongside rival Richard Marles". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
  38. ↑ Matthew Doran (26 June 2017). "Christopher Pyne says his same-sex marriage support, vote for Malcolm Turnbull 'not a secret'". abc.net.au. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  39. ↑ "'I was hacked!': Christopher Pyne's Twitter account in porn mishap". 16 November 2017.
  40. ↑ Yaxley, Louise (26 August 2018). "Scott Morrison announces new ministry with Julie Bishop replaced by Marise Payne as foreign affairs minister". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  41. ↑ "Lobbyist Portal". www.lobbyists.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  42. ↑ "In Conversation with Hon Christopher Pyne, former Australian Defence Minister". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  43. ↑ Garman, Liam (3 March 2022). "Pyne & Partners grows national footprint with new Sydney office". Defence Connect. Momentum Media Pty Ltd. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  44. ↑ "Christopher Pyne focused on improving eye care for all Australians in key peak body role". Vision 2020 Australia. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  45. ↑ Aston, Joe (14 May 2020). "Pyne's UAE council leaves Harley the Saudis". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  46. ↑ "FORMER DEFENCE MINISTER HEADS UP NEW NIOA BOARD". NIOA Homepage. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  47. ↑ "Our Leadership". Australian Missile Corporation. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  48. ↑ "XTEK Appoints Former Minister For Defence Christopher Pyne As Non-Executive Director". Australian Security Magazine. My Security Media. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  49. ↑ "Our Board". Vision2020 Australia. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  50. ↑ "Council of Governors". AmCham. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  51. ↑ "Wednesday luncheon with The Hon Christopher Pyne interviewed by David Penberthy". Adelaide Rotary. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  52. ↑ "A Letter To My Children". Melbourne University Publishing. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  53. ↑ "The Insider: The scoops, the scandals and the serious business within the Canberra bubble by Christopher Pyne". Hachette Australia. 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.

 

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